Business Notes for Dec. 31, 2023

The Gazette’s Business Notes is a compendium of the week’s promotions, new hires, certifications, added business lines and business events, among other items, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and the rest of the Corridor.

Information and photos can be submitted to Business Notes by email to businessnotes@thegazette.com, or on our site at thegazette.com/businessnotes.

News

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE WEEK: U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, ranking member of the Senate’s Small Business Committee, has started a Small Business of the Week award that will recognize a small business in each of Iowa’s 99 counties.

This past week, Ernst selected Family Foods of Tipton, which been operating in Cedar County for 59 years and three generations, making it a staple in the community, Ernst said.

Don Goetz began working in the grocery business at age 14 at the Benner Tea Co. In 1964, he bought the Benner store and renamed it, moving the business to its current location in 1985. His sons, Mike and Brad, now co-own Family Foods.

NEW TAX OFFICE: H&R Block is opening a new Cedar Rapids office at 1239 First Ave. SE, Suite 2. It will host an open house from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3, with goody bags for visitors. Appointments for tax preparations can be made by calling (319) 363-2655.

VOLUNTEER GROUP SEEKS BUSINESS MENTORS: SCORE is a volunteer organization looking for individuals who would be willing to spend a few hours a month helping small business owners or those who want to start a business.

Volunteers do not need to be retired to get involved. For more information, contact Mark at mark.hermann@scorevolunteer.org or go to https://www.score.org/eastcentraliowa.