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National Small Business Week The Nelson Company Fairfield, Iowa Marvin (Pete) Nelson bought some machining equipment and set up shop in his garage in 1968 and then incorporated his business in 1972, taking rough metal castings from the local foundry and turning them into finished parts that would often be installed on agriculture equipment. He did pretty well at his work and soon needed to expand, so in 1969 Pete moved his business to the old artesian ice plant at 607 West Grimes, a space now currently occupied by Paint-Line. By 1993 the business outgrew that location so once again the company moved, this time to an 88,000 square foot facility on Stone Avenue, where the business runs to this day. Currently, 45 employees staff two shifts. The company buys rough aluminum, ductile iron, and grey iron castings from places like the Faircast Foundry. The company then tools the rough castings into machined castings and sells them to companies like Case-New Holland where they are then shipped all over the world. When Pete was ready to retire in 2000, he wanted to keep the company intact so he created an ESOP; an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, which allowed the employees at the time to assume ownership of the company rather than selling to a larger company that might strip the business for its machinery and close the shop. That business strategy worked well as demonstrated by the longevity of its employees. The newest President is no exception. Bob Bowman started with The Nelson Company as a machine operator at the age of eighteen. Clint Hardin, Vice-President of Operations, recalls telling young Bob in his first few years that “You’ll make a good employee someday, just not for us”. Bob is a stubborn guy and took that to heart. Now, 27 years later, Bob can say with earned pride that he is only the fifth President in the company’s history. Bob and Clint, who both have 26 years of service, are joined on the senior management team by Rich Foreman, the Day Shift Supervisor with 37 years of service. David Waugh, who is Head of Maintenance, can boast 31 years in the plant. Quality Manager Jason Engle is approaching 20 years of service. The office team of Mindy Ferrel with 26 years and Cindy Merrill with 13 years, round out the business team. Much of what the company does has changed little, although some changes include becoming ISO 9001 Certified in 2011. This certification is a world-wide standard administered by an international organization based in Switzerland and is recognized as a sign of quality by over a million organizations world-wide. In April of 2013, the company invested in a vertical lathe that could machine parts up to thirty-one inches in size and weigh as much as 1,000 pounds. Another home-grown business that is standing the test of time, The Nelson Company continues to be a critical part of the manufacturing businesses that make up the Fairfield area. 
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Business After Hours - Temp Associates and West Briggs Business Suites 2709 W. Briggs Avenue, Fairfield Thursday, May 20th, 2021 4:00pm - 7:00pm Join us for Business After Hours on Thursday, May 20th from 4pm to 7pm! Temp Associates and West Briggs Business Suites will be our hosts this month. Start off the upcoming summer season with a Ball Park themed Business After Hours and enjoy hot dogs, chips, peanuts and cracker jacks! Thirsty? Come join us for a cold soda or beer! Temp Associates opened in 1986, as Muscatine, Iowa's first staffing service. They are the largest staffing service in the area. Since 1995, Temp Associates has opened offices in Burlington, Clinton, Marshalltown, Mt. Pleasant, Fairfield and Grinnell. Their staff combines over 100 years of experience in Human Resources to provide you with the professionalism you deserve. West Briggs Business Suites offers rental business suites in Fairfield, Iowa. Looking for a new office space? Contact West Briggs Business Suites! The Chamber Business After Hours is a free, monthly networking event open to Chamber Members, their guests and the general public. If you are interested in hosting a Business After Hours, please contact the Chamber at 641-472-2111 or by email at Info@FairfieldIowa.com.
