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Iowa Senate recognizes Small Business Development Centers, presents entrepreneurship awards
Summary
The Iowa Senate used part of its floor session to recognize America’s Small Business Development Center in Iowa Day, present entrepreneurship awards to Sierra Albert and Abe Sandquist, and note statewide client- and economic-impact figures read into the record.
The Iowa Senate recognized America’s Small Business Development Centers in Iowa Day and presented entrepreneur awards during its floor session. Senators highlighted statewide impact figures for the centers and introduced award recipients from across the state.
Senator Rowley, the senator from Dickinson, said the Deb Dalzell Women Entrepreneur Achievement Award honors women who “have significantly improved or changed their own personal situation, thus having an impact on others around them.” He introduced Sierra Albert, founder of Groom Curriculum, as this year’s recipient and asked the chamber to congratulate her.
The award presentation noted that Groom Curriculum began after Albert identified a lack of standardized, accessible training for professional pet groomers; the program cofounders were listed in the chamber as Patricia Pierce and Shelby Mitchell. Senator Rowley described the curriculum as a nationally accredited, 10-week workforce program established in February 2022.
Senator Costello, the senator from Mills, introduced the Neil Smith Entrepreneur of the Year award and named Abe Sandquist as the winner. Costello said Sandquist “figured out a way to sell manure to farmers,” negotiating agreements and expanding his business to convert food waste from grocery stores into fertilizer.
Earlier in the session, a senator read statewide impact figures for Iowa’s SBDC network into the record: 49,500 clients advised; a reported sales increase of $174,000,000; more than 255 business starts; about 1,795 jobs created; and capital investments of $87,000,000. The speaker also stated that SBDCs work with community colleges and regent universities and that the network’s funding is located in the economic development budget subcommittee chaired by Senator Lofgren (as read in the chamber).
Senators from both parties praised the SBDC network’s role in grant writing, strategic planning and other services for entrepreneurs. Interim SBDC director Lisa Smith and regional director Kelly Prickett were recognized as attending the session.
Less critical introductions and job-shadow visits by students from area high schools were also noted during the same period of the session.
