AGP Executive Report

Data Center Pushback: Ames residents packed City Hall for a listening session on Lightedge’s proposed data center at the municipal airport, with most attendees opposing it and environmental impacts topping concerns. Local Government & Growth: Linn County approved an 18-month moratorium on new large data center rezoning applications, citing infrastructure, emergency response, transportation, and land-use planning needs. Consumer Protection: Iowa AG Brenna Bird and other states reached a multistate settlement tied to alleged egg price-fixing, with companies facing $3.3 million in payments and tens of millions of donated eggs. Online Privacy & Fraud: Iowa sued Temu under the Consumer Fraud Act, alleging deceptive marketing, misleading pricing, and improper consumer data practices. New State Rules: Iowa’s new porn age-verification law takes effect July 1, requiring adult sites to confirm users are 18+. Energy Safety Watch: The Iowa Utilities Commission opened a broader investigation into Black Hills Energy after pipeline safety violations were found in a northwest Iowa system. Business Climate: Arconic announced a $175 million Davenport Works aluminum casting investment, backed by $6.55 million in Iowa tax credits. Public Safety & Weather: Midwest heat led to canceled outdoor plans and cooling-center openings across the region.

Housing Finance & Credit: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac released new historical credit-score datasets for FICO 10T (covering loans from about 2013 to Sept. 2025) and added VantageScore 4.0 data, aiming to let lenders validate models and expand mortgage access. Antitrust & Food Prices: The DOJ and state AGs proposed a settlement with major egg producers, including Iowa’s Versova/Sioux Center operations, requiring about $3.3M in payments and tens of millions of donated eggs to food banks. Energy & Waste Law: The Iowa Supreme Court backed the state’s effort to hold a Global Fiberglass Solutions executive personally liable in a used wind turbine blade disposal case tied to Iowa stockpiles. Manufacturing Pulse: Creighton’s Mid-America Business Conditions Index rose above growth-neutral for a fifth straight month, but manufacturing job losses—especially in food processing—kept hiring restrained. Logistics Expansion: Ruan, based in Des Moines, launched customs brokerage services for U.S.-Mexico trade, adding clearance, compliance consulting, and door-to-door logistics. Local Business & Community: Hy-Vee will convert Orange City’s Dollar Fresh Market into a full-service store, while Marion Public Library launched a community food pantry with local grants and partners.

Banking Layoffs: Wells Fargo’s Jordan Creek campus in West Des Moines is cutting another 43 jobs, pushing the Des Moines metro total to 261 this year. Utilities Oversight: The Iowa Utilities Commission is expanding a safety probe of Black Hills Energy after finding more than 100 issues in its Spencer unit and worrying about broader, company-wide problems. Antitrust/Ag: DOJ and 17 states reached a settlement with major egg producers over alleged price-fixing—$3.3M in fines and 53 million eggs nationwide, with Wisconsin receiving 2 million eggs for food banks. Healthcare & Food Assistance Policy: A new federal SNAP cost-share formula tied to state payment error rates could shift millions in costs to states starting in 2027, raising hunger concerns. Local Government & Public Safety: Webster County and Fort Dodge created a Public Safety Authority to build and finance a Law Enforcement Center, with a referendum still ahead. Business Moves: Bonomi North America is buying Iowa’s Perin Machining Company. Community & Education: Maynard Community Library earned state accreditation starting July 1, 2026.

Egg Price Probe Hits Iowa: Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird says a multistate deal with Cal-Maine Foods, Versova/Centrum and Hickman’s Egg Ranch will end alleged egg price coordination, with Iowa set to receive $89,931 plus 53 million donated eggs to food banks. DOJ Sues Egg Producers: The U.S. Department of Justice filed suit in federal court in Iowa, alleging the companies manipulated Urner Barry egg price quotes via coordinated bidding. Wind Turbine Blade Liability: The Iowa Supreme Court says a Global Fiberglass Solutions executive can be personally named in the state’s lawsuit over 1,300 stockpiled, unrecycled turbine blades. Utilities Watchdog Action: The Iowa Utilities Commission opened a pipeline safety investigation into Black Hills Energy after finding more than 100 issues in northwest Iowa. Local Tax Boost: Iowa City, Coralville and North Liberty approved a voter-backed 1% sales tax increase starting July 1, expected to raise $22M+ for local projects. Housing & Growth Pressure: Woodbury County supervisors passed a 12-month data center moratorium for unincorporated areas after annexation plans raised concerns. Farm Economy Debate: Democrats warn Trump trade and economic policies are squeezing farmers, citing higher input costs and rising bankruptcies.

