Rob Sand Talks with Small Business Owners on New Plan to Grow Iowa’s Economy and Support Small Businesses

Rob Sand Talks with Small Business Owners on New Plan to Grow Iowa’s Economy and Support Small Businesses

DES MOINES, IA – On Wednesday, nominee for governor Rob Sand released the latest edition of his “Truer Better Agenda,” the “Opportunities for All” plan. The plan focuses on growing Iowa’s economy, supporting small businesses, and making sure rural communities have the tools they need to thrive. Rob knows the value of growing up in a small town, and wants to make sure every Iowan has the chance to build a good life in the community they choose.

Following the release, Rob toured Innovative Manufacturing & Engineering, a manufacturing facility in Des Moines, and hosted local small business leaders from across the region for a roundtable discussion to hear about what’s working for small business owners, what isn’t, and what the state can do to help. Together, Rob believes Iowa should be making it easier for small businesses to grow, create jobs, and keep our communities strong. That’s why as governor, he will raise the minimum wage, cut unnecessary red tape, and work to keep our next generation of workers here.

READ Rob’s full plan HERE.

Learn more about Rob’s tour and roundtable below:

WATCH:

WOI: Sand Joins Roundtable with Small Business Leaders

WHO 13: Rob Sand Hosts Small Business Roundtable

READ:

Radio Iowa: Rob Sand, Democratic candidate for governor, releases economic agenda

Democrat Rob Sand says if he’s elected governor, he’ll create an Office of Rural Prosperity, appoint a task force focused on expanding rural housing and work to raise Iowa’s minimum wage.
Sand has released a 15 point economic agenda that includes phasing in increases for Iowa’s minimum wage, to ultimately reach $12 an hour. “The economy has been not working for working people,” Sand said during an interview with Radio Iowa.”It’s been favoring those at the top and it hasn’t been working fairly and this is one way to combat that.”
Iowa’s $7.25 an hour minimum wage hasn’t been raised in 18 years and is lower than Nebraska’s, South Dakota’s and Minnesota’s, all of which are adjusted each year. Sand said Iowa’s should have an annual cost of living increase, too. “I think that’s smart and a mix of our neighbors are willing to do it,” Sand said, “which I think is reflective of it being common sense no matter your party affiliation.”
“Small business owners and small business employees are part of the heartbeat of our state,” Sand told Radio Iowa, “and the more we can cut red tape and streamline application processes for them, the better off they’re going to be.”

Iowa Capital Dispatch: Rob Sand proposes raising minimum wage, expanding farm income streams

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand released policy priorities Wednesday to support Iowa farm and rural economies.
Sand’s policy proposal contains four main objectives: invest in Iowa’s economy and workforce, save the family farm, protect rural healthcare and build more housing.
The policy proposal said “it’s not the farmers who need to work harder – it’s the farms that need to work smarter.” Farms can work smarter, the policy proposal says, if they can implement multiple revenue streams, through things like agritourism, value-added commodities or equipment rentals. The policy also called for “more enterprises” that allow farmers to turn manure into “valuable bio-based products” like renewable natural gas.
The Democrat, currently serving as Iowa’s state auditor, said he would also establish a first-of-its-kind Office of Rural Prosperity, if elected governor, to give rural communities a “direct contact” and to “ensure an understanding of rural issues” across state departments.
“This is personal to me – I’m raising my kids here, and I want them to have more opportunities than I had growing up, not less,” Sand said. “That’s why I’m releasing these new policies to support Iowa families, protect Iowa family farms, and ensure that communities across our state not just get by, but thrive.”

The Gazette: Sand: Iowa should raise minimum wage to $12 per hour

Iowa’s minimum wage should be increased to $12 per hour, Democratic candidate for governor Rob Sand said Wednesday.
“I had a job when I was in high school, growing up in Decorah, paying me $7.25 an hour. The minimum wage in Iowa now is $7.25 an hour, 26 years after I had that job. Time for it to go up,” Sand told reporters after the event.
Sand’s “Opportunities for All” plan also proposes expanding to all state government Sand’s program in the state auditor’s office that allows state employees to work from anywhere in the state, and reducing “red tape” to support businesses with 10 workers or fewer.
Sand said the goal of state government should be “streamlining stuff and making it more practical when you know that the business that you’re interacting with is a business that doesn’t have that level of administrative capacity.”