Industry Associations: Helping Iowa Businesses & Making a Difference

Did you know nearly every business has an industry specific trade group and/or association? Did you know that most of them will provide valuable market research information, networking events, and promotional/sales opportunities for their members? When we get questions from existing business owners looking for new ways to grow their businesses; we will first turn to their industry associations to learn as much information as we can and tell the business owner to do the same. Far too often, small businesses do not belong to their trade associations or industry groups. Perhaps it's the cost of membership, or maybe it's hard to see the immediate value. Regardless of why, too many entrepreneurs don't invest in memberships; I'm going to try to change your mind with a couple of commendable Iowa examples.

The Technology Association of Iowa

The Technology Association of Iowa has been working overtime to bring business owners in the technology sector together across the state. One of my favorite events that they host is called Tech Brew. At Tech Brew, technology geeks gather around at a local pub, drink some free beer and talk zeros and ones (or as they put it, enjoy 'lubricated serendipity'). Tech Brews have become staple business networking events in the Cedar Falls/Waterloo, Des Moines and Iowa City metros.

There are two other events that are sponsored/hosted by the Technology Association of Iowa that I want to make sure to mention: the Women of Innovation and the Prometheus Awards. These award events are vitally important to the State of Iowa. By organizing and championing these types of events, TAI is helping to promote all of the innovative people, businesses, and projects that we have here in our great state. Crazy thing is, they coordinate all of this and I haven't even touched on Pitch and Grow, Heartland GreenUp or Celebrity CxOpen! Even if your business isn't in computer programming, this is a worthy group to get to know and become involved with.

The Iowa Association of Business and Industry

The The Iowa Association of Business and Industry represents a wide variety of small and large businesses and serves to advance Iowa commerce. Just like other trade groups or associations, they provide their members with legislative information and successful advocacy, industry news, networking events, and plenty of educational opportunities.

ABI's accomplishments advancing the business industry are not to be ignored; however, I included them because of their general commitment to the success of the State of Iowa via the Iowa Association of Business and Industry Foundation. Similarly to how the Technology Association of Iowa is able to leverage their organization to advance Iowa as a technology leader in the mid-west, the ABI promotes state progress by providing leaders with one of the best training and well respected professional development opportunities in the area. The Foundation has three primary development programs: Business Horizons for high school students, Leadership Iowa University for college students, and Leadership Iowa for industry thought leaders in Iowa. Also beyond the standard membership assistance, ABI helps market central Iowa and serves as a partner in the Iowa Innovation Gateway.

Consider this: in our Iowa association and trade group database subscription, there are over 400 listings.  These two associations, the Technology Association of Iowa and the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, are just two very good examples; there are literally hundreds more great associations out there.  The nice thing about TAI and ABI is that they'd be happy to call any type of business a member.  

Once you have a chance to check out those organizations and all that they have to offer, here are a few more to explore that you might not have heard of:

• Iowa Funeral Directors Association
• Iowa Turkey Federation
• Agribusiness Association of Iowa
• Iowa Inventors Group
• Iowa Business Council
• American Payroll Association

Do you belong to any of these groups? Do you have any suggestions for other associations or trade groups business owners should explore? Please comment with your thoughts!

This blog is a repost from MyEntre.Net, read the original post here.