Here are the statistics (and logic) behind the solution:

• Commuters will travel 20% less.
• Customer service will improve with longer hours.
• Boosts employee morale with a three day weekend.

Iowa’s not the only state considering following Utah’s strategy.  With gas prices pushing $4 a gallon (I seriously wish I could get money each time I see that phrase)… Americans are looking for ways to cut costs.  Apparently going to a 4 day workweek is the leading solution right now.

Do you think that means the mortgage guy will get Friday’s off?…. Doubtful, huh?

It will be interesting to see this topic progress.  I think it would be interesting to see other non-government businesses changing over to a four day workweek.

Original Source: Jennifer Jacobs Article @ The Des Moines Register

The project is expected to cost $550 million and employ 100 high tech workers. The (specific) location has not been determined yet and Microsoft has declined to comment on the project at this time.

What Brought Them to Iowa?
Iowa has provided tax breaks to technology companies to come to the state for business. Iowa recently attracted Google to the Council Bluffs area offering 200 new jobs for the area. Apparently there’s something in the water here.

What’s it Pay?
Well, it’s not official yet. However, a similar center was built in San Antonio, TX and Microsoft employees earned an average of $70,000 a year. Not too shabby. I’m not exactly sure how ‘High Tech’ these positions are, but there will definitely be some great opportunities for Iowans with this new project.

More To Come
Obviously at this point, the news is enough to get excited about. Anything that strengthens the local job market is good news to me. I’ll keep you posted on updates as come up on location of the project and most importantly (in my opinion) a time line of when this whole thing will come to fruition.

More on this story found at Des Moines Register.
Photo Kudos.

According to Forbes Magazine, Des Moines has the cleanest drinking water in the country…(Pause for reaction)… Yea, sort of took me by surprise too!

Ok, so what does this have to do with personal finance?
After I heard about our great water, I remembered – I’ve spend hundreds (yes, hundreds) of dollars on bottled water. How crazy is that? Our water, coming right out of the tap, is the cleanest water in the country – THE COUNTRY. I just found a way to save myself thousands of dollars over the next few years. Unbelievable.

If you were looking for another reason to move to Des Moines, Iowa – there it is. Cleanest drinking water in the country. We’re becoming a regular fixture in the Forbes magazine huh

Further ‘Hot News’ Regarding Des Moines’ Great Water
Mayor Frank Cownie Says “Tap Water as Good as Bottled”
Mayor hopes to stop Des Moines from buying bottled water

Photo Kudos: malla_mi

Are you surprised? I’m not. Des Moines rocks. It’s a great place to raise a family, start a business and grow old!

Here’s our baseball card like stats (per Kiplinger):

Population: 532,425
Population Growth Since 2000: 9.6%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 32.1%
Cost-of-Living Index: 90.6 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $53,384
Income Growth Since 2000: 16.3%

Kiplinger went on to say:

“Des Moines’s friendly, hometown atmosphere, top public schooling and affordable cost of living make it an ideal place to raise a family. But it also has big city amenities, including a growing arts scene with galleries, a symphony orchestra, a ballet and opera, trendy shops and an expanding skyscraper cityscape.”

The full story on Des Moines can be found here. The full list can be found here.

So, who else made the cut? Here’s the top 10:

No. 1: Houston
No. 2: Raleigh
No. 3: Omaha
No. 4: Boise
No. 5: Colorado Springs
No. 6: Austin
No. 7: Fayettville
No. 8: Sacramento
No. 9: Des Moines
No. 10: Provo

What’s next? Well, Forbes already named us #4 in their best cities for business and careers.

So, next time you complain of the humid heat and state fair crowd, remember – people admire us : )

If you’re considering moving to Des Moines and joining the party, don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions. I’d be glad to connect you with any local service provides (Seriously, I always know someone).

Original Photo Kudos.

Big thanks to the Des Moines Register for the heads up!  Here are the details:

 

“A public forum has been scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 12 at the Urbandale Senior Center, 7305 Aurora Ave., to discuss plans for a proposed dog park.

A dog park is a fenced in area for dogs where they can exercise and enjoy the outdoors without having to wear a leash.

The park would be located in Northview Park, a 67-acre regional park in the northwest corner of the city. The dog park itself would be approximately 3.5 acres just west of 72nd Street and north of Plum Drive. A parking lot is also planned off of 72nd Street.

The city budgeted $65,000 for the 2008 fiscal year, which ends July 1, for design and construction costs to build the park.”

 

If you live in central Iowa and love dogs – this is a big, big deal.  We need more places to take our dogs to hang out and make buds and this is just one more possible place to go.  If this matters to you, be there or be square.  Again, Thursday, June 12th at 7:00pm.   You rock.. now let’s be a part of an exciting project!

Oh, and Photo Kudos