Retail Expansion: Casey’s CEO Darren Rebelez says the Ankeny-based chain is targeting at least 400 new stores over the next three years, leaning on prepared foods (pizza, wings, fries) and faster tech-driven operations to lift EBITDA growth. Energy & Infrastructure Oversight: The Iowa Utilities Commission opened a broad pipeline safety investigation into Black Hills Energy after inspectors found more than 100 issues across northwest Iowa communities, with civil penalties under review. Public Safety & Health: Iowa’s July 1 law changes include new in-person requirements for abortion pills and other healthcare, criminal justice, and tech rules taking effect statewide. Local Business & Growth: Dubuque’s Hodge broke ground on a $16M material handling facility off Seippel Road, with a larger phase planned for 2027. Education Leadership: Iowa City Community School District named Amy Kortemeyer as interim superintendent starting July 1, with contract details approved by the board. Weather Impact: A Midwest heat wave canceled or delayed outdoor plans, pushing communities to open cooling centers and warn residents to hydrate. Consumer & Market Watch: Multistate AG action secured more than 50 million eggs and $3.3M after allegations of coordinated egg price manipulation.

Heat & Public Safety: A Midwest heat wave forced cancellations and delays across Iowa and the region, with extreme heat warnings through at least Tuesday and cooling centers opening as “feels-like” temperatures topped 100. Higher Ed & Talent Pipeline: The University of Iowa named 7,000+ students to the spring dean’s list and 1,450+ to the president’s list, while Iowa State reported 11,200+ on its spring dean’s list; University of Dubuque also won approval to launch a four-year engineering program starting fall 2027. Rural Health & Community Investment: UnityPoint Health-Grinnell received a $1.29M “Healthy Hometowns” grant to buy a new MRI, and Iowa County Community Development awarded facade grants to eight businesses across four communities. Local Government & Waste: Williamsburg approved a new 28E agreement governing the Iowa County landfill after months of negotiation over enforcement and waste rules. Business Moves: Biaggi’s closed its Cedar Rapids location after 25 years; AgState announced it will shut down grain operations at Marcus and Granville while keeping agronomy and energy services. Energy & Growth Pressure: The Iowa Utilities Commission opened an investigation into Black Hills Energy pipeline safety compliance, and MidAmerican is evaluating a 900-acre data center site in Salix amid resident concerns. Transportation & Mobility: Hull, Iowa is prioritizing e-scooter and e-bike safety education over new ordinances, partnering with law enforcement and schools.

Housing & Safety: States and cities are loosening building code rules to cut construction costs, including allowing some low-rise apartments to use just one stairway—moves critics say could raise risk when worst-case fires or evacuations happen. Local Tax & Housing: Johnson County cities begin a 1% local option sales tax July 1, lifting Iowa City-area sales tax from 6% to 7% to fund property tax relief and affordable housing, infrastructure and economic development. Jobs & Pay: A Des Moines hiring study finds Q1 job openings and wages rose, but inflation is still outpacing pay gains. Healthcare Labor: River Hills employees and Teamsters rally over a Centerville clinic closure, alleging retaliation tied to unionizing efforts. Ag & Weather: Frost, flooding and slow growth are stressing crops, while farmers also face ongoing disease and input pressures. Courts & Chemicals: The U.S. Supreme Court blocked thousands of Roundup “failure to warn” lawsuits, limiting state-law claims against Monsanto. Business Moves: American Packaging Corp. in Columbus names Ray Graham CEO/President as part of its leadership transition. Local Economy & Growth: Cedar Crossing Casino nears its opening, with nearby businesses already adjusting and hiring for the expected boost. Community & Commerce: Ames and surrounding towns gear up for America 250 weekend events, while Des Moines’ Downtown Farmers’ Market draws shoppers and vendors.

World Trade & Markets: Analysts say the USMCA’s July 1 mandatory review could push the deal into annual renewals if the three countries don’t extend it—raising uncertainty for businesses planning supply chains and investment. Agriculture: USDA reports the US hog inventory is down slightly in June, with Iowa still holding the largest share of the national herd. Iowa Water & Public Health: Princeton, Iowa, spent nearly $800,000 on a backup well and water tower, only to find the replacement well pulled nitrate-contaminated water above the EPA limit—renewing pressure on nitrate monitoring and drinking-water safeguards. Local Governance & Infrastructure: Woodbury County approved a one-year moratorium on new data center proposals in unincorporated areas, citing water and power concerns while it studies the tradeoffs. Business & Community: Downtown Davenport Partnership unveiled a refreshed downtown brand identity and highlighted more than $68 million in planned investment projects. Workplace & Economy: iHeartMedia layoffs hit Quad Cities radio talent, with local hosts and staff losing jobs as the company shifts toward national programming. Health Policy: Iowa’s July 1 law changes include new rules affecting abortion medication access and medical ethics provisions, as Gov. Kim Reynolds signed about 200 bills this session.

