One Week Until Second Funnel |
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The next major deadline for the Iowa Legislature is only one week away. By March 18, Senate bills and joint resolutions must receive full approval by its chamber and the appropriate policy committee in the other chamber. Bills and joint resolutions filed in the Iowa House must follow the same rules.
Between March 21-25, each chamber only considers bills, joint resolutions and unfinished business from the other chamber.
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Key Bills ABI is Tracking |
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ABI’s public policy team continues to track bills that are of interest to members and related to business and industry as lawmakers advance legislation out of their committees and chambers.
Tax
Workforce
Employment Related
SF 2196 - Copies of Personnel Files
HF 2411 - Prosthetic Devices under Workers’ Compensation
Other
HF 2198 - Minimum Age for Child Care Center Employees
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ABI Hosts Day on the Hill Event |
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More than 40 ABI members from across the state attended the annual Day on the Hill Tuesday. Attendees received a legislative update and heard from Sen. Dan Dawson (R-Council Bluffs), who chairs the Senate Ways and Means Committee. After the briefing, attendees spent time meeting with legislators and networking at the Iowa Capitol as well.
Every year, this is an opportunity for members to engage in legislative advocacy and address important issues affecting business and industry. We appreciate everyone who took time out of their schedules to attend on Tuesday.
View more photos from the event here.
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Manufacturing 4.0 Updates |
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Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) have awarded $20 million in Manufacturing 4.0 Workforce Innovation grants.
The grant funding will help 46 manufacturing businesses in the state invest in new technology.
Manufacturing 4.0 is important for industry in Iowa and ABI supports the initiative. The state’s Manufacturing 4.0 plan can be found here. The Advanced Manufacturing Work Group, initially co-chaired by ABI member companies Pella and Ramco Innovations, worked for more than a year to build this roadmap. You can find the full list of companies that received Workforce Innovation grants here.
In addition to the $20 million, the state awarded 37 companies with $1.9 million in Technology Investment grants. You can find the full list of companies that received Technology Investment grants here.
IEDA Still Accepting Applications: If you are a manufacturer with 3-75 employees, you can still apply through the IEDA for the Technology Investment grants.
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Revenue Estimating Conference Estimate Grows for FY22; Status Quo Budget for FY23 |
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The Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) met Thursday and is forecasting strong growth for the current fiscal year. The REC, a three person panel that provides budget projections for the Legislature, is estimating $9,046.1 billion for FY22 (4.2% growth) over $8,675.2 billion for FY21.
For FY23, which lawmakers are currently working to construct, they’re projecting $9,028.3 billion (-0.2%). Panelists cited a number of factors including inflation, the tight labor market, the rise in commodity prices and the war in Ukraine, for their estimates. You can view the official projections here.
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Share Your Input on the State Transportation and Freight Plans |
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ABI members who are interested in providing input on the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT)’s State Transportation Plan and State Freight Plan can review it here. Freight transportation is a critical element of the supply chain. The freight plan is important for identifying the different challenges facing each mode of freight transportation. The Iowa DOT uses this process to improve freight transportation.
This public comment period is an opportunity for ABI members to work with other industry leaders to identify possible solutions to improve infrastructure and supply chain efficiency.
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Federal Spotlight: ABI Signs on to Letter Opposing COVID-19 Presumption |
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This proposed legislation creates a presumption that an employee covered by the Longshore Act who has COVID-19 does not have to show it was an illness “arising out of and in the course of employment.”
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Federal Spotlight: ABI Signs on to Letter Supporting the Reauthorization of the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill |
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ABI also signed a letter spearheaded by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) that urges Congress to add the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill in the final product that joins the United States Innovation and Competition Act with the America COMPETES Act. This is a significant proposal in light of the ongoing supply chain shortages many of ABI members continue to face.
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#TuesdayTrivia: Women's History Month |
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Watch: Weekly Business Report - How Companies Can Get Involved with WiM |
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This week, we are recognizing Women's History Month and Women in Manufacturing by bringing back our April 2021 interview with Misti Rice, Magna International Executive Director of Government Affairs and Chair of the Women in Manufacturing Board of Directors. discussing how companies can get involved with WiM!
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From the Desk of ABI President, Mike Ralston |
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Every year in March, I write this column and focus on ABI’s annual convention. I do so again and I’ll note that the 2022 Taking Care of Business Conference, our association’s 119th annual meeting, is only about 90 days away! Since last year’s conference had to be limited in attendance, there is perhaps even greater excitement around the 2022 event.
The ABI conference gets bigger and better each year. If you want to add value for your business, there is simply no better place for you to be than at this meeting. The 2022 edition will be the best ever, with many hundreds of people converging on Dubuque June 14-16.
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Three great keynote speakers, an appearance by Governor Kim Reynolds (invited), and high-value breakout sessions will comprise just part of a fantastic program. I guarantee you'll hear inspiring remarks, learn about ways to improve your business, and even be entertained.
Some of you come for golf. Well, conference attendees will enjoy golf at one of our state's finest private courses, Dubuque Golf and Country Club. The club has a terrific layout, a brand new tennis center, a gorgeous clubhouse, and golfers will enjoy a fabulous atmosphere.
As always, fantastic food and association programs will highlight the conference as well. But far and away the reason most folks attend, as you so often tell us, is for the very best business-networking in Iowa. You can only get that at THIS conference. You can visit with other business women and men about issues you share. You can make new sales and generate new business. And you can simply enjoy meeting our state's very best business people. All of this is found at the Taking Care of Business Conference and no place else.
If you haven't yet done so, go NOW to the conference website and finalize your plans to attend. At the site, you can register for the conference, find out about terrific hotels (one is already sold out, but other great options remain), and you can find out everything there is to know about the conference and about the Greater Dubuque region.
Make plans to bring your leadership teams with you. On behalf of our ABI Chair Jack Hasken and our officers and conference committee members, I look forward to seeing you in Dubuque in June!
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Click on the headlines to learn about the latest ABI member news. |
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