National Small Business Week Davis & Palmer Real Estate Fairfield, Iowa It's a family affair! The Davis family to be clear. Debbi and Chris Davis, owners of Davis & Palmer Real Estate, have been at this occupation since before they bought the business from Chris' parents, George and Jean Davis, in 2002. George Davis was a farmer who added realtor to his occupation when he attained his license in 1966. He then teamed up with Lyle Palmer and they bought the Mogged Realty business and renamed it Davis & Palmer Real Estate back in 1970. Davis & Palmer had offices in Washington, Mount Pleasant, and Fairfield but when George bought out Lyle in 1973, they closed all of the offices except for Fairfield. Chris Davis originally thought he would take over the family farm someday. Instead, he got caught in the construction business with his brother Mark, where they formed Marcris Builders from 1978 to current, with Mark leaving in 1985. The next year, George hired Debbi to staff the front of the office and soon after, both she and Chris became licensed realtors in 1988. With George working well into his 80's, eventually the time came to retire; which is why Debbi and Chris bought the business in 2002. Enter the 3rd generation, daughters Terri (Davis) Kness and Christie (Davis) Kessel who, in 2005, both found their way back to Fairfield and to the family business. Both had plans to live elsewhere, but as it's often been said, "There's something about Fairfield". Rounding out the team is Sandy Fiedler, who started in 2019. The real estate business can be challenging; there was a time when two pieces of paper would cover a home sale. A one-page Listing Agreement and a one-page Purchase Agreement. Now a minimum of twenty-one pages are required to complete the same process. In past decades, there were often 300+ houses on the market at any given time. Back in those days, they had two books with houses listed, Book One was for homes under $100,000. Book Two was for homes over $100,000 and often there were equal amounts of listings in the two books. Things are a little different now. All listings are on websites and often times potential buyers will have researched the home thoroughly before ever stepping on the property. Buyers will call from in front of a home and want to see it immediately. In this area, homes now range from $50,000 to $1,250,000. With low interest rates, and especially during COVID, there have been twenty-eight to thirty-two homes on the market lately; many in an accepted offer status. Realtors have to work all days of the week, long hours and holidays. One way Davis & Palmer continues to be successful is by giving back to their community. The family has collectively been involved in the Chamber of Commerce and their Christmas Committee, the ELKS (both Chris and Debbi are Past Exalted Rulers), the SE Iowa Board of Realtors, Rotary & the Rotary Auction, the Fairfield Park & Rec Board, Jefferson County Kids, Art Walk, and the Country Club Board. Especially close to the heart of this family is the Little Super Heroes non-profit which was started by Christie and Alex Kessel and has helped many families who have children with special health needs. That organization hosts the Festival of Trees every other year and is one of the ways the non-profit helps fund their mission, "To provide help & hope to children facing serious health issues through providing assistance to families facing long term medical crisis". Family matters in this business.
State Confirms B.1.617 Virus Variant in Iowa May 4, 2021 The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has confirmed two cases of the COVID-19 variant, SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617 in Iowa. This variant is also referred to as the India variant because it was first detected there. We are still learning about the characteristics of this strain. B.1.617 is not designated as a “variant of concern,” indicating that there is not currently evidence of increased transmissibility or more severe disease caused by this variant. However, we share this information as a matter of public interest given the virus impact and newly issued travel restrictions to India. The P.1 and B.1.1.7 variant strains which were previously confirmed by IDPH are considered “variants of concern.” The cases were detected in and adult and an older adult in Jefferson County. IDPH and local public health have initiated contact with the individuals to understand exposures and initiate the public health monitoring process. The process includes notifying anyone with whom the individuals have been in close contact. As always, affected individuals are advised to isolate in accordance with IDPH and CDC guidance. The case was identified by the State Hygienic Lab (SHL). SHL is doing sequencing to understand what strains are circulating here in Iowa and contribute to the understanding of COVID-19 activity in the United States. Routine analysis of genetic sequence data assisted in identifying the new variant strain in Iowa. “Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is the best way to prevent this, or any other currently circulating strain of the virus from spreading through the population. Since the vaccine is now open to all Iowans over the age of 16, we have the opportunity to use this tool to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our communities,” said Dr. Caitlin Pedati, IDPH State Medical Director and Epidemiologist. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is tracking COVID-19 variants based on here. Iowans who have not been vaccinated should visit https://vaccinate.iowa.gov/ to find a provider and schedule an appointment. The emergence of new variants underscores that it remains critical for Iowans to continue the mitigation efforts that we know work to slow the spread of COVID-19: Get a COVID-19 vaccine Wear a mask or face covering Practice social distancing with those outside your household Clean your hands frequently with soap and water Stay home if you feel sick Get tested if you are exposed to, or have symptoms of COVID-19 If you have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19, review CDC guidelines here    Journalism Grantee What You Need to Know About Vaccines & Vaccine Safety At least 20% of adults have consistently said that they would not get vaccinated or would do so only if required, and a lack of accurate information continues to be a concern among those who are not ready to get a COVID-19 vaccination. To address these fears, it's important to emphasize the facts, including how the accelerated timeline for the COVID-19 vaccine does not translate to compromises on safety. In a new Healthcare Triage YouTube series, funded by NIHCM Foundation, Dr. Aaron Carroll explains the history of vaccines and vaccine development–one of the greatest public health achievements of all time–in six short, consumer-friendly videos covering:
