Don’t Forget: Register for ABI Legislative Briefing and Reception
Almost 200 ABI members and guests have already registered for the ABI Legislative Briefing and Reception on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020. Take advantage of the early-bird registration discount and
register today
before you leave for the Thanksgiving holiday! The annual event, held on the first Wednesday after the legislative session begins, is ABI’s second-best attended event and draws turnout from statewide leaders and legislators of both parties. Prior to the reception, ABI public policy team members will provide a briefing for ABI members on key issues expected to come before the Legislature.
DNR EASY Air System Available Next Week
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced the new online permitting system for air quality permits will be ready to use on Wednesday, Dec. 4. The system is expected to increase the turnaround time for businesses to receive their permits, increase data accuracy, reduce data entry and can accept online payments. There will be a
training webinar
on Thursday, Dec. 12, from 12:45-4:15 p.m. The DNR recently convened a stakeholder meeting on this issue as well.
View information from that meeting.
ABI to Participate in DOC/IWD Business Advisory Team Meeting Next Week
ABI has been invited by the Iowa Department of Corrections and Iowa Workforce Development to be a member of the Adult Re-entry and Employment Business Advisory Team. The first meeting will take place Wednesday, Dec. 4. The Adult Re-entry and Employment strategic planning’s primary goal is to reduce recidivism levels by increasing positive employment outcomes for returning citizens. The role of the advisory group is to provide guidance on employment issues affecting returning citizens, including gaps in skills development, access to liveable-wage careers and mitigation of barriers to employment. A recap will be provided in next week’s newsletter. For more information, contact
Brad Hartkopf
.
Take Advantage of ABI’s Caucus Toolkit For Employers
We’re just two months away from the all-important Iowa caucuses. On Monday, Feb. 3, Iowans will meet to make their voices heard on who should be the respective nominees for the two major parties. Employers have the opportunity to utilize resources to educate their employees on how to participate in the caucus. ABI, in partnership with BIPAC, has created a 2020
caucus toolkit
, which includes messaging for associations and corporations, posters you can put in your workplace to encourage employees to engage, web and social media graphics, video tutorials on how to caucus as a Republican and a Democrat, plus more. In addition to the caucus toolkit, the
IAVotes.com
website has information about statewide elected officials and how they vote on key issues.
Federal Spotlight: House Democrats “Within Range” of USMCA Deal
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced Monday that Democrats were “within range” of reaching a deal on USMCA. In a
statement
, she said, “Now, we need to see our progress in writing from the (Office of the U.S.) Trade Representative for final review.” House Democrats and the Trump administration have been negotiating for months on the agreement. Enforcement of labor and environmental standards have been the primary concerns for Democrats. The window is narrowing for ratification, as most contend the accord must be approved by the end of the year to avoid election year politics, which could stall the proposal indefinitely. Also on Monday, Mexican President Andres Manual Lopez Obrador said the Mexican government will send a letter to the speaker encouraging Congress to ratify the agreement.
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Giving Tuesday: Consider Gift to ABI Foundation
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For more than 35 years, the ABI Foundation has played a vital role in the development of Iowa leaders who serve in important roles in their communities and our state with the statewide educational leadership programs Leadership Iowa (professionals), Leadership Iowa University (college) and Business Horizons (high school).
The generous support of
foundation partners
is critical to ongoing success. This giving season, give the gift that keeps on giving by cultivating Iowa’s talent continuum with a tax-deductible donation to the ABI Foundation at
www.IowaABIFoundation.org
. For information on sponsorship levels and benefits, contact ABI Foundation Vice President
Becky Coady
.
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Last Call for Conference Workshop Proposals
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This Sunday is the deadline to submit workshop proposals for the 2020 Taking Care of Business Conference. If you can deliver dynamic, engaging sessions with a strong emphasis on takeaways, we want to hear from you.
Submit your proposal now
. The conference is June 9-11 in Cedar Rapids, and workshops will be on June 10.
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The Impact of Workforce Wearables – Part 2, For Safety Leaders
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Tom West, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Strategic Relationships Manager
MakuSafe
Real-time Actionable Data Made Easy
When you’re dealing with data, the most important feature is that it’s easy to understand. Data that has to be ‘decoded’ is both meaningless and frustrating to safety managers—and it actually makes their jobs harder. This is why MākuSafe® delivers the data through simple visual and interactive models, which are both easy to interpret and provide fast intelligence that is actionable. The information essentially provides direction to safety leaders’ actions, so there is no ambiguity in terms of what items require attention on any given day.
Read more
.
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TAI to Host Catalysts Live Event on Dec. 5
Join the Technology Association of Iowa (TAI) on Dec. 5, 4:30-7 p.m., at the Tea Room in Des Moines to celebrate the 2019 Catalysts. Inspiring stories and diverse perspectives will highlight this unique event designed to connect Iowa’s technology community and celebrate leaders who are creating change and forging new paths to push the industry forward.
Learn more and register
.
AEM Hall of Fame Inducts Mary Andringa of Vermeer Corp.
Former ABI Chair Mary Andringa (Vermeer Corporation, Pella) had been inducted into the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Hall of Fame. The AEM Hall of Fame recognizes individuals whose innovations, ideas and leadership have advanced the off-road equipment manufacturing industry and contributed to its success in the past and into tomorrow. Read the
full news release
.
Iowa Intermodal Terminal Provides Midwest Hub for Global Shippers
Valor Victoria, Iowa Northern Railway Company (IANR), Watco Companies and Union Pacific (UNP)
will launch an
internationally focused intermodal service through the newly-developed Butler Intermodal Terminal in Shell Rock
in
December 2019. The service provides an alternative to larger Midwest rail hubs and is expected to provide shippers with a cost-competitive solution that reduces long-haul trucking miles. Read the
full news release
.
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