Iowa Department of Economic Development DATE: March 16, 2009 RE: “Iowa Innovators”

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TO: Iowa Newspaper Association Member Editors FROM: Iowa Department of Economic Development DATE: March 16, 2009 RE: “Iowa Innovators”

The “Iowa Innovators” series is a joint project of the Iowa Newspaper Association and the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED). The series is an outgrowth of an idea from member INA publishers. “Iowa Innovators” articles describe initiatives that Iowa communities have used to improve their ability to attract business and industry and demonstrate community innovation. The articles also describe Iowa companies on the leading edge of technology, business expansion, workforce development and recycling.

It is hoped that these article ideas will be published locally and spark community and business initiatives statewide. If you have community or business success stories to share, contact IDED, 200 East Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA 50309, 800.245.IOWA (4692) or e-mail: [email protected].

The following is a list of companies and communities featured in this round of “Iowa Innovators” articles:

1. Ames-based GlobalVetLink, an eight-year-old technology company with 12 employees, located in offices in the Iowa State University Research Park, serves veterinarians who work with breeding stock, show animals, pets and even exotic zoo animals. “We digitize and transmit data on horses and other livestock, companion animals, and even exotic animals to produce electronic certificates of health for animals moving between states or between countries,” says Kevin Maher, GVL founder and president. A typical GVL veterinary electronic inspection form displays the animal’s name, date of birth, types of medical tests and vaccines administered, distinctive markings and veterinarian information, and Maher says more than 120 million animals have been certified using GVL’s Web-based applications.

2. Two northeast Iowa companies are using tried-and-true methods to keep moving forward during tough times. Cascade Manufacturing, a wood trusses manufacturer, is diversifying its product mix and investing in its technology branch to keep growing. “Our technology company is something totally different,” says Cascade Manufacturing’s Mike Noonan, speaking about about its Infrastructure Technological Solutions. ITS provides data back-up and Web site development for small- and medium- sized businesses. Peosta-based Mi-T-M Corp. is a 38-year-old company with a well-earned reputation for supplying large quantities of high-pressure washers, air compressors, and generators on fairly short notice. The company is weathering the economy because it has added a host of new products including generators, air compressors, air-tools, barbecue grills, corn and wood stoves, wet-dry vacuums, space heaters and other products.

3. Two growing eastern Iowa technology companies are showing that you don’t have to be located in Silicon Valley, Los Angeles or Seattle to design and market best-selling video games. Cedar Falls-based Phantom EFX is building a $5.2-million corporate headquarters in Cedar Falls to take advantage of the growing and lucrative video-game market. Budcat Creations, based in Iowa City, is a 60-employee, award-winning video-game designer with more than eight years of development experience and 15 published titles to its name. Budcat has grown rapidly due its work on the immensely popular “Guitar Hero®” series of video games. Iowa Innovators

