Second Round of Employer Innovation Fund Grants Announced
On Tuesday, Gov. Reynolds announced 22 additional recipients of grants from the Employer Innovation Fund, which is a component of Future Ready Iowa. The fund is intended to provide matching support to employers and non-profit organizations that come up with unique programs to support the wrap-around services of upskilling Iowa’s workforce. $568,000 was distributed to employers across the state in this second round. There will be a
third round
where $244,000 in remaining funds are eligible to be dispersed. The application period opened on Dec. 3 and will close on Dec. 17. ABI strongly advocated and was successful in lobbying for $1.2 million in funds for this unique program. Read the
full news release
.
Crain Speaks to Manufacturers about Iowa Caucuses
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This week, Nicole Crain traveled to Washington to speak to members of the National Association of Manufacturers Manufacturing Advisory Council. Crain joined former White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry and South Carolina Chamber’s Executive Vice President and former Chief of Staff to Gov. Nikki Haley, Swati Patel, on a panel about what manufacturers are hearing in the early states. Topics included trade, current leaders for the Democratic nomination in South Carolina and Iowa, and predictions about how President Trump will do in 2020. Thank you to the National Association of Manufacturers for the invitation and the opportunity to share what’s happening on the ground in Iowa.
Crain Speaks at BIPAC Annual Deployment Partner Meeting
This afternoon, Nicole Crain will provide other state associations around the country with an update about ABI’s advocacy efforts. Crain will share information about the IAVotes.com
Caucus Toolkit
, ABI’s legislative vote records and the Job Crushers toolkit that was implemented last year. If you’re interested in learning more about ABI’s advocacy efforts and how you can engage your colleagues, please contact
Nicole Crain
.
Hartkopf Attends Governor’s Criminal Justice Reform Committee Meeting
Director of Public Policy Brad Hartkopf joined stakeholders for the latest meeting of Gov. Reynolds' FOCUS Committee on Criminal Justice Reform, which you read about in a past edition of the
ABI newsletter
. A primary focus of the meeting on Monday was on “Fair Chance Employment” or Ban the Box. A wide scope of perspectives were heard on this issue including state employment, national perspective, private employers and public comments. Hartkopf spoke during the private employer segment and stated that ABI is opposed to private sector ban the box as we believe businesses should have the right to use that tool in the hiring and application processes if they so choose. ABI also believes that banning the box increases the liability employers face with potential accusations of discrimination. There is going to be a final meeting of the committee next week where recommendations will be made on how to reduce barriers for those re-entering society and seeking employment.
Air Quality Fee Advisory Group Meetings Next Month
The DNR Air Quality Bureau has announced it will seek feedback from stakeholders and the public on the draft Air Quality Bureau Budget for the fiscal year 2021 at meetings being held on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. The Major Source Construction Permit Application Fees Advisory Group and Title V Fees Advisory Group meeting will take place at 9:30 a.m. The Minor Source Construction Permit Application Fee Advisory Group will meet at 1 p.m. The Asbestos Notification Fee Advisory Group will meet at 3 p.m. All of the meetings will be held at the Wallace Building, 2nd Floor North Conference Room, 502 E. 9th St., Des Moines. Check in at the Air Quality Bureau reception desk on the 2nd floor. The agenda and meeting materials will be
posted
one week prior to the meetings. RSVP to Wendy Walker at
wendy.walker@dnr.iowa.gov
or 515-725-9570 by Jan. 21.
Federal Spotlight: Harris Drops Out; Loeffler Appointed Senate-Designate
It’s been quite a week in the world of U.S. politics as several changes have occurred at the national level. U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), who was once in the top tier of candidates running for president on the Democratic side, abruptly dropped out of the race on Tuesday. Harris, who was seeking to become the first black woman to be a major party’s nominee for president, cited a lack of financial resources as the main reason why she cannot continue her campaign. Harris was polling at 3.4% in the latest RealClearPolitics average of polls, so it will be interesting to see where her support heads over the next several weeks. On Wednesday, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) appointed financial executive Kelly Loeffler to serve as the next U.S. Senator from the State of Georgia. Loeffler, a co-owner of the WNBA team Atlanta Dream, will fill the seat of current Sen. Johnny Isakson, who is retiring at the end of this year due to health issues. Senate-Designate Loeffler will be the second woman from The Peach State to serve in the U.S. Senate.
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Early Bird Deadline Approaching for Legislative Briefing and Reception
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If you haven't done so yet,
register now
for the 2020 Legislative Briefing and Reception. The early bird pricing deadline is December 20, and the event is a little over a month away.
Join fellow members for an update from the public policy team on ABI's priorities and a preview of the 2020 legislative session. Then visit with legislators about the most pressing issues for your business and industry.
The Legislative Briefing and Reception is Jan. 15, 3:30-6:30 p.m., at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.
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Five Strategies to Use a Bonus or Raise
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John R. Gilliland
Financial Advisor
Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Many companies provide some form of incentive compensation as part of their overall compensation package. In fact, 85% of U.S.-based companies paid out bonuses in 2018, according to a recent survey by WorldatWork, an association of human resource professionals.
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If you’re fortunate to see a boost in your paycheck—whether it’s through a bonus, raise or promotion—it may be very tempting to spend this extra cash, but using your bonus on long-term, big picture goals may lead to greater happiness in the long run.
Here are five strategies to put your money to work for you now, so you can potentially reap the rewards down the road.
Read more
.
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Check Out These Podcasts Produced By ABI Members
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Podcasts are a great source of insight, inspiration and information. And ABI members are among those producing them to share their expertise. Click on the links below, or search for them on your favorite podcast platform.
This personal development show targets career development. It’s designed to help you navigate to the career and area of work that best fits you.
The Customer Mission | Produced by Pragmadik
This series of micro-pods, less than 10 minutes each, gives you a lot of information on customer centricity, organizational strategy, employee engagement and more, in a short amount of time.
Apple Podcasts
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Spotify
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Stitcher
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Google Podcasts
This podcast covers family business topics. Past interviews have included representatives from ABI members Kreg Tool, Todd & Sargent and Vermeer.
Subject matter experts from the CPA and business consulting industry discuss hot topics, news and business strategies. It’s geared toward business owners looking for relevant discussion on the challenges and opportunities of today’s business climate.
If your organization has a podcast to add to the list, hit reply and let us know. We'll share it with fellow members in the future.
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