Local News

In conjunction with Manufacturing Month, MFL MarMac high school students learned about careers in the manufacturing industry last week through tours of M’s Machine and Manufacturing Co., Inc., and Art’s Way Scientific, both in Monona.

The manufacturing industry plays a large role in Iowa’s workforce, employing 1 in 6 workers, or 13.5 percent of the state’s total employment.

Economically, advanced manufacturing is Iowa’s largest industry sector, adding $31.9 billion to the state economy each year. In the last 10 years, manufacturing exports have grown 78 percent, and currently account for 80 percent of Iowa’s total exports.

That growth is expected to continue, with 3.4 million manufacturing jobs likely to be needed over the next decade. However, only 1.4 million of those jobs are expected to be filled.

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

MFL MarMac Elementary teachers Niki Guese, Crystal Thurn and Emily Welper are pursuing a 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant to create a free after school program that would aid K-3 student academics through homework help and fun, educational clubs.

The grant would fully fund the program, including a full-time coordinator, snacks and materials, Thurn told the school board at its Oct. 10 meeting.

Having a place for students to go after school will also help overstretched staff.

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

Paul and Monica Tiffany, the owners and operators of Preferred Painters, have been a fixture in McGregor for several years.

In December 2015, they bought a building in downtown McGregor, at 258 Main St., to use as a shop for their painting business—a place to keep pressure washers, sprayers and extra supplies. In order to be more efficient, they also planned to use the area to tint their own paint.

“Then, one thing led to another,” Monica remarked. “Pretty soon, we were opening a paint and hardware store.”

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

Grant opportunities for community projects were a prominent topic of discussion at the Monona Council’s regular meeting Oct. 3.

One opportunity was shared by resident Jim Langhus, who was seeking the council’s permission to submit a Trees Forever pollinator habitat conservation grant application for the Monona Butterfly Garden and Trail.

“There’s a section of the [trail] loop near the pool where we can put in a prairie,” Langhus explained. “It would be a short grass prairie with a lot of prairie plants and flowers that pollinators can come to.”