Iowa’s e-Solutions for Animals Calling upon his 25-year experience Veterinary Feed Directives (VFDs) for in animal health, information systems practitioners. and related animal technologies, “Equine practitioners were the very Kevin Maher started GlobalVetLink first to embrace the technology for (GVL) in the basement of his Ames EIA certificates. In the first year, the home in 2001. digital process requires two-thirds less Today, GVL has 12 employees time than the old, manual process,” located in offices in the Iowa State says Maher. University Research Park, and with “Subsequent years do not require each day the company comes closer to new digital photos, so once the blood fulfilling its vision of creating a single is drawn, the rest of the process is database that could serve veterinar- rapidly completed online.” ians who work with breeding stock, Similar time-saving reports have show animals, pets and even exotic been made in creating online health zoo animals. certificates versus the handwritten “We digitize and transmit data on type. horses and other livestock, compan- The company charges its users ion animals, and even exotic animals a monthly subscription rate. GVL to produce elec- keeps subscriber tronic certificates data confidential, of health for but Maher says animals moving that subscribers between states or include veterinar- between coun- ians in 46 states tries,” says Maher, and 70 diagnos- who predicts paper tic labs across health certificates Ames the country. It and animal-health also assesses a forms will be charge every time obsolete within a subscribing the next decade. veterinarian or “Our subscriber base is growing laboratory wants to upload new infor- weekly and on track to double mation about an animal. annually.” Maher says Iowa has been a natural In fact, Maher says more than 120 fit for his technology company. million animals have been certified “The people in our state have a using GVL’s Web-based applications. passion for agriculture and are knowl- A typical GVL veterinary elec- edgeable about animal agriculture,” tronic inspection form displays the he says. “Being on the ISU campus animal’s name, date of birth, types of helps us find qualified interns and medical tests and vaccines adminis- we've had no problem finding high- tered, distinctive markings and veteri- skilled workers.” narian information, says Maher. Maher says he’s found Iowa to be a “In the case of horses, the form pro-business partner for his company also includes color photos showing as well. GVL received a $294,500 side and front views of the animal. It award from the Iowa Department also can feature information on any of Economic Development’s computer chips embedded under the Demonstration Fund to develop a animal’s skin or tattoos and brands an innovative GoPass® system that that would aid in identification,” he would expedite animal movement for says. a six month period — rather than the Since GlobalVetLink first launched current 30 day expiration health cer- its online application system, 46 states tificate process. have completed license agreements “Not only will this product reduce with the company allowing veterinary the burden of owners carrying practitioners, state authorities, diag- paperwork for each state of travel nostic laboratories and other health for animals,” says Maher. “It will officials, to build, access and monitor also provide animal health officials animal movement documents with far more accurate animal movement the click of a mouse. data on a real-time basis.” The company’s first on-line appli- This “Iowa Innovators” article is a cation allowed Official Certificates joint project of the Iowa Department of of Veterinary Inspection (OCVI) Economic Development and the Iowa and Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) Newspaper Association. If you have business Certificates to be processed and sent stories to share in a future column, contact electronically. IDED, 200 East Grand Avenue, Today, GVL also offers on- Des Moines, IA 50309. line Pet-For-Sale Certificates and 1-800-245-IOWA. Iowa Innovators

Resilient in Tough Times As the national economy becomes the company’s history, it has added a challenging, two northeast Iowa host of new products manufactured companies are using tried-and-true including generators, air compressors, methods to keep moving forward air-tools, barbecue grills, corn and during tough times. wood stoves, wet-dry vacuums, space For Cascade Manufacturing, heaters and other products. problems in the housing market have “We would not be the company caused demand for its wood trusses to we are today if we had been satis- decline. fied to just produce pressure washers. To combat the situation Mike We’ve constantly looked for new Noonan, Cascade vice president opportunities and new ways to grow for marketing, says the company is the company,” says Sam Humphrey, diversifying its product mix as well as Mi-T-M president. investing in its technology branch. And while the company has added “Our technology company is some- many new products over the years, thing totally different,” says Noonan, Humphrey says the company has also speaking about its Infrastructure grown due to its private label business. Technological Solutions. “We manufacture products under ITS provides private label for data back-up and 35 customers,” Web site develop- says Humphrey. ment for small- “Some of our and medium-sized Peosta larger private- businesses. label customers The company Cascade include John created the ITS Deere, Grainger operation after and NAPA.” a massive 1997 While some fire at its Cascade manufacturers plant destroyed may outsource much company’s some of their paper documents. functions, Humphrey says Mi-T-M “As more companies look at ways performs virtually all of its metal fab- to back up critical business infor- rication, including the manufacture mation, we thought by starting this of high-pressure tanks in its Peosta company, we could share the lessons facility. The company uses five robotic we learned,” says Noonan. welding systems, three laser-cutting Cascade Manufacturing is diver- systems for precision fabrication of sifying in another way as well. While steel, and two powder coating paint the company has been well known for systems. its wood roof trusses for many years, If production slows, “We look for the company is now manufactur- ways to fill our unused capacity so we ing prebuilt wall sections for homes, can keep people working,” Humphrey apartment complexes and commer- says, adding that Mi-T-M constantly cial buildings. looks for regional companies requir- “This idea was launched less than ing metal fabrication services. a year ago and is designed to speed a When the 350-employee company project’s completion,” says Noonan. built its 400,000-square-foot dis- “This is helping us pursue larger com- tribution center in 2005, Mi-T-M mercial construction projects and received a series of tax credits and move into other markets.” benefits from the Iowa Department For another Iowa company, perfor- of Economic Development-admin- mance under pressure is more than a istered High Quality Job Creation slogan. (HQJC) program. Peosta-based Mi-T-M Corp. is a Customer service, quality work- 38-year-old northeast Iowa company manship and product diversifica- with a well-earned reputation for tion are but three reasons companies supplying large quantities of high- thrive in lean economic times. Mi-T- pressure washers, air compressors, M and Cascade Manufacturing also generators and similar products on keep their eyes open for new opportu- fairly short notice. nities to stay ahead of the game. And while the Mi-T-M brand This “Iowa Innovators” article is a stands for performance under joint project of the Iowa Department of pressure, not every product leaving Economic Development and the Iowa the conpany’s sprawling manufac- Newspaper Association. If you have business turing and distribution complex is a stories to share in a future column, contact pressure washer adorned with the IDED, 200 East Grand Avenue, Mi-T-M logo. Des Moines, IA 50309. That’s because over the course of 1-800-245-IOWA. Iowa Innovators

