Good Morning Cedar Rapids draws 600

CEDAR RAPIDS - When the first Good Morning Cedar Rapids breakfast was held 25 years ago, it attracted about 300 people to an event recognizing the success of three small businesses in the Corridor.

Thursday, a sold-out crowd of 600 early risers filled part of the U.S. Cellular Convention Center as the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance honored Cobble Hill Eatery and Dispensary in Cedar Rapids, Strategic Print Solutions in Hiawatha and Barnes Manufacturing Services in Marion with Bravo awards. The awards are small stainless steel replicas of the Tree of Five Seasons on Cedar Rapids' riverfront.

Iowa natives Andy and Carrie Schumacher launched Cobble Hill, 219 Second St. SE, in February 2013. The couple, who met while students at the University of Iowa, moved to New York while Andy attended culinary school and Carrie interned with a fashion designer.

With their daughter in tow, a son on the way and a vision for their own restaurant, the couple moved back to Iowa after Andy gained four years of valuable experience.

'We felt that we could fill a niche in Cedar Rapids and make more of an impact than we could with a restaurant in New York,” Carrie said Thursday.

Casey Ealy, president of Strategic Print Solutions, said the company has experienced customer growth in recent years with production prints and its managed cost program. It also has gives back to the community through food grown on a farm next to its building at 1420 Stamy Rd.

'Feed Iowa First is a non-profit that takes unused green space and turns it into farms that employees or others maintain,” Ealy said. 'Everything that is grown is donated through HACAP (the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program), Meals on Wheels and similar programs.”

Barnes Manufacturing Services, 560 31st St. in Marion, is a family-owned company that provides custom manufacturing services, capital equipment fabrication and short-run production for plastic and metal parts.

Tom Barnes, president and co-owner with his wife, Vickie, was recognized by the White House in 2013 for his leadership of the local Rotary Club Shoes for Kids program that has purchased tens of thousands of new shoes and boots.