Iowa Business & Economy: Cedar Rapids-area healthcare fraud charges hit a local operator, with a DOJ takedown alleging a veteran home-care provider submitted claims for services not provided, including claims tied to a veteran who died—accused amount: $350,000+. Local Business & Growth: Morningside University in Sioux City broke ground on a new Rosen School of Business home, aiming for a January 2028 opening. Workforce & Hiring: Iowa City Community School District named Amy Kortemeyer interim superintendent starting July 1, bringing decades of district leadership experience. Retail & Community Service: A Cedar Rapids Hy-Vee HR manager, Sarah Kew, received Hy-Vee’s top customer-service honor for long-running help to elderly shoppers and staff wellness support. Ag & Trade: USMCA’s six-year review spotlighted how the pact underpins major U.S. ag exports and jobs, with Iowa farmers watching policy stability. Food Assistance: USDA reported SNAP’s national payment error rate at 10.62% for FY2025, setting up state financial consequences if error rates stay high. Business Notes: Cedar Rapids/Iowa City business roundup covered new hires, promotions, and Iowa City-Cedar Rapids corridor investment moves.

Retail & Fuel Expansion: Bosselman Pump & Pantry will buy 21 Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh standalone convenience stores across Iowa and the Midwest, with plans to close in July 2026 and add Starbucks and Smokey Row coffee partnerships. Convenience Chain Growth: Casey’s unveiled a three-year strategic plan to expand by at least 400 stores, leaning on food offerings (pizza, wings, fries) plus more tech for forecasting and guest experience. Local Business/Infrastructure: Hampton crews finished a temporary patch after a Highway 3 water main break near the courthouse; service is back but pressure may stay low until a permanent repair next week. Education & Accountability: A founder is suing her former eastern Iowa charter school, alleging an unverified $48,000 theft claim and loss of access to school systems ahead of a June 29 board decision. Ag & Trade: A new look at USMCA’s role highlights how Canada/Mexico trade supports jobs and a large share of U.S. agriculture exports as the pact heads into review. Markets Watch: Grain futures are trying to find a bottom ahead of USDA reports, while weather and export competition keep traders cautious. Community & Grants: Clear Lake won a $50,000 T-Mobile Hometown Grant to build a 31-foot Buddy Holly guitar landmark. Weather & Home Costs: Iowa’s heat wave is expected to push HVAC demand sharply higher, with dirty filters and thermostat settings flagged as key homeowner levers. Public Policy: A federal judge blocked Iowa SNAP restrictions on sugary foods, keeping the debate over food assistance rules front and center.

Manufacturing Expansion: Sub-Zero cut the ribbon on a new $140M Cedar Rapids plant, with a hiring push starting this summer; the first phase targets nearly 200 full-time jobs and a second phase would add about 300 more. Radio Layoffs: iHeartMedia laid off WMT radio’s local on-air personalities in Cedar Rapids, shifting the lineup to nationally syndicated shows. Data Center Push Meets Backlash: Henry County supervisors heard public concerns as data centers and bitcoin mining drive demand for electricity; residents are weighing ordinances and moratoriums amid tight power capacity. Workforce Planning: Eastern Iowa Workforce Area launches July 1, merging two regions into a 22-county effort with IowaWORKS centers in Davenport, West Burlington, Ottumwa and Marshalltown. Retail Labor Fight: A proposed class-action lawsuit accuses Hy-Vee of dodging overtime pay for department managers; Hy-Vee says the claims lack merit. AI/Infrastructure Growth: Edged topped out the first building at its Council Bluffs data center project (Project Lola), while Z Squared acquired an Arkansas site to pivot from crypto mining toward AI/HPC campuses.

Banking & Ag Finance: TS Bank hired Michael Dentlinger as vice president of ag and business banking in Atlantic, bringing five years of ag and commercial lending experience and training through Iowa’s banking schools. Energy & Industry: Iowa researchers say geological hydrogen could spur a new clean-energy economy, but they warn state actions and corporate interests may limit broader exploration. Agribusiness Markets: Iowa Soybean Association demand signals remain mixed as China’s soybean and soybean-meal buying looks stronger, even while the size of future China commitments is still unclear. Public Safety Tech: Iowa DOT selected SICPA’s secure temporary tag system to cut counterfeit temp tags and improve officer and public safety. Retail Expansion: Casey’s unveiled a three-year plan to add at least 400 stores and keep pushing food and beverage growth. Manufacturing Growth: AU Solutions will build a $17M agricultural chemical manufacturing facility in Newton, targeting 22 new jobs with state tax credits. Legal/Policy: Seventeen Republican attorneys general, including Iowa’s, sued California over its plastics packaging law, arguing it will raise costs nationwide. Local Business & Community: A new affordable housing initiative for veterans is slated to move forward in Joplin with Agape Apartments.

