Business News

Downtown Iowa City is getting a jump start on its holiday shopping season with a new market just for kids.

If the shipping issues continue, that could create a backup of products, which could drive down the prices farmers receive for selling their goods.

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.

Due to the conditions and challenges many businesses have faced in the past 18 months, more companies are finding it increasingly difficult to adequately staff their establishments. Compounding those issues are the more recent shortages and price increases related to supply chain difficulties.

The number of unemployed Iowans dropped in October, lowering the seasonally adjusted jobless rate to 3.9 percent, according to a report issued Friday by Iowa Workforce Development.

Union approves deal offering immediate 10% raises

Though Hunter Companies was under contract to purchase the former Transamerica site, the local developer is not moving forward with purchasing the property.

Collins Aerospace, Cedar Rapids’ largest employer, announced it has acquired Dutch Thermoplastic Components, a Netherlands-based development and fabrication of structural thermoplastic composite parts.