Business

coronavirus business news

How economic development and chamber professionals can be proactive during times of crisis

The COVID-19 crisis has made its way to Iowa. The current situation feels like a lot like a springtime tornado warning. You realize it should be taken seriously but you’re not sure if it will hit or how much damage it will cause. In times of crisis, your immediate goal is to not be caught standing in the middle of the street watching spinning clouds with your neighbors.
Eric Schaefer UNI JPEC Donation

Cedar Valley native Eric Schaefer makes big impact for UNI entrepreneurial students

The University of Northern Iowa’s John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (UNI JPEC) has received a $100,000 gift from Eric and Kelli Schaefer. The donation will be used to support services offered to UNI student entrepreneurs to assist them in launching their new ventures.
Tax form and cash

VITA tax preparation cancelled for remaining of tax season

Due to the suspension of face-to-face instruction to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the VITA program has been canceled for the remainder of the tax season.  We apologize for any inconvenience. Please check our website and social channels for 2021 VITA program dates and times. 
bryce-steirt-uni-business

How does this UNI business student, all-American athlete and entrepreneur find the time?

University of Northern Iowa senior wrestler Bryce Steiert (Management) had never commercially mowed a lawn before he started a landscaping business. “That’s kind of how he competes,” said UNI wrestling head coach Doug Schwab of Steiert’s willingness to jump into something new. “We’ll have a little bit of a plan for his matches, but he knows where he wants to go.”​
uni aaf students accept Best of Show Addy award

UNI AAF students win Best in Show at 2020 ADDY Awards

The University of Northern Iowa student chapter of the American Advertising Federation (AAF) won three awards at the annual Cedar Valley Addy awards show (Student Best in Show and two Gold Addys) last month. The group earned the hardware thanks to its “Get Dogged” campaign, which it created for the annual National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) last year. 
forgiveusourdebts

Forgive us our debts?

A trendy idea circulating on the political left is student-loan debt forgiveness. For some graduates and non-graduates, student loans are, indeed, onerous.
Foreign gold coin

Wealthy Hoarders—American style

Recently I’ve seen a spate of posts on Facebook—granted not the most veracious of mediums—bemoaning rich Americans’ penchant for “hoarding” their wealth. One envisions human versions of Disney’s Scrooge McDuck character defying physics by diving into treasure chests of gold coins.
People exiting a plane

In praise of cost cutting

Major American airlines are notorious for squeezing more passengers onto their planes. The image of sardines in a can is apt. Passengers, of course, whine. Pundits, consumer advocates, and legislators are outraged and claim airlines are only interested in increasing profits. Is it ethical to reduce costs or to increase revenues in order to increase profits?