Midlands Business Journal • MAY 1, 2020 •
Council Bluffs
5
Growth Report
A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal
May 1, 2020
Council Bluffs community organizations, leadership prep for other side of COVID-19 crisis by Michelle Leach
While it may not be “business as usual” for city and county organizations, leadership has arguably never been busier. “Our small department is always very busy,” said Brandon M. Garrett, director of the city of Council Bluffs’ community development department. “We continue to coordinate development at River’s Edge on the riverfront by Tom Hanafan Park.” He referenced the First Avenue corridor multi-use trail linking downtown to the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, two Walsh multi-family developments along the trail (valued at $50 million-plus), and promotion of its lead abatement program. “We have not seen much of a reduction in our workload overall; however, we have been investing time (when available) to train and retrain our staff by utilizing online webinars,” Garrett said. “When appropriate, we are also doing some cross-training between different inspectors. Some folks are pursuing new certifications. We are using this crisis as an opportunity to emerge as improved professionals in our respective fields.” In February, the planning, housing and economic development divisions moved to city hall, efforts more than a year in the making to enhance convenience and access including Americans with Disabilities Act compliance. Filling downtime with training and certifications has retained positivity, versus fear and panic circling disease spread, Garrett said. “The Communications Director, Ashley Kruse, has hosted ‘Minute with the Mayor’ episodes every weekday with Mayor Walsh to give the public updates specific to COVID-19, impacts in Council Bluffs, best practices such as social distancing, and updates on continuity of city services,” he added. Mayor Matt Walsh provided updates on YouTube exploring serology testing, the food supply chain, and specific impacts on hotel occupancy and taxes. “My former employment was as a commercial banker, and we budget conservatively,” he said. “We establish a reserve and, frankly, our reserve has been a little high.” Walsh indicated this allows for some cushion with regard to spending down excess
Brandon M. Garrett, director of the community development department for the city of Council Bluffs. reserves, and avoidance of property tax hikes. had requests in excess of $3 million.” In partnership with the likes of the Iowa As the effects of the pandemic persist, he West Foundation, PCCF is focused on fulfillreferred to reevaluation on this front. “One thing I don’t have a good feel for is ing basic needs, and amplifying those dollars sales tax,” he said, noting Iowa’s flood miti- so they can have the greatest impact in the gation fund to fix the levy system is based on sales tax growth. There are big implications; if the sales tax falls below the base year figure (2013), the city doesn’t get any money. “Over 20 years, it would generate about $60 million to fix the levy,” Walsh said. To federal relief funds, he indicated efforts such as the Payroll Protection Program are “well-intentioned;” “If you keep your staff employed, they’ll forgive the federal dollars that you’ve received, but you’ve got to spend the money in eight weeks,” he said. “The government has shut down certain sectors. So, you can’t open the business up.” In that case, the business is saddled with significant debt. Generally, Walsh noted the virus “peak” in Iowa has consistently been delayed. “The intent is to elongate the time it takes to get it, so you can alleviate the pressure on the hospitals,” he said. The 12-year-old Pottawattamie County Community Foundation is the vehicle behind around $2 million in annual grants. “The need is tremendous,” said President and CEO Donna Dostal in late April. “We’ve
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community. “You hear it anecdotally; people are usually one paycheck away form a serious issue, and that’s what we’re experiencing now,” she said. “We’re seeing lines of folks a mile long trying to get free food. We’re also trying to figure out how we can make sure our homeless population has a place to be safe, and that any health risks they may have are taken care of … those are the primary concerns right now — having the money and resources to pay their heat, electricity and rent.” Dostal said Dostal they’re also looking down the road, assuring that child care centers are able to “ramp up” once businesses reopen. More information on its funds to provide free child care to emergency responders, and to support front-line nonprofit partners, as well as on CARES Act-related resources, are available at www.OurPCCF.org. Dostal further encourages readers to consider Donor-Advised Funds. “You can be agile with that money,” she said; such funds, partly, allow for active involvement in suggested uses for gifts.
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Council Bluffs Growth Report — inside MAY 1, 2020
THE BUSINESS NEWSPAPER OF GREATER OMAHA, LINCOLN AND COUNCIL BLUFFS
THIS WEEK 'S ISSUE:
$2.00
VOL. 46 NO. 18
Lincoln’s Infogressive expands with national remote employee environment by Richard D. Brown
OpsCompass, House of Brick Technologies join forces to grow globally. – Page 2
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Lockwood Development’s O’Connor helps build better future for women in real estate. – Page 4
g tin rke cies a M gen A
As storefronts remain closed, businesses turn to marketing agencies to restructure advertising. – Page 25
Infogressive, a Lincoln-based cybersecurity firm that employs 35, has targeted managed services offerings — which have been developed and enhanced over the past five years — as a revenue source to offer a more consistent revenue source on which to build growth. Last year such billings accounted for 58% of the firm’s overall business. For the first quarter of this year, the firm’s overall revenues are up 68%. The privately-owned company founded 14 years ago by information technology entrepreneur Justin Kallhoff has grown to serve more than 800 small business clients in 45 states and is expanding in Florida where a second security operations office is being opened. Infogressive’s headquarters is located at 1560 S. 70th St. The firm’s workforce could increase to 45 by year’s end as additional territorial sales, marketing, operations and engineering positions are created. “With movements in many industries toward using more employees Continued on page 9.
Chief Operations Officer Heather Lantz … Boosting workforce as cybersecurity issues come front and center as more workers go remote.
From the live stage to virtual workshops, Bravium pivots to online coaching groups by Becky McCarville
As businesses face an uncertain return to the workplace, Bravium Human Development Partners Nicole Bianchi and Jeff Shannon said that now is the time to embrace the unknown and to try new things; for instance, implementing a daily team huddle on a video conferencing platform like Zoom during quarantine to align goals and then bringing that practice into the office when employees return. “We can’t control everything around us, but we can control different ideas and things that we’re bringing to the table or
willingness to try new things,” Bianchi said. By launching Coaching Circles, a new small group coaching platform that has national potential, the facilitation and coaching firm is innovating to meet clients’ needs as many companies shift to a workfrom-home model. “It feels like we’re in startup mode,” she said. “When you’re in that mode you just do whatever it takes to make that shift to figure out — how can we add value to clients and customers and how are we going to show up and be out in front of as much as we can while still managing everyContinued on page 9.
Bre Phelan, founder and president of Felius Cat Café.
High-touch organizations learn to evolve with focus on tech by Michelle Leach
Partners Jeff Shannon and Nicole Bianchi host a Zoom meeting … Innovating by using digital tools and offering new products to meet people where they’re at. (Photo courtesy of Bravium)
Editor’s note: This article is part of a series sharing firsthand experiences from local organizations on how their respective industries are adapting to COVID-19. Replicating the in-person experience and trust many organizations are built on via video and other technological tools is a seemingly universal challenge; regardless of if that line of work matches cats to loving homes,
entrepreneurs to dynamic work environments, or investors to tailored financial plans. “Since coronavirus, requests to join our foster program have increased by 20%,” said Felius Cat Café founder and President Bre Phelan. “Opening your home to a rescue animal in need is an amazing way to give back during this crisis. Not only does it save cats’ lives, it also gives the fosterer something positive Continued on page 3.