Today is: August 27, 2009
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Time:
7:45 - 11:15 AM
ABI/IDED
Environmental Conference
ABI Member Day at the
Harvester
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To foster a favorable business, economic,
governmental and social climate within the State
of Iowa so that our citizens have the opportunity
to enjoy the highest possible quality of
life. | |
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  Legislative News
ABI
Member Lorna Puntillo, Nutra-Flo, Chosen for
State Board
Lorna
Puntillo, Environmental and Safety Manager for
Nutra-Flo/Kay-Dee Feed in Sioux City, Iowa has
been appointed by Governor Culver to serve on
the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission
(EPC). Lorna has been slotted in the
Commerce/Finance Position and the September 15th
meeting will be her first meeting. Please
join ABI in congratulating Lorna and thanking
her for representing Iowa business and industry
on the Environmental Protection
Commission. Ms. Puntillo will be up for
Senate confirmation during the next legislative
session.
Iowa Workforce Development
Employee Misclassification
Update
Last week Iowa Workforce
Development (IWD) provided interested parties an
update on the Employee Misclassification
Taskforce that was formed from legislation in
2008. The 2009 session provided IWD with
financing to help address the situation of
misclassified employees. The Department
has been touring the state giving presentations
and encouraging companies to make certain they
are following the law when it comes to
classifying workers as employees or independent
contractors. Continue
reading>>>
Auction
Rate Securities Freeze
Recently an
ABI member company shared that they had invested
in the short term auction rate securities
("ARS") market. The ARS market was
attractive because it provided liquidity for
capital, at least until the credit markets froze
in 2008. This market freeze left this company
holding securities (such as long term bonds)
without a market. Continue
reading>>>
NAM
Study on Climate Change Focuses on Iowa Specific
Data
The National Association of
Manufacturers (NAM) has released a study on the
proposed Waxman-Markey cap and trade legislation
that passed that U.S. House of Representatives
earlier this summer. The report also
looked at fifteen states and the negative impact
it would have on the economy. Continue
reading>>>
ABI
Environment Conference Less Than Three Weeks
Away
ABI
Environment Committee Chair Wayne Jochmann,
ALCOA, is featured in this week's e-Newsletter
explaining why you should attend the ABI
Environmental Conference. The early bird
registration rate runs through Monday August
31st. Click here to read
Wayne's column and register for the conference
on September 16th!
Public
Policy Regional and Committee Meetings
Set
September is almost here and ABI
is ready to begin policy development for the
2010 Legislative Session. Regional
meetings are slated for September in
Fort Dodge,
Davenport, and
Waverly this year. Throughout
October, ABI will be hosting committee meetings
for member input for the ABI 2010 Agenda.
Continue
reading>>> |
From the Desk Of...
Wayne Jochmann
 The
countdown has begun...in a little under three
weeks, ABI and the Iowa Department of Economic
Development will be hosting the Iowa
Environmental Conference. The
theme of the conference is "Surviving in a Tough
Climate." The double entendre is
intentional. In my role as Alcoa, Inc.
Davenport Works Environmental Manager and the
ABI Environment Committee Chair I can attest to
the difficult climate Iowa's business leaders
are enduring with the economy. While
companies are learning to do more with less,
like cutting travel expenses and reducing their
workforce; federal and state regulators are
proposing more stringent requirements that
will affect varying sectors of industry. Talk
about adding insult to
injury...
ABI's goal is to provide
value to its members. In a business climate
where our Iowa business is down 40% Alcoa still
realizes the benefit of belonging to ABI and
encourages me to spend time as the Environmental
Committee Chairman. In addition to ramping up
environmental regulatory efforts over the past
two years, ABI has teamed up with IDED this year
to offer a first class, cutting edge
conference. State Senator Dennis Black
will be kicking off the morning with insight on
environmental legislative proposals, followed by
an update from Iowa DNR officials on current
Iowa policies. Continue
reading>>>
Did you
miss the Monday memo from ABI President, Mike
Ralston? For this week's memo click
here. |
Top Business
Trends...
Austin Palmer
How's
Business??
Friends
and business partners have asked this question
occasionally since I started Palmer Group 11
years ago.
A
year ago this was mostly part of introductions
or casual conversation. It's different now. In
2009 I'm asked the same question at least three
times more than before. Now when they ask, they
look me right in the eye with more "intent". And
I get it... Employment has always been a good
indicator for how the economy is doing and
everyone's interested in that these
days!
So...in
case I do not see you soon and you happen to be
interested, here's what we're seeing in the
market today:
- There
have been no sizeable "reductions" in Central
Iowa in the past month or two. While more
announcements may come this fall, there is a
definite slow down in large scale job cuts.
- We
employ a relatively large number of temporary
professionals throughout the market. Overtime
hours these people are working have increased
steadily over the past month...a sign of
increasing demand. Continue
reading>>>
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