By Andi Anderson
The Iowa Independent Grocer Network, in partnership with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Farm, Food and Enterprise Development, is continuing its spring webinar series aimed at supporting independent grocery store owners across the state.
The next session, focused on Business and Finance, will take place on March 17 and will offer practical guidance for improving financial decision‑making and long‑term planning.
Speakers for the March session include Sean Park, value‑added sustainable development program director at the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs, and Ethan Bowers, enterprise development specialist with the Farm, Food and Enterprise Development program at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
Both speakers will share insights designed to help store owners strengthen daily operations, maintain profitability, and plan effectively for future growth. Attendees will also participate in small group discussions to encourage networking and peer‑to‑peer learning.
The webinar series is offered at no cost, with upcoming topics including Procurement and Logistics on April 21 and Design, Marketing, and Store Layout on May 19. Each session runs from 1–3 p.m. The first webinar, held in January, introduced the network and highlighted existing support services.
It also included remarks from Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and State Representative Brian Lohse, who discussed current legislative efforts to support independent grocery stores and the increasing influence of the Choose Iowa initiative. A recording of the January session is available for those who were unable to attend.
In addition to the webinars, the initiative has released a new Independent Grocer Self‑Audit Tool and personalized technical assistance for store owners.
These resources are available at no cost and are designed to help grocers assess operational areas such as merchandising, procurement, staffing, and financial practices. Technical assistance may include business planning, market analysis, financial coaching, or store design support, depending on the needs of each grocery business.
All tools and webinar information can be found on the network’s webpage. Questions may be directed to Megan Kemp at mkemp@iastate.edu.
Photo Credit: iowa-state-university
Categories: Iowa, General