Des Moines Web Geeks

If you are a web geek living in Central Iowa, we are forming a group to get together to discuss all things web. Aside from discussing the latest and greatest technologies we will be using the group as a soundboard to discuss projects we are working on in order to facilitate feedback and brainstorming…

Thanks to Jeremy Harrington (@jharr) for setting up the website and getting the ball rolling… And sorry for my horrible

Potential Topics of Discussion (via website)

Say What?

Des Moines Web Geeks is proposed to be a group of web professionals and enthusiasts looking to meet, share ideas and have some fun. We are currently scouting locations to meet and find some times that work for most folks.

While the intent is that these be casual meetings it’s always great to have some featured topics, presenters