Iowa News

Waterloo, Iowa, to Receive $7M Grant for Flood Control

The U.S. Department of Commerce is providing Waterloo, Iowa, with a $7 million grant for flood control efforts. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, D-Iowa, announced the Economic Development Administration grant on Aug. 3. It’s designed to assist Waterloo’s continuing flood recovery …

MMIC Group Launches Long Term Care Program

Medical professional liability insurance specialist MMIC Group has expanded its insurance services to the growing population of long term care providers. Eligible facility types include skilled care, assisted living and continuing care retirement communities. These facilities must operate within MMIC’s …

Schinnerer Enhances Construction Management Program

Victor O. Schinnerer & Company, Inc. has made two enhancements to its construction management program to better meet the needs of policyholders. Effective immediately, there is no longer a residential cap in the Construction Management program. Schinnerer is now able …

Iowa Offering Loans to Small Businesses

A new state loan program in Iowa designed to help entrepreneurs and small businesses is now accepting applications. Iowa businesses with less than 35 employees can get a loan up to $50,000 from the Iowa Small Business Loan program. The …

Midwest Economy: North Dakota Tops Region in Job Growth

The Institute for Supply Management, formerly the Purchasing Management Association, began formally surveying its membership in 1931 to gauge business conditions. The Creighton Economic Forecasting Group uses the same methodology as the national survey to consult supply managers and business …

People

Sentry Insurance Co. in Stevens Point, Wis., announced that Peter G. McPartland is joining Sentry as president and chief operating officer. McPartland is a seasoned insurance executive with more than 30 years of experience in the industry, including service with …

United Fire & Casualty P/C Unit Sees Decline in Premiums, Claims

United Fire & Casualty Co., headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, reported that net premiums written in its property/casualty sector declined in the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2010, as compared with the same periods of the prior year. …

Severe Weather Pummels Iowa

The Lake Delhi dam in eastern Iowa failed July 24 as rising floodwater from the Maquoketa River ate a 30-foot-wide hole in the earthen dam, causing water to drop 45 feet to the river below and threatening the small town …

Midwest Threatened with More Flooding

The Mississippi River is back above flood stage from the southern tip of Iowa through Missouri, leaving some communities on edge as more storms threaten to bring more water. Parts of southern Iowa, northern Missouri and western Illinois received 5-7 …

Business Moves

First Mercury, Valiant First Mercury Financial Corp., based in Southfield, Mich., reported that its principal insurance subsidiary, First Mercury Insurance Co., is acquiring Valiant Insurance Group Inc., a subsidiary of Ariel Holdings Ltd. The purchase price for Valiant, an amount …