The Iowa Center

05/30/2026

THIS WEEK: We have two no-cost, in person small business classes with Iowa Center business coaches and lending officers:

▶ Always Ready: Getting Ready (In-Person)
First steps to kickstarting your small business journey
📆Tuesday, June 2 from 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.

▶ Always Ready: Lending (In-Person)
Access to Capital for small business owners
📆Wednesday, June 3 from 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Our Always Ready classes are no cost, through the generosity of The Iowa Center's donors and sponsors. Learn more and register at: https://theiowacenter.org/services/classes/

05/29/2026

Meet Abbie Sawyer with Mama Bare Botanicals 🍃🧴 Abbie started making plant-based scents and body products for herself, then gifting them to others. After friends and family said they could feel the love in each bottle and asked for refills, Mama Bare Botanicals was born!

The Iowa Center is a resource to small business owners and entrepreneurs in Iowa, with in-house tax services, business coaching, and access to capital. Check out our low-to-no cost monthly small business classes or schedule a 1:1 appointment with our team at https://theiowacenter.org/.

Check out Mama Bare Botanicals at https://mamabarebotanicals.com/ and follow her on Facebook and here on Instagram!

05/28/2026

We're bringing small business coaching classes and resources to you, Iowa! We're thrilled to work with community partners like HUB 712, bringing business essentials classes to local entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Shout out to Russel Dale, our community engagement coordinator, for traveling and connecting with community leaders, coordinators, and small business owners throughout Iowa, bringing Iowa Center classes and resources to Iowa's entrepreneurs!

Last week, Russell Dale from The Iowa Center visited HUB 712 to lead the Early-Stage Essentials class for local entrepreneurs and small business owners.

As we continue building this new partnership with The Iowa Center, we’re excited to introduce another resource and support connection.

In addition to the workshop, Russell also took time to connect with small businesses throughout the day. He will continue to be a familiar, friendly face as this partnership grows.

We appreciate these partnerships that enable us to better serve small businesses and entrepreneurs in our region.

05/27/2026

IOWA SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS: Last call for DreamBuilder Summer 2026 registration! Visit https://theiowacenter.org/dreambuilder/ to learn more. 📒🧾✏

Unable to register right now? No worries! The Iowa Center is hosting DreamBuilder in person this fall, with all of the same benefits and take aways from the summer cohort.

05/27/2026

See you in 10 minutes! Our very own tax preparer, Mike Smith, is sharing practical tax strategies, recordkeeping essentials and proactive planning tips to help small businesses reduce liability and strengthen financial readiness before year end.

We are excited for tomorrow's Top Five for Small Businesses session focused on year-end tax planning strategies for small business owners.

The session will feature experts from Principal Financial Group and Mike Smith, Small Business Tax Preparer at The Iowa Center.

This timely session will cover practical tax strategies, recordkeeping essentials and proactive planning tips to help businesses reduce liability and strengthen financial readiness before year end.

This event series is free and virtual.
Register for one of the final spots now: https://ow.ly/pqvY50Z4sNs.

The Top Five for Small Businesses series is sponsored by Principal® Financial Group.

05/26/2026

We're incredibly grateful to Luana Savings Bank for their generous contributions and support of The Iowa Center and the community of small business clients that we serve. We are thrilled to continue growing this partnership and help small business owners and entrepreneurs launch, manage, and grow the small businesses that make our communities colorful, flavorful, and fun places to live, work, and visit. Thank you, Luana Savings Bank!

05/26/2026

June is nearly here ☀⛱ Check out our upcoming June Small Business Class Calendar:

▶ Always Ready: Getting Ready (In-Person)
First steps to kickstarting your small business journey
📆Tuesday, June 2
🕘3 p.m. - 4 p.m.

▶ Always Ready: Lending (In-Person)
Access to Capital for small business owners
📆Wednesday, June 3
🕘3 p.m. - 4 p.m.

▶ Always Ready: Financials (In-Person)
Small business financial statements and recording business transactions
📆Tuesday, June 9
🕘3 p.m. - 4 p.m.

▶ Always Ready: Business Plan (In-Person)
Overview and key elements to a small business plan
📆Tuesday, June 16
🕘3 p.m. - 4 p.m.

▶ Always Ready: Marketing (TBD)
Marketing basics for startups with a limited budget
📆Wednesday, June 18
🕘3 p.m. - 4 p.m.

For more information and to register for a class, visit https://theiowacenter.org/services/classes/. The Iowa Center's classes are all low to no cost, through the generosity of our sponsors, donors and supporters!

05/25/2026

Today, we pay tribute and honor the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. 🇺🇸 The Iowa Center will be closed Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day. Normal business hours will resume Tuesday, May 26.

05/24/2026

Meet Pride Fitness DSM, an inclusive gym space serving the LGBTQ+ community throughout the Des Moines metro 🏳️‍🌈 Leah, owner, worked with Iowa Center business coaches to optimize her time and grow her small business! Leah was featured in our “Made in Iowa” small business panel discussion event, helping bring new visibility and clients to her gym and personal trainer program.

Check out the amazing work happening at https://www.pridefitnessdsm.com/

05/23/2026

Did someone say Des Moines' Downtown Farmers' Market!? ☀🍅👒 Our team loves headed downtown to support Iowa's small businesses! Who are you looking forward to seeing at the farmers market this season?

📷: Erin Strawn, President & CEO