NIHCM Foundation proudly supports Healthcare Triage through our journalism grant program. Fairfield Farmers Market Summer Hours and Locations - Fairfield Farmer's Market opens Saturday, May 1st, 2021 located at Howard Park 8AM to 1PM. All Saturdays May - October 2021. Fairfield Farmer's Market opens Wednesday, May 5th, 2021 (new location) Southeast corner of Central Park City Square 3PM to 6PM. All Wednesdays May - October 2021. Fresh, locally grown produce; handmade crafts, clothing and household items; homemade breads and tasty treats; local honey and bee products; free-range/forage eggs of many varieties; micro-greens and SO much more!  Treasury, IRS Provide Guidance on Tax Relief for Deductions for Food or Beverages from Restaurants4/29/2021 Treasury, IRS Provide Guidance on Tax Relief for Deductions for Food or Beverages from Restaurants Businesses can temporarily deduct 100% beginning January 1, 2021 IR-2021-79, April 8, 2021 WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service today issued Notice 2021-25 PDF providing guidance under the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Relief Act of 2020. The Act added a temporary exception to the 50% limit on the amount that businesses may deduct for food or beverages. The temporary exception allows a 100% deduction for food or beverages from restaurants. Beginning January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2022, businesses can claim 100% of their food or beverage expenses paid to restaurants as long as the business owner (or an employee of the business) is present when food or beverages are provided and the expense is not lavish or extravagant under the circumstances. Where can businesses get food and beverages and claim 100%? Under the temporary provision, restaurants include businesses that prepare and sell food or beverages to retail customers for immediate on-premises and/or off-premises consumption. However, restaurants do not include businesses that primarily sell pre-packaged goods not for immediate consumption, such as grocery stores and convenience stores. Additionally, an employer may not treat certain employer-operated eating facilities as restaurants, even if these facilities are operated by a third party under contract with the employer. More information for businesses seeking coronavirus related tax relief can be found at IRS.gov.  The Amygdala - When Emotion Takes Over Trauma Takes Time to Heal Allowing yourself the time is the most substantial part of your healing. Read Diana's personal message below  May’s Blog Post is about the Amygdala -- which is an almond shaped structure located in the limbic system within the brain. This area in the brain is key to how Trauma and strong emotions like fear, anxiety, aggression and pleasure are processed. The amygdala also plays an important role in the storage and retrieval of emotional memories. How does the brain protect itself from traumatic experiences? How does your brain cope with trauma? If the brain registers an overwhelming trauma, then it can essentially block that memory in a process called dissociation—or detachment from reality. This can be understood as the brain attempting to protect itself. Message from Diana - Sharing insights about her own trauma
We hope this blog post offers insight and a deeper understanding about how our brains process trauma. As always, thanks for reading, Diana and Jan  Portions of the article we chose for this blog post is below and click on link for the full article: READ HERE
OUR TRAUMA TALK BLOG SUPPORTS YOU 
 Goodwill of the Heartland Goodwill Offers Google IT Support Professional Class Goodwill of the Heartland has partnered with Google and Coursera to offer a self-paced 5-course online class where students can learn concrete skills that top employers are hiring for right now. By investing only 10 hours a week, students can earn the IT Support Certificate in less than 6 months. The IT Support Professional Certificate has highly interactive content, exclusively developed by Google. It helps learners become ready for an entry-level job in IT support in about 6 months. No prior experience is necessary. Currently, there are approximately 340,500 U.S. job openings in IT and a $50,800 average entry-level salary in IT support. Upon completion, students will receive an IT Support Professional certificate that allows them to directly apply for jobs with Google and over 130 U.S. employers, including Walmart, Best Buy, and Astreya. The program also prepares students for the CompTIA A+ exams, the industry standard certificate for IT. Students can earn dual credentials by completing the course and passing the A+ exams. Scholarships are available for those who qualify. Visit our website at www.certifiedforsuccess.org to request more information. The deadline for registration is Friday, May 14th. Goodwill of the Heartland is an equal opportunity organization. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for enrollment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, marital status, veteran status or other protected categories. To learn more, contact Brent Watkins at (319) 248-4650 or by email: bwatkins@goodwillheartland.org.  COVID Relief Opportunities for Restaurants and Small Businesses NEW - Restaurant Revitalization Fund -
The PPP Program has been extended through May 31st, 2021. Value-Added Producer Grants – VAPG’s are a 50/50 grant and match awards for Ag Commodity Producers (Virtual applications due April 29th and paper application due May 4th) Click here for more information: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/value-added-producer-grants EIDL LOAN deadline has been extended until Dec 31st, 2021. Note this is a low interest loan. EIDL Advanced – EIDL applications will receive an email to apply to the Targeted EIDL Advanced. This list is from those who applied first round. No New applications are being accepted at this time for Targeted EIDL Advanced. Here is the link to FAQs: https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2021-02/Targeted%20EIDL%20FAQ_Final-508_0.pdf Please visit the U.S. Small Business Administration COVID-19 Relief Options for additional information. Information provided by America's SBDC Iowa and Indian Hills Community College For more information please contact the Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce at 641-472-2111 or Info@FairfieldIowa.com
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