Fun and (Video) Games in Iowa Two growing eastern Iowa tech- video game “Darkest of Days.” nology companies are showing that “In Darkest of Days, players can you don’t have to be located in Silicon travel back and forth through time to Valley, Los Angeles or Seattle to design relive some of mankind’s most dire and market best-selling video games. hours,” says Beck. “Players attempt While the general U.S. economy to save certain key individuals who may be slumping, the video game were never meant to become involved market seems to be virtually bullet- in say, The Battle of the Bulge or the proof. According to DFC, a leading volcanic eruption in Pompeii, thereby consumer and retail information changing human history for the provider, the worldwide interactive better.” entertainment industry is on track Budcat Creations, an award- to achieve revenues of $57 billion in winning video-game designer with 2009. more than eight years of development Cedar Falls-based Reel Deal experience and 15 published titles to Holdings LLC, doing business as its name, is located an hour south of Phantom EFX, is building a $5.2- PhantomEFX in Iowa City. Since its million corporate headquarters in move to Iowa City from Las Vegas Cedar Falls to take in 2005, Budcat advantage of the has grown from growing and lucra- six employees to tive video-game more than 60. market. Cedar Falls The develop- A c c o r d i n g ment studio, with to Darin Beck, expertise on the P h a n t o m E F X Iowa City Wii™ home video president, “Our game system and new headquar- the Nintendo ters will allow the DS™ platform, company to grow has grown rapidly and be a showcase due to its work facility for our national and global on the immensely popular “Guitar clients. I’m very excited that we have Hero®” series of video games finally broken ground. Phantom Park “We’ve developed “Guitar Hero will be a world-class facility for us III: Legends of Rock,” “Guitar Hero: and will accommodate our growing Aerosmith” and “Guitar Hero World company for years to come.” Tour,” says Jeremy Anderson, Budcat Its previous location was destroyed general manager. by the floods of 2008. The company has designs to grow Two awards from the Iowa even more now that it's been acquired Department of Economic by Activision Publishing , the Santa Development are helping leverage Monica, Calif.-based owner of the construction of the 54,000-square- Guitar Hero franchise. foot facility. The project received “We are thrilled to partner with a $250,000 award from the Activision and believe that this Community Economic Betterment acquisition is a perfect fit for both Account (CEBA) and tax benefits companies,” says Andersen. “Their from the High Quality Jobs Creation world-class sales and marketing (HQJC) program. support means that we can focus our Founded in 1998, Phantom EFX is time and resources on what we love a game publisher best known for inno- and do best — creating great games.” vative PC-based casino games. It also To that end, the company is looking developed the Internet’s first casino for new space and and new employ- themed virtual world, “Reel Deal ees. “We’re always looking for talent,” LIVE!” This unique online destina- says Anderson. “And we’ve had more tion offers casino style play without success recruiting people to Iowa City wagering real money, and is suitable than we ever had recruiting people in for people of all ages. Las Vegas.” “In these tough economic times, Video game studios in Iowa? destination hot spots like Las Vegas PhantomEFX and Budcat Creations and Atlantic City might seem a little are proving that Iowa is fertile ground too rich for most pocketbooks,” says for video game ingenuity. Beck. This “Iowa Innovators” article is a Constructed in 3D, Reel Deal joint project of the Iowa Department of LIVE is a completely virtual, online Economic Development and the Iowa community where gamers can social- Newspaper Association. If you have business ize, place bets and experience the stories to share in a future column, contact “high roller” life without wagering a IDED, 200 East Grand Avenue, dime. Des Moines, IA 50309. It also launched the well-received 1-800-245-IOWA.