SNAP Court Ruling: A federal judge struck down state SNAP restrictions that limited what people can buy with benefits, saying USDA can’t bypass Congress’s definition of eligible food—impacting pilots in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee and West Virginia, with Louisiana’s newer limits likely also falling. Food & Agriculture Markets: Cal-Maine and other egg suppliers are reportedly close to settling a DOJ and state probe into alleged egg price coordination, with civil penalties and an agreement to stop exchanging sensitive pricing info. Iowa SNAP Accuracy: USDA’s latest SNAP payment error report shows South Dakota as most accurate, while Iowa lands in the top 10 with a 5.34% error rate; the federal law ties state penalties to error rates above 6%. Local Government & Roads: Tama County supervisors approved 10-hour workdays for Secondary Roads employees (4-10s), with a 3-2 vote, and also moved on sheriff and K-9 program funding. Business Growth: Hy-Vee will host a supplier summit Sept. 9-10 in West Des Moines, selecting 80 small businesses to pitch category managers. Energy & Data Centers: Iowa’s Energy Dialogue drew policymakers and industry leaders to discuss transmission, renewables, and data-center demand.

Casey’s Growth Push: Casey’s unveiled a new three-year strategy aiming to add at least 400 stores via new builds and acquisitions, with tech and data tools (including AI forecasting) to boost prepared-food sales and efficiency. Food & Farm Economy: Iowa’s Choose Iowa farm crawl opens nearly 60 participating farms for direct-to-consumer shopping, while an Iowa Farm Bureau survey says the classic July 4 cookout for 10 costs $73.82—up but still below inflation. Ag Policy & Courts: The U.S. Supreme Court sided with Roundup maker Bayer, a win Iowa Farmers Union President Aaron Lehman calls a major setback; meanwhile, 17 state AGs including Iowa’s are challenging California’s plastics packaging law. Public Spending & Compliance: USDA says SNAP payment errors hit $10.1B nationwide in fiscal 2025, triggering new penalties for high-error states. Local Governance & Data Centers: Woodbury County approved a one-year data-center moratorium as Salix weighs a MidAmerican-backed project, with Dubuque and Ames also moving through ordinances. Healthcare & Fraud: A Cedar Rapids man and his home-care company face VA healthcare fraud charges, while MCNA Dental reached a multimillion-dollar settlement tied to a 2023 ransomware hack. Business & Tech: Dataprana secured two Houston-area power sites totaling 92MW for AI/HPC builds, and Frontier Co-op won a UNFI supplier award. Weather: Comfortable conditions hold briefly before a weekend heat surge into the 90s next week.

Energy & Utilities: MidAmerican Energy says a Clarinda substation transformer failure triggered a major KMAland outage, hitting about 1,960 customers across Taylor, plus parts of Page and Adams, with most power restored late Wednesday. Economic Development & Housing: Marshalltown’s MCBD is soliciting downtown projects for the 2026 Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant, offering $25,000–$100,000 matching funds for building rehab and compatible infill. Local Growth: Marshall opened Stone Meadow Apartments, a 108-unit complex behind Walmart, built without city subsidies. Public Health & Safety: Grassley and Durbin advanced bipartisan NDAA packages aimed at cracking down on crime and protecting kids online, while Iowa communities also keep hosting awareness efforts like human trafficking education. Agriculture & Food Costs: An Iowa Farm Bureau survey finds summer cookouts cost about $73.82 for 10 people—up nearly $3 year over year—driven by beef market instability. Policy Watch: Federal Medicaid work requirements are rolling out in stages, with Iowa set for December 1 and national enforcement starting Jan. 1, 2027.

SNAP Fight: A federal judge blocked USDA-approved Iowa SNAP waivers that would have restricted purchases of soda and candy, saying the agency exceeded its authority—an outcome that could protect grocery budgets for households using benefits. Ag Policy: Iowa Farm Bureau president Brent Johnson urged Congress to finish the long-awaited farm bill, pointing to House progress and Senate Ag Committee draft language while noting one priority—Prop 12-related language—was left out. Energy & Jobs: Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird toured the Duane Arnold Energy Center with U.S. DOE Deputy Secretary James Danly, highlighting the planned nuclear restart’s grid-reliability benefits and major job and economic impact claims. Workforce & Education: Central College in Pella launched a new data science major for Fall 2026, aiming to meet fast-growing demand for data skills. Local Economy: Downtown Davenport Partnership unveiled a refreshed downtown brand and pointed to a pipeline of gateway projects at its annual meeting. Consumer Watch: The Better Business Bureau warned Iowans to be careful with “free” streaming or game trials that can quietly turn into monthly charges.