Iowa Workforce Monthly, October 2009, Issue 9

Highlights: * After learning the local food pantry was almost out of food, the staff at the Creston Workforce Center decided to team together and collect food to donate....pg. 2 * The Kossuth Area Employers’ Council (ECI) will host a training session for businesses on “Writing Employee Handbooks and Job Descriptions”....pg. 2 * Iowa Workforce Development is reminding Iowans that October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month....pg. 2 * This story was submitted by Veteran Representative Kate Bearce. She was moved after working to help a veteran.....pg. 3 * New Painting hangs at the VA Hospital New Mental Health Unit.....pg. 3

Iowa Workforce Monthly, November 2009, Issue 10

Highlights: * Misclassification of workers as “independent contractors” rather than “employees,” is a growing problem in Iowa and across the nation....pg. 2 * The Reemployment Services program is designed to be an early intervention by offering intensive services to job seekers receiving unemployment insurance.....pg. 2

Iowa Workforce Monthly, December 2009, Issue 11

Highlights: * During 2009, IWD staff members participated in a 5-day Kaizen event designed to streamline the collection of employers’ delinquent unemployment insurance (UI) taxes……………………………pg. 2 * Beginning January 15, the Iowa Department of Revenue web site will feature links to companies that provide online filing of both federal and Iowa income tax returns………pg. 2 * Recently, OSHA Inspectors Lonnie Majerus and Don Peddy visited Hannah, Inc. in Sioux City………………………………………………pg. 2 * Looking for a new job when you are over the age of 50 poses a whole new set of challenges…………………………………………pg. 3 * Over the last year, IWD has been working on an Integration Project that will change the way services are delivered to customers………pg. 3

Iowa Workforce Monthly, January 2010, Issue 12

Highlights: * Over 150 participants attended a valuable career development seminar on January 26th titled “Rise Above the Crowd - Getting Hired in Today’s Economy.”..........................pg. 2 * Joanne McKeog sent a letter in December thanking the New Iowan Center for the services they provide..........................pg. 2 * Scott Shaw, an ex-offender, went to the Newton Workforce Center and tested for the Career Readiness Certificate..........................pg. 2 * Iowa’s Unemployment Insurance Tax program is getting a new online filing system, called My Iowa UI..........................pg. 3 * The Davenport Veteran’s Outreach Program Representative presented a $500 donation check to help the Humility of Mary Shelter in helping veterans..........................pg. 3

Iowa Workforce Monthly, February 2010, Issue 13

Highlights: * Iowa’s Unemployment Insurance Tax Bureau is getting a new online filing system, called My Iowa UI.............pg. 2 * Disability Navigator Jade Hunt sent us this success story..........................pg. 2 * Frank Nucaro attended Re-Employment Services (RES) training in December and the Skills Development lab in January...........................................pg. 2

Iowa Workforce Monthly, April 2010, Issue 15

Highlights: *YouTube and Twitter.....................pg. 2 Stay up-to-date on all the training opportunities available in your area.............................................pg. 2 * RES Success Story: In January, Johanna Hofmeister attended Re-Employment Services (RES) training......................pg. 2 * We are three weeks into the My Iowa UI presentation schedule and response has been tremendous..............................pg. 3 * In 2009, IWD Employees raised over $7,200 for the Toys for Tots program............pg. 3

Iowa Leading Indicators Index January 2010

The Iowa Leading Indicators Index (ILII) is a tool for monitoring the future direction of the Iowa economy and State revenues. Its eight components include an agricultural futures price index, an Iowa stock market index, average weekly manufacturing hours in Iowa, initial unemployment claims in Iowa, an Iowa new orders index, diesel fuel consumption in Iowa, residential building permits in Iowa, and the national yield spread.

Iowa Leading Indicators Index February 2010

The Iowa Leading Indicators Index (ILII) is a tool for monitoring the future direction of the Iowa economy and State revenues. Its eight components include an agricultural futures price index, an Iowa stock market index, average weekly manufacturing hours in Iowa, initial unemployment claims in Iowa, an Iowa new orders index, diesel fuel consumption in Iowa, residential building permits in Iowa, and the national yield spread.

Iowa Leading Indicators Index March 2010

The Iowa Leading Indicators Index (ILII) is a tool for monitoring the future direction of the Iowa economy and State revenues. Its eight components include an agricultural futures price index, an Iowa stock market index, average weekly manufacturing hours in Iowa, initial unemployment claims in Iowa, an Iowa new orders index, diesel fuel consumption in Iowa, residential building permits in Iowa, and the national yield spread.

Iowa Workforce Monthly, May 2010, Issue 16

Highlights: * On Wednesday, April 7th, the Marshalltown Workforce Center and the local New Iowan Center participated in the regional Central Iowa Job Fair.....pg. 2 * The Burlington Workforce Center had a successful year offering Iowans free income tax assistance through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.............................................pg. 2 * The New Iowan Center and the Muscatine Workforce Center will be holding a Spring Career Fair on Thursday, May 20th.......pg. 2 * Iowans gathered Wednesday, April 28, to pay tribute and to reflect upon the lives of the Iowa workers who lost their lives in 2009 while at work............................pg. 3

Iowa Leading Indicators Index April 2010

The Iowa Leading Indicators Index (ILII) is a tool for monitoring the future direction of the Iowa economy and State revenues. Its eight components include an agricultural futures price index, an Iowa stock market index, average weekly manufacturing hours in Iowa, initial unemployment claims in Iowa, an Iowa new orders index, diesel fuel consumption in Iowa, residential building permits in Iowa, and the national yield spread.

Iowa Workforce Monthly, June-July 2010, Issue 17

Highlights: * Iowa Workforce Development Director Elisabeth Buck and Deputy Director Joe Walsh recently visited a number of IowaWORKS offices in Eastern Iowa as part of a summer tour........................................pg. 2 * Amber Connolly was recently awarded the Iowa Association of Workplace Professionals (IAWP) individual award for Outstanding Specialized Customer Service...............pg. 2 * Iowa Workforce Development has partnered with Iowa’s Community Colleges to implement Iowa’s National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC).................pg. 3 * O*NET is an occupational information network developed under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration.....................pg. 3

Evaluating Direct and Indirect Economic Outcomes of the 2008 Iowa Weather‐Related Disasters

This research seeks to fill some of the gaps in understanding the local, regional, and statewide economic consequences of the disasters of 2008. This report evaluates sets of population, unemployment, employment, business firms, and trade patterns over time in an attempt to discern the household consumption and business productivity disruptions caused by the weather disasters of 2008.

Iowa Workforce Monthly, November 2010, Issue 19

Highlights: * New Iowan Center 10th Anniversary Open House........................................pg. 2 * New ICAP Workforce Services Center Held Open House.............................pg. 2 * Cedar Rapids IowaWORKS Hosts Career Fair...............................................pg. 3 * New Hours for Washington IowaWORKS office.............................pg. 3 * Regional Update.................................pg. 4 * Regional Veteran’s Day Events & Photos ...............................................pg. 5

Iowa Workforce Monthly, January 2011, Issue 20

Highlights: * Workers’ Compensation CommissionerChristopher Godfrey Testifies Before Congress........................................pg. 2 *Lakes Area and Kossuth County ECI to Hold Joint Meeting.............................pg. 2 *IWD Assists Ex-Offenders in the Work Search Process.......................................pg. 3 *eFile for a Fast Income Tax Refund..pg. 3 *IowaWORKS Greater Siouxland Naturalization Ceremony...................pg. 5