Government Notes: Iowa City named Iowa small business community of the year

Iowa City has been named Iowa Small Business Community of the Year by the Iowa District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

The award highlights a community’s efforts to support local small businesses, according to a city news release.

“Iowa City is delighted to receive this honor from the SBA, which affirms what we have been focused on for years — supporting our awesome and amazing business community,” Mayor Bruce Teague said in a statement.

Iowa City was selected by the Iowa District Office based on key programs and incentives implemented to support small businesses, leveraging community resources with other programs and having the community directly contribute to the success of small businesses.

“Iowa City is committed to providing opportunities to start, grow and expand small businesses,” said Jayne Armstrong, director of the Iowa District Office. “Its ongoing support of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, including the South of 6 Business District, strengthens its attraction as a small business friendly community.”

Armstrong also highlighted the Better Together 2030 initiative as an example of the city’s commitment to improving and creating a “robust economy in which small businesses can thrive.”

The award will be presented to the city at the South of 6 Business District launch party at Pepperwood Plaza on May 13. The award will be presented at 2:45 p.m.

Iowa City conducting compensation study for city staff positions

A human resource consulting firm will conduct a compensation study for city staff positions in Iowa City.

The Iowa City Council last week approved a $118,745 contract with Kansas-based Austin Peters Group for a review of internal equity, job descriptions and market analysis for city staff positions.

The firm last conducted a comprehensive review for the city in 2006, Karen Jennings, the city’s human resources administrator, said in a council memo. Jennings said it is best practice to do such a review every 10 to 15 years, so Iowa City’s review is overdue.

These types of reviews “ensure that salaries for positions are internally consistent and externally competitive,” Jennings said.

Coralville asking ‘Century Families’ to lead 4thFest parade

The city of Coralville is looking to highlight families who have lived in Coralville for 100 years or longer during this year’s 4thFest.

“Century Families” — those whose members have lived in Coralville since 1923 or earlier — are asked to serve as marshals in this year’s parade. Members of a Century Family who are interested and available to be in the parade at 10 a.m. on July 4 should contact the city at 4thFest@coralville.org by May 15.

The city’s 4thFest is an Independence Day celebration with bands, floats and fireworks. This year’s festival will include special events in celebration of Coralville’s 150th anniversary, according to the city.

A complete schedule will be announced closer to the event.

  Buy Photo

Cedar Rapids featured in retail recovery report

The National League of Cities recently released a new report on the changing retail landscape nationwide, which featured Cedar Rapids as a model for innovative approaches to retail recovery and rethinking public space that other cities may emulate.

In spotlighting Cedar Rapids, the report discussed city efforts to repurpose old buildings after the devastating 2008 flood and turn them into mixed-use spaces. NewBo City Market represents this effort, the report said, noting how the market has anchored the New Bohemia District, served as a gathering space in the urban core and incubator that plays a key role in supporting local businesses.

In addition to Cedar Rapids, the report highlights the approaches taken around the U.S. to support retail recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic from communities including Norwalk, Conn.; North Las Vegas, Nevada; Boynton Beach, Florida; Memphis, Tennessee; West Hollywood, California; Chicago, Illinois; and Tacoma, Wash.

Overall, according to a news release, cities have shown resilience in rebuilding retail, largely through a surge in entrepreneurship and new business applications. Key recommendations from leaders of the aforementioned communities were:

To read the full Future of Cities: Adapting to Changes in the Retail Landscape report, visit nlc.org/resource/future-of-cities-adapting-to-changes-in-the-retail-landscape/.

  Buy Photo

Cedar Rapids reopening Old MacDonald’s Farm for season

The Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Department will open Old MacDonald’s Farm in Bever Park for the season on Monday with a new event called Chalk the Farm.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., visitors may help celebrate the farm’s opening by decorating the sidewalks with chalk drawings. The farm, a petting zoo, will open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Oct. 1. Admission is free, but visitors are encouraged to contribute a $1 minimum donation.

Old MacDonald’s Farm houses farm animals and North American waterfowl. The baby animals include calves, chickens, pygmy goats, lambs, rabbits, ducklings and piglets. The animals are out only during warm weather.

Visitors may attend events and programs this year including: Story Time with Animals; Field Day; Movie Nights; County Fair; Linn County Master Gardener Mini Camps; Animals on the Farm; Barnyard Pals; Be a Bee; Birds-Nurturing Nature; Build a Birdhouse; Creek Study and You; Farmer for a Day; Fuzzy, Furry, Slimy, Scaly; Goat Yoga; Little Farmers: Exploring Agriculture; and Make a Wind Chime.

More information about events and programs at the farm is available in the Play CR guide at CRREC.org or by calling the Cedar Rapids Parks & Recreation Department, 319-286-5566.

Iowa City schools foundation announces new executive director

Laura Ebinger, who has provided legal representation for children in high-conflict custody cases at Kids First Law Center in Cedar Rapids, was named the next executive director of the Foundation for the Iowa City Community School District.

Ebinger begins her tenure May 15, and will be introduced formally to donors and friends at the annual Education is Everyone’s Business breakfast on May 18.

“I am overjoyed to join the Foundation,” Ebinger said in a news release. “I am committed to ensuring every student in our district has extraordinary learning experiences like School of the Wild and the Visiting Author Program. I look forward to working with the board, school district leaders, partners, donors, parents and teachers to further extend the reach of the Foundation, increasing opportunities for student engagement, enrichment and equity.”

Nate Koch, president of the Foundation’s board of directors, said Ebinger’s experience and education shines through “everything she does.”

Ebinger has designed and implemented educational workshops that benefited thousands of children across the state and was instrumental in growing Kids First from a staff of two to 17. She has a strong record of successful fundraising and volunteering in the Iowa City area as president of the Borlaug Elementary Parent Teacher Organization and president of the Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation.

The Foundation for the Iowa City Community School District is a nonprofit organization that raises and distributes funds to support the district’s schools and programs. In 2020, the Foundation awarded more than $1 million in grants to support local schools, including Big Idea Hunt and Small Idea Hunt grants to support a wide array of teachers’ projects.

Government Notes is published Mondays and contains updates from area governmental bodies. Gazette reporters Marissa Payne, Izabela Zaluska and Grace King contribute.