Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) http://www.ciras.iastate.edu/

Since 1963, CIRAS has been helping Iowa State University Extension and the College of Engineering carry out their land-grant university mission to improve the quality of life in Iowa by enhancing the performance of Iowa industry.

Servicers provided include:
Industry surveys, research, technology transfer, seminars, and technical assistance.

Customized Training
http://www.iwcc.edu/ewd/ct.asp

Iowa Western Community College is committed to the delivery of customized training and consulting services to area business, governmental agencies and non-profit organizations. The Division of Economic and Workforce Development provides the various types of training sought by southwest Iowa business and industry.

Services available include:
Customized courses, instructional packages, training needs assessment, flexible scheduling to meet your operation or production schedule, training offered at your facility or at the IWCC campus or any of our outlying centers in Atlantic, Clarinda, Harlan or Shenandoah, experienced professional trainers, cost-effective and customer-oriented services, training in 5 core areas:  health & safety, industrial/technical, management/supervision, computer skills, and basic skills.

Division of Economic & Workforce Development at IWCC
http://www.iwcc.edu/ewd/ct.asp

The Division of Economic and Workforce Development at Iowa Western Community College works with individuals, communities, and existing and emerging businesses in Shelby county providing services and programs they need to remain competitive and thrive. The division provides services in the areas of economic development, workforce development, and entrepreneurial development.

Enterprise Zones
http://www.iowalifechanging.com/business/enterprise_zones.aspx

Creating business or housing opportunities in an Enterprise Zone can be very beneficial to your project.  Over 3,700 acres are identified as Enterprise Zones in Shelby County.

Entrepreneurial Education & Training
http://www.iwccecenter.com/education.asp

The goal in entrepreneurial education is to encourage, support and facilitate classroom experiences that enable young entrepreneurs to follow their dreams. Iowa Western’s Entrepreneurial Center works with IWCC faculty to develop programs that introduce students to entrepreneurial processes through classroom instruction, internships, business consulting, and mentor relationships. They also have a working partnership with the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center at the University of Iowa to provide an entrepreneurial experiential learning opportunity for students and entrepreneurial consulting services for businesses.

The IWCC Entrepreneurial Center offers free resources to help students on their path to becoming entrepreneurs. Some of the resources available include: sample business plans, free access to research databases, SBDC and SCORE counselors, financial reporting guidelines, and advertising and marketing support.

Industrial New Jobs Training (260E)
http://www.iwcc.edu/ewd/260e.asp

The INJTP provides training dollars from certificates sold by Iowa's community colleges. The certificates are paid for by the diversion of the new employees’ payroll withholding tax.

Training costs available include: Company and workforce assessment services and testing; adult basic education and workplace literacy; in-plant customized training; credit instructional courses; vendor training; on-the-job training; and contracted or professional services.

For a business to quality, they must be new or expanding, engaged in manufacturing, processing or assembling products, or conducting research and development. Service businesses must be engaged in interstate commerce to be eligible.

Iowa Jobs Training Program (260F)
http://www.iwcc.edu/ewd/260f.asp

Iowa Jobs Training Program provides forgivable loans to Iowa businesses to train existing workers. The purpose of the program is to help Iowa businesses become more competitive within their industries by providing them with the resources to maximize the skills and productivity of their workers.

A business qualifies if they are engaged in manufacturing, processing, warehousing, wholesaling, or conducting research and development. Service industries must serve customers outside of Iowa. Employees must be currently employed by the business and for whom the business pays withholding tax.

Any type of training that will benefit the company's competitive position and enhance the skills or knowledge of the workers to be trained is eligible. Eligible training costs include training equipment, materials, and supplies; college, company, or contracted training provider; and training-related travel.

Iowa Western Small Business Development Center
http://www.iwccecenter.com/

Iowa Western Community College’s entrepreneurial services include the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Council Bluffs SCORE chapter.

The two programs work together to actively promote entrepreneurial development throughout southwest Iowa. We support area entrepreneurs and student business ventures, raise public awareness about the vital role entrepreneurs play in economic development and stability, and create an educational environment that encourages entrepreneurial thinking at all levels.

The IWCC Small Business Development Center and Southwest Iowa SCORE chapter offers free one on one counseling and mentoring to small businesses and small business start ups. We pride ourselves on experienced experts that will help businesses at all levels. Topics we cover include: Business planning, marketing, internet presence and optimization, social media marketing, bookkeeping best practices, financing options and packaging, research, legal concerns, permit and license information and more.

Located adjacent to the Council Bluffs Airport, the IWCC E-Center offers a resource library, conference room, meeting space and a staff ready to assist entrepreneurs and small business owners in opening or operating businesses in southwest Iowa.

Iowa Western Workforce Development
http://www.iowaworkforce.org/region13/

Region 13 serves Shelby County. There currently is an office in Harlan located at 1210 – 7th Street. You can complete an application on-line prior to submitting an application to the IWD office. Connect through the website posted above.

Senior Corp of Retired Executives – SCORE
http://www.iwccecenter.com/coaching.asp

These volunteers provide professional advice, guidance and mentoring. The chapter serving Shelby County is located at the IWCC Entrepreneurial Center, where they match the needs of small business owners with the business expertise of SCORE counselors.

State Data Center
http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/datacenter

The State Data Center of Iowa is your source for population, housing, business and government statistics about Iowa, including data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Iowa state agencies, and other state and federal sources.

State of Iowa

The Iowa Economic Development Authority has numerous resources to assist startup and existing businesses.  From financial assistance for starting your business and regulatory & compliance assistance to recruitment and hiring, IEDA’s full-service project staff can help connect you with the things you need. Use the following connections to access their resources.

www.iowalifechanging.com/business/startup.aspx
www.iowalifechanging.com/business/default.aspx