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Support our restaurants, small businesses

The decision by many to shelter in place during this pandemic has been wise, but it’s been hard on many. Our local small businesses, who depend on our money to stay open, have been especially hard hit. Some restaurants have attempted to adapt by switching to carryout and delivery only, but it hasn’t made up the loss of dine in customers, who in most cases, were most of their business. Salons have been hit hard as well, since they depend on people coming in, and aren’t allowed to make housecalls. Retail stores have lost all of their foot traffic because they aren’t allowed to ...

Good for business, good for the community

The Webster City City Council approved a small business loan program Monday night in response to the Covid-19 crisis. The council set aside $250,000 for the loans, to be issued in increments of $2500 and $5000. Businesses with gross annual revenues of less than $500,000 with 20 employees or less and who have been closed as part of state mandates will be eligible. Funds can be used for the following purposes: - Rent or mortgage payments - Payroll - Utilities - Other expenses associated with keeping the business viable Loan repayment will be deferred for 1 year, but loans can be ...

A message to our readers about the COVID-19 pandemic

Dear reader: The last few weeks have been full of uncertainty for many of you here in Hamilton County when it comes to the COVID-19 coronavirus, and we wanted today to provide you with an update on how we’ve been covering the crisis here at The Daily Freeman-Journal and the resources we have made available so you and your loved ones can remain up-to-date and prepared in the coming weeks. First, internally, most of our office staff is now working from home, with only essential employees at our main office and printing facility. Our reporters will still be out and about covering ...

Great news from Tokyo

The important new U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement negotiated by the Trump administration is one key step closer to becoming a reality. Japan’s parliament has approved the pact. That means that it will go into effect once our Congress concurs. This trade arrangement is enormously significant for the Hawkeye State. That’s why Gov. Kim Reynolds welcomed the positive news from Tokyo enthusiastically. “When President Trump announced a negotiated trade agreement between the United States and Japan, I knew it meant a significant win for Iowa farmers,” the governor said in a statement ...

Spend time at the Ag Show

Make plans to spend some time at the 18th annual Farm News Ag Show. It kicks off Wednesday on the East Campus of Iowa Central Community College, 2031 Quail Ave. in Fort Dodge. On its first day, the show is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It resumes at 7:30 a.m. Thursday and runs until 3 p.m. The show will appeal to those with even a casual interest in agriculture, but for those who want more in-depth information, it will showcase a wide array of agricultural products and services. More than 75 exhibitors will be on hand in the 30,000 square feet of show space. Their diverse offerings will ...

Shop locally this holiday season

The Christmas season is officially here. Shoppers will be on the hunt for the perfect gift for everyone on their shopping list. Some will decide that it’s easier to forgo merchants in the community to click order gifts from online sources. They are mistaken. There are many good reasons to shop locally, especially on Small Business Saturday tomorrow. Small Business Saturday is an American shopping holiday held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year. First and foremost is that those with the most success in finding those perfect ...