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The Week in Social 11/9 - 11/13

Everywhere you look, Iowans are uniting like never before. While times may be tough right now, we’re seeing it won’t stop the great people in the state from supporting one another. Many have taken to social media to help those in their communities, share helpful resources or to simply highlight something positive to bring joy to others. The Week in Social will round up the best of #IowansUnite and share these uplifting stories.

Freedom Rocks Honor Veterans in 95 Iowa Counties

Created by artist Ray “Bubba” Sorensen, The Freedom Rock® Tour was designed to honor veterans and provide a unique piece of art to each of Iowa’s 99 counties. The country celebrated Veterans Day last Wednesday and Iowans across the state marveled at a new piece of artwork honoring our nation’s vets.

Ninety-five of Iowa’s 99 counties are included in the Freedom Rock Tour. Only Henry, Jefferson, Jones and Linn Counties do not have a Freedom Rock, but all are booked to receive one. The latest county to receive a Freedom Rock was Allamakee County. The rock sits in the city of Waukon and features six veterans, as well as a bald eagle and a large American flag enveloping the rock.

Artist INC Des Moines Provides Artists with Business Training

The Des Moines Art Festival has an exciting professional development opportunity for artists in Central Iowa. Artist INC Des Moines is a cutting-edge eight-week training seminar that provides professional development opportunities to address specific business needs and challenges that artists face on a daily basis.

The program emerged as the community recognized the role that arts play as an economic engine and driver to enrich the cultural vitality in the region. Up to 25 artists will be selected through a competitive panel that considers quality of work, readiness for program and diversity in both demographics (age, gender and ethnicity) and artistic discipline (visual, performing, literary and film). The eight-week seminar will feature eight sessions including planning and goal setting, budget and financial planning, public speaking and online presence and more. Applications can be found here.

Brand-New Des Moines Hotel is Sure to Delight

The Surety Hotel in downtown Des Moines is a brand-new boutique hotel that features a variety of amenities sure to delight visitors.

The lobby has an open coffee bar serving local brews by day and wine and other cocktails by night, while the Mulberry Street Tavern offers upscale pub fare, signature cocktails, local beers and whiskey flights. The Surety also has remote working spaces as well as an outdoor patio that will serve as both a yoga studio and a space for art classes.

Food Startup 101 Provides First-Step Training to Starting a Food Business

Food Startup 101 is the first step foodies should take before starting a food business. The upcoming course is being put on by the Iowa Small Business Development Center in tandem with the Greater Omaha Chamber. The two-hour program is designed to help anyone who has ever thought about starting a food business understand the steps to take — from an idea to a fully formed business.

The topics include startup costs and what to expect, setting up your business, health department and licensing information, business planning and marketing. After taking the course, the entrepreneur will be well on their way to taking the necessary steps to start their business. The program is free to attend and you can find more information here.

Published November 17, 2020

Live
Des Moines’ Artistic Gateway
Des Moines’ Artistic Gateway
Cultural Cuisine in Surprising Places
Cultural Cuisine in Surprising Places
Freedom Rock
The Freedom Rock® Tour
Work
Work Life Balance
Achieve Work-Life Balance
Elkader Main Street
Main Street Iowa
Iowa Workforce
Iowa Workforce
This is Iowa

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