Events

Presenter: The Iowa Center Staff Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026 Time: 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. Location: Virtual Register: Here Thinking about expanding your business? Before taking the next step, it's important to determine whether your business is truly ready for growth. In this session, you'll evaluate your current operations, explore the opportunities and challenges of expansion, and learn how to align growth with your long-term vision. Whether you're considering a new location, hiring additional staff, or expanding your services, this course will help you make informed decisions with confidence. What You'll Learn Evaluate whether your business is ready to expand. Align expansion plans with your long-term goals and mission. Explore the opportunities and challenges of business growth. Click here to register! 

          Presenter: The Iowa Center Staff Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2026 Time: 2:00 - 3:30pm Location: 2210 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312 Register: Here As your business grows, so do your financial needs. Excel and QuickBooks can both help you manage your business finances, but knowing which tool is right for you can make managing your business a little easier. In this class, The Iowa Center staff will walk you through the differences between Excel and QuickBooks, including the benefits, limitations, costs, and best uses of each. We’ll explore when Excel may be the right fit, when QuickBooks may better meet your needs, and what to consider as your business grows. We’ll also discuss how you can make the transition from Excel to QuickBooks when the time comes. Click here to register! 

Presenter: The Iowa Center Staff Date: Thursday, October 1, 2026 Time: 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. Location: In Person Register: Here Growing your business means reaching new customers in meaningful ways. In this session, you'll explore marketing strategies designed to increase brand awareness, connect with your target audience, and support long-term growth. Learn how to create a marketing plan that can scale alongside your business and measure the impact of your efforts. What You'll Learn Understand the role marketing plays in business growth. Identify and reach new target markets. Create a scalable marketing strategy with measurable results. Click here to register!   

Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2026 Time: 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. Location: Fort Dodge Growth Alliance Community Room (24 N 9th St, Fort Dodge, IA 50501) Register: Here Whether you are already using QuickBooks or still deciding, this session covers what QuickBooks does well, what it will not do, and what to have in place first. You will leave knowing whether to set QuickBooks up for your small business, keep what you already have, or hand it off. Dr. Humburg is a Fort Dodge CPA who sets up QuickBooks for small businesses. • QuickBooks: friend or foe? • Q & A Please bring your smartphone, to participate in an optional, interactive quiz. (No studying ahead of time necessary.) Click here to register!

Presenter: The Iowa Center Staff Date: Thursday, October 8, 2026 Time: 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. Location: Online Register: Here Growing your business means reaching new customers in meaningful ways. In this session, you'll explore marketing strategies designed to increase brand awareness, connect with your target audience, and support long-term growth. Learn how to create a marketing plan that can scale alongside your business and measure the impact of your efforts. What You'll Learn Understand the role marketing plays in business growth. Identify and reach new target markets. Create a scalable marketing strategy with measurable results. Click here to register! 

Presenter: The Iowa Center Staff Date: Thursday, October 15, 2026 Time: 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. Location: 2210 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312 Register: Here As your business grows, so does your team. This session will help you prepare for the people side of expansion by covering effective hiring practices, employee development, and retention strategies. You'll also gain an understanding of key HR responsibilities to help you build a strong, compliant workplace that supports continued growth. What You'll Learn Recruit and onboard employees for a growing business. Strengthen employee development and retention efforts. Understand payroll, benefits, and HR compliance considerations. Click here to register! 

Presenter: The Iowa Center Staff Date: Thursday, October 22, 2026 Time: 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. Location: Online Register: Here As your business grows, so does your team. This session will help you prepare for the people side of expansion by covering effective hiring practices, employee development, and retention strategies. You'll also gain an understanding of key HR responsibilities to help you build a strong, compliant workplace that supports continued growth. What You'll Learn Recruit and onboard employees for a growing business. Strengthen employee development and retention efforts. Understand payroll, benefits, and HR compliance considerations. Click here to register! 

Presenter: The Iowa Center Staff Date: Thursday, October 29, 2026 Time: 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. Location: 2210 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312 Register: Here Growth requires thoughtful financial planning. This session will help you evaluate your business's financial readiness, create a budget for expansion, and understand the funding options available to support your goals. You'll leave with practical tools to help you make informed financial decisions as your business continues to grow. What You'll Learn Assess your business's financial readiness for growth. Create an expansion budget and cash flow projections. Explore funding options and measure financial performance. Click here to register! 

Presenter: The Iowa Center Staff Date: Thursday, November 5, 2026 Time: 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. Location: Online Register: Here Growth requires thoughtful financial planning. This session will help you evaluate your business's financial readiness, create a budget for expansion, and understand the funding options available to support your goals. You'll leave with practical tools to help you make informed financial decisions as your business continues to grow. What You'll Learn Assess your business's financial readiness for growth. Create an expansion budget and cash flow projections. Explore funding options and measure financial performance. Click here to register! 

Presenter: The Iowa Center Staff Date: Thursday, November 12, 2026 Time: 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. Location: 2210 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312 Register: Here A successful expansion starts with a solid plan. This session focuses on building a strategy that supports sustainable growth by helping you identify the resources, capital, and people needed to move your business forward. You'll also learn how to anticipate potential risks and create a roadmap for achieving your expansion goals. What You'll Learn Build a strategic roadmap for business expansion. Determine the capital needed to support growth. Learn how to build the right team and manage expansion risks. Click here to register!