About the Iowa Business Council

Vermeer University is an all-encompassing program designed to help retain, promote and educate Vermeer employees. It's a great example of an innovative approach to addressing workforce challenges. 

Iowa Business Council members are leaders in Iowa and in the U.S.  In fact, seven IBC members were recognized on the 2018 "America's Best Employers" lists released by Forbes.

Congratulations Principal, University of Iowa HealthCare, Hy-Vee, Pella Corporation, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Wells Enterprises, and Meredith Corporation on this exciting recognition.

Reynolds Cramer, Fareway CEO, shares how his company & IBC members are preparing Iowans for the careers of tomorrow in an op-ed to the Ames Tribune.  

Vermeer Corporation signs its first student for its welding apprenticeship program through the Pella Career Academy, which is to begin this summer. 

Wells Fargo donated $4.5 million to Iowa nonprofits, schools and community organizations in 2017 through corporate and foundation giving. When combined with the $5.1 million donated by the company’s 16,000 Iowa team members, nonprofits in the state received a total of $9.6 million in 2017 from Wells Fargo. That amounts to an average daily donation of $26,300. Iowa team members also gave their time, volunteering 210,000 hours with nonprofits in 2017.

Iowa's largest employers expect continued growth for the 2018 economy, with 80 percent of the Iowa Business Council members anticipating higher sales in the next six months. To support this projected growth, IBC members expect increases in both capital spending and employment. Despite the continued growth prompted by the strong economy, 65 percent of IBC businesses report concern in regards to attracting, developing and retaining a quality workforce.

After unanamiously passing through both the House and the Senate, Gov. Reynolds signed the Future Ready Iowa bill during the Future Ready Iowa Summit on April 3rd.

In its 2019 edition of Best Graduate Schools, U.S. News and World Report has once again ranked the University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine among the nation’s best medical schools. Carver College of Medicine was ranked for both its research and primary care missions—number 21 in primary care and number 32 in research. The research ranking is an improvement from the 2018 ranking of number 35.

Principal earned spots on both the Working Mother 100 Best Companies and the NAFE Top Companies for Executive Women lists - another great example of an IBC member leading the way.

The IBC's Economic Outlook Survey shares projected trends for the state's economy, which can then be utilized throughout Iowa for business and economic planning purposes. IBC members participate in this survey quarterly.  Check out the full report for the latest anticipated trends in employment, sales, and capital spending. 

Infrastructure, health care, and education lead Iowa to the number 1 spot in the Best States Ranking by U.S. News and World Report. 

Iowa's Competitive Dashboard is the IBC's annual research report that measures how Iowa is competing nationally.  The dashboard provides an overall ranking for five indicators: economic growth; workforce and education; governance; health and wellness; and demographics and diversity. Each indicator consists of five metrics that are averaged to determine Iowa’s overall performance in that category – competitive, average, or poor.

Mike Wells, President & CEO for Wells Enterprises, recently shared some advice on how Iowa can continue to prosper as a state in an op-ed to the Sioux City Journal.  

Our Executive Director, Georgia Van Gundy, was live on "In the Know with Jeff Angelo" from WHO Radio to discuss the results from the 2018 Iowa's Competitive Dashboard. Check out the broadcast to find out what this year's results mean for Iowa. (Interview starts at 20:40 in the recording).

Congratulations to two of our members - Deere & Company and Principal - for being named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute. The list of awardees was announced mid-February with 35 companies from 23 countries receiving this recognition. We are extremely excited to have two companies from our council recognized in this way. 

Our very own Executive Director, Georgia Van Gundy, was interviewed on WHO Radio's weekly show, Focus, regarding our latest Economic Outlook Survey. Check out what she had to say about the survey's results and the members' concerns regarding Iowa's workforce. (Interview starts at 12:35 in the recording).

Iowa's largest companies report a positive outlook for the 2018 economy.  According to the Economic Outlook Survey, a majority of the Iowa Business Council members anticipate an increase in sales, capital spending, and employment during the first half of 2018. 

In an effort to grow jobs, strengthen our economy and improve the fiscal health of our state, the Iowa Business Council supports the creation of a simple, transparent, and stable tax structure.  

In order to sustain and grow business and industry in Iowa, we need workers of all skill levels. So, the Iowa Business Council works to align business and education to create a career ready workforce in Iowa. 

Iowa Business Council members pledged to hire 30,000 interns, externs, and apprentices by 2025 as part of the council's support of the Future Ready Iowa Alliance.