Events

Date: Tuesday, July 21, 2026 Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Location: The Iowa Center (2210 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312) Register: Here Small businesses don’t all look the same. While many follow the path of opening a storefront, others build their work through creative, flexible, and often unconventional approaches. Our “Little Treat Edition” of the Made in Iowa series highlights side hustles and non-brick-and-mortar businesses that are shaping local economies in new ways. This session explores how entrepreneurs are launching and growing businesses from home, shared spaces, mobile setups, and even alongside full-time employment. Panelists will share how they got started, how they reach customers, and what it takes to build something sustainable outside of a traditional storefront. Join us for a panel discussion, featuring: – Courtney Moller, Art You Wood Love– Jessica Anderson, Jess Desserts LLC.– Becky Vandermark,Trigger Warning Book Bus Moderated by Jennifer Thomas, Program Director of The Iowa Center Women's Business Center Through the generosity and support of our sponsor, CLA, registration to Made in Iowa is free.

        Day/Time: Wednesday, July 22, 2026, 5:30-7:30 PM (for full details and class schedule, click here!) Location: Online In our final session, we’ll celebrate your hard work and growth throughout the course. This graduation class is your opportunity to put everything you’ve learned into action by presenting your business pitch and sharing your marketing strategy with your peers and instructors. You’ll have the chance to showcase your brand story, creative marketing ideas, and the strategies you’ve developed to reach your audience on a budget. This is a supportive and engaging space to gain feedback, network with fellow entrepreneurs, and be inspired by the innovative approaches others have crafted. We’ll close out the course by recognizing your accomplishments and setting the stage for your next steps as a confident, resourceful business owner ready to make an impact.

          Presenter: The Iowa Center Staff Date: Thursday, July 23, 2026 Time: 3:00 - 4:00 pm Location: 2210 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312 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: The Iowa Center Staff Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2026 Time: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Location: 2210 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312 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!

        Date: Wednesday, August 5, 2026 Time: 3:00 - 4:30 pm Location: 2210 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312 Register: Here Join The Iowa Center and Kevin Chorniak with Bankers Trust for a no-cost presentation on ‘Essential Leadership Skills for Business Owners.’ Each 90-minute presentation will cover strategic decision-making, leading with emotional intelligence, adaptability, effective communication, conflict resolution, delegation, and fundamental aspects of essential leadership skills for business owners. With over 30 years of senior executive leadership experience, Kevin Chorniak will present key leadership topics and host break-out sessions, giving attendees time to receive individualized coaching and networking opportunities. Part 1: Leading Yourself Participants will focus on building a strong leadership foundation by developing self-awareness, emotional intelligence, adaptability, and strategic decision-making skills. Through practical frameworks and reflective exercises, you will learn how to navigate challenges with resilience, make thoughtful decisions under pressure, and cultivate a leadership style rooted in clarity, confidence, and personal accountability. Part 2: Leading Your Team This section focuses on applying leadership principles within a team setting. Participants will learn how to communicate effectively, resolve conflict constructively, delegate tasks with intention, and build trust across their teams. Emphasis is placed on creating a culture of accountability, empowerment, and collaboration, enabling teams to perform at a higher level while fostering engagement and long-term success. Click here to register!

Presenter: The Iowa Center Staff Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2026 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!

        Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2026 Time: 3:00 - 4:30 pm Location: Online Register: Here Join The Iowa Center and Kevin Chorniak with Bankers Trust for a no-cost presentation on ‘Essential Leadership Skills for Business Owners.’ Each 90-minute presentation will cover strategic decision-making, leading with emotional intelligence, adaptability, effective communication, conflict resolution, delegation, and fundamental aspects of essential leadership skills for business owners. With over 30 years of senior executive leadership experience, Kevin Chorniak will present key leadership topics and host break-out sessions, giving attendees time to receive individualized coaching and networking opportunities. Part 1: Leading Yourself Participants will focus on building a strong leadership foundation by developing self-awareness, emotional intelligence, adaptability, and strategic decision-making skills. Through practical frameworks and reflective exercises, you will learn how to navigate challenges with resilience, make thoughtful decisions under pressure, and cultivate a leadership style rooted in clarity, confidence, and personal accountability. Part 2: Leading Your Team This section focuses on applying leadership principles within a team setting. Participants will learn how to communicate effectively, resolve conflict constructively, delegate tasks with intention, and build trust across their teams. Emphasis is placed on creating a culture of accountability, empowerment, and collaboration, enabling teams to perform at a higher level while fostering engagement and long-term success. Click here to register!

Presenter: The Iowa Center Staff Date: Tuesday, August 18, 2026 Time: 3:00 - 4:00pm Location: 2210 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312 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: The Iowa Center Staff Date: Wednesday, August 19, 2026 Time: 3:00 - 4:00 pm Location: Online Register: Here As a small business owner, you won’t ever really know the unexpected challenges or opportunities that await you in life and business. Always Ready: Lending is a working session for you to learn how to financially prepare your small business for the next step in your journey. The Iowa Center staff will show you what you need to do to always be ready to make financial moves in your business, including applying for a loan or buying/selling new goods. This class is especially for you if you’ve ever been denied a loan or need a helping hand to get your financials on track. Click here to register!

          Date: Thursday, August 20, 2026 Time: 3:00 - 4:00 pm Location: Online 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!