Homers -- What's going right

BOOMING ATTENTION: A couple of news items last week added to Cedar Rapids' national reputation as a community on the grow. An Iowa State University analysis showed that retail sales here grew 6.3 percent from July 1, 2010, to June 30, 2011 - well above the statewide increase of just under 1 percent. Flood recovery spending gets some credit, but some retailers also see growth beyond that factor. Meanwhile, Time magazine listed Cedar Rapids among 10 other cities in its “Boomtown USA” list. It pointed to this city's relatively low 6 percent unemployment rate, job growth above the national rate and other strengths including Rockwell Collins, the city's largest employer. The robust farm economy also is a big boost.

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CREATIVE AND GENEROUS: Budding young author Nick Rotter of Williamsburg wrote, illustrated and published a book, “Larry the Light Blue Sub Gets Lost,” that is now on sale, with proceeds going toward new playground equipment for his school.

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MORE JOBS: Iowa payroll jobs in February were up 8,700, the largest one-month gain in seven months and the second-largest in more than a decade. The increase continued the strong start so far in 2012.