Richard Pratt's stories

Jodi Schafer Collaborative Growth Initiative MakeMyMove

MakeMyMove campaign draws first participant to Cedar Rapids area – and more on the way

The Collaborative Growth Initiative, a workforce recruitment effort by the cities of Cedar Rapids, Marion and Hiawatha, just launched its MakeMyMove Greater Cedar Rapids campaign last month. Now, the campaign has brought its first new participant to the metro area,…

Hiawatha leaders celebrate city’s past, future at State of the City event

Most towns like to claim they’re experiencing dramatic growth, but Hiawatha Mayor Steve Dodson found…

Hiawatha mayor Steve Dodson State of the City

Council member Todd at LightLine groundbreaking: Project will restore ‘circle of life’

Cedar Rapids City Council member Dale Todd borrowed a trope from a classic Disney movie…

Dale Todd LightLine Loop groundbreaking

Renewable energy is big in Iowa, but can growth continue?

In the past decade, renewable energy production has surged across the United States, a trend…

This 86.1-kilowatt solar array, located on the Wernimont farm near Peosta, was installed by Eagle Point Solar in 2022. CREDIT EAGLE POINT SOLAR

WITH GALLERY: Cedar Rapids leaders dedicate latest flood protection project near Czech Village

Flood protection for the west side of Cedar Rapids has taken a significant step forward,…

Cedar River flood protection pump station

Cedar Rapids leaders reflect on 2020 derecho at five-year commemoration ceremony

The August 2020 derecho inflicted billions of dollars in damage across the Midwest, including a…

Cedar Rapids derecho tree planting

Ingredion hosts groundbreaking ceremony for $50 million Cedar Rapids expansion

Ingredion leaders and government officials took an opportunity Wednesday, at a groundbreaking ceremony in Cedar…

Ingredion plant manager Patrick Small

Airport commissioner: ‘We feel blindsided’ by Alliant power plant proposal

The Cedar Rapids Airport Commission and Alliant Energy representatives shared starkly different perspectives Tuesday morning…

Marty Lenss Eastern Iowa Airport

Airport commission sets special meeting Tuesday to discuss Alliant power plant proposal

The Cedar Rapids Airport Commission will hold a special meeting Tuesday morning to discuss Alliant…

Alliant power plant proposed location

Zeam focuses on ‘life in real time’ streaming

In a way, Jack Perry’s launch of Zeam has been a natural progression of the…

Zeam encoding studio

QTS data center groundbreaking canceled in wake of deadly New York shooting

The groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for this morning at the QTS data center site in southwest…

QTS data center

Proposed Alliant power plant near airport raises concerns

The Cedar Rapids Airport Commission is expressing safety and proximity concerns about an Alliant Energy…

Alliant power plant proposed location

North Liberty’s Copper Boar named CBJ’s Fastest Growing Company

There’s no requirement that partners in a locally-owned restaurant have a longstanding personal friendship that…

Ty Medema, Shane Durian and Zeph Leaton are the co-owners of Copper Boar American Pub in North Liberty, the CBJ’s Fastest-Growing Company in the Corridor for 2025. CREDIT RICHARD PRATT

Groundbreaking set Tuesday for QTS data center project

A groundbreaking ceremony is set next week for the Quality Technology Services (QTS) data center…

QTS data center

Linn County board recommends approval of nuclear energy zoning code

A new Linn County ordinance amendment creating an exclusive use zoning district for nuclear power…

Duane Arnold Energy Center

U.S. Bank building sale offers challenging, exciting opportunity

The sale of the former U.S. Bank building in downtown Cedar Rapids, and its associated…

U.S. Bank building complex