Date: Tuesday, April 23 Time: 9:00 - 10:30 am Location: HoQ Restaurant  303 E 5th St. Des Moines, IA 50309 Register: Here The “Made In Iowa“ series celebrates the impact of small business on Iowa‘s culture and economy. This session, we are partnering with HoQ to share Chef Suman's story, discuss obstacles that they have faced and overcome, and explore how the benefits of shopping small and shopping local ripple through the economy. HoQ features fresh, locally grown ingredients making up 90% of the food used at the restaurant. With more than 50 suppliers from farms across the state whose offerings vary depending on the season, HoQ is committed to farm-to-table dining. Join us for a panel discussion, featuring: Chef Suman Hoque, Owner of HoQ Megan Milligan, President + CEO of The Iowa Center Mark Juffernbruch, Director of Business Coaching of The Iowa Center Jose Venales, Director of Credit + Lending of The Iowa Center Click here to register!

Date: April 27, 2024 Time: 9:30 - 11:00 Location: ARTSwork office, located inside Mainframe Studios: 900 Keosauqua Way, Studio 431, Des Moines Registration: Click Here Join us for business and career development tips for artists of all disciplines; plus, you'll get to know your artist neighbors and we'll be sharing artist opportunities in our community! Complimentary coffee and pastries will be provided. Click here to register! 

Date: Tuesday, April 30, 2024 Time: 9:00am - 4:15pm Location: Olmsted Center at Drake University 2875 University Ave Des Moines, IA 50311 Whether you’re budgeting for the present or planning for your retirement, managing your finances can be an overwhelming task. That’s why The Harkin Institute chose “Navigating the Journey to Financial Wellness” as the theme for this year’s Harkin Retirement Security Symposium. The event will bring together advocacy and community organizations, government agencies, and private companies and their foundations that work on financial wellness and retirement security. The symposium will provide a forum to discuss the most pressing challenges and find collaborative opportunities to address documented financial wellness needs and their relationship to retirement security, with an emphasis on vulnerable populations. Drop by The Iowa Center's table at this event! Click here to learn more! 

Elevate & Celebrate: A Networking Popup! Date: Monday, May 8th Time: 6:00 - 8:00 pm Location: Mix Creative 1271 8th St. Suite 500 West Des Moines, IA 50265 Join the Iowa Chapter of the Small Business Association for a popup networking in honor of Erin Huiatt receiving the 2024 Iowa SBA Women In Business Champion of the Year! 

Presenter: The Iowa Center Staff Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 Time: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Location: Online Register: Here Getting started in your small business journey can be daunting…let us help you make the process and little easier as we outline some basic steps to Getting Ready! What are the first steps needed to business ownership? What’s a business plan and why do you need one? What are the various types of legal business entities? How do you register your business? Click here to register!

Presenter: The Iowa Center Staff Date: Wednesday, May 8, 2024 Time: 3:00 - 4:00 pm Location: Online Register: Here Getting started in your small business journey can be daunting…let us help you make the process and little easier as we outline some basic steps to Getting Ready! What are the first steps needed to business ownership? What’s a business plan and why do you need one? What are the various types of legal business entities? How do you register your business? Click here to register!

Presenter: The Iowa Center Staff Date: Tuesday, May 14, 2024 Time: 3:00 - 4:00 pm Location: 2210 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312 Register: Here Running a small business requires more than having a passion and a vision. To be successful you need to have your financials in order. Unless you are familiar with bookkeeping basics, you might not know how crucial having the right financial documents are to your success. Join The Iowa Center staff as we go over the most useful and important financial documents for your small business. We will discuss and define: Income Statement/Profit and Loss Statement Cash Flow Statement Balance Sheet Accounts Receivable Budget Click here to register!

Presenter: The Iowa Center Staff Date: Wednesday, May 15, 2024 Time: 3:00 - 4:00 pm Location: 2210 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312 Register: Here Understanding your Personal Credit and How to Establish Business Credit.   Did you know that when you apply for a small business loan odds are that you will have to apply using your personal credit? This information is used by lenders and creditors to assess your creditworthiness and determine whether to lend you money or extend credit. Understanding your personal credit is an essential part of managing your finances and achieving your financial goals. We will also discuss everything you need to know about building personal credit for your business, including why it's important, how to get started, and best practices for maintaining good credit!  Click here to register!

Date: May 18, 2024 Time: 9:30 - 11:00 Location: ARTSwork office, located inside Mainframe Studios: 900 Keosauqua Way, Studio 431, Des Moines Registration: Click Here Join us for business and career development tips for artists of all disciplines; plus, you'll get to know your artist neighbors and we'll be sharing artist opportunities in our community! Complimentary coffee and pastries will be provided. Click here to register! 

Presenter: The Iowa Center Staff Date: Tuesday, May 21, 2024 Time: 3:00 - 4:00pm Location: Online Register: Here Turn your dream into a plan with this small group, one-hour business planning class. The Iowa Center staff will help you kickstart your business plan by providing you a road map on completing your plan and taking the next steps towards business ownership. Also connect with other aspiring small business owners to refine your business ideas as you put them into real plans. Click here to register! 

          Presenter: David Tracy of Northgate Marketing Date: Wednesday, May 22, 2024 Time: 3:00 - 4:00 pm Location: Virtual Register: Here Are you an aspiring entrepreneur or small business owner looking to make a big impact with a limited marketing budget? Look no further than "Marketing for Startups with a Small Budget - A Blueprint for Small Business Marketing." This course is designed to empower you with the knowledge and strategies needed to effectively market your startup or small business without breaking the bank. In today's competitive business landscape, creativity and resourcefulness can be your greatest assets, and this course will show you how to leverage them to achieve remarkable marketing results. Throughout this course, you will delve into innovative, cost-effective marketing techniques tailored specifically for startups and small businesses. From crafting a compelling brand story and harnessing the power of social media to mastering guerrilla marketing tactics and optimizing your online presence, you'll gain a comprehensive toolkit for maximizing your marketing efforts on a shoestring budget. Join us on a journey to discover how to reach your target audience, generate leads, and build a loyal customer base, all while managing your resources efficiently. By the end of this course, you'll have a solid blueprint for navigating the world of marketing as a small business, setting you on a path toward sustainable growth and success. Don't let a limited budget hold you back – learn how to market smarter, not harder, and watch your business thrive. Click here to register!

Presenter: Bill Wright Date: Monday, June 3, 2024 Time: 3:00 - 4:30 pm Location: 2210 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312 Price: $20 Register: Here Attend this general session on commercial real estate and learn about picking a location, lease negotiations, types of lease, required documentation, and more. Join our presenter Bill Wright in The Iowa Center office! Bill Wright, Managing Director for CBRE, has 32 years of experience in commercial real estate brokerage. He specializes in the sale and leasing of office and rental properties, and is an advisor on real estate strategies, commercial leases, lease-related legal issues, and business plans. Bill and his team at CBRE typically complete approximately 150 commercial real estate transactions per year throughout Central Iowa and the entire State. As a member of The Iowa Center Board of Directors, Bill has a keen interest in seeing Iowa entrepreneurs succeed in their small businesses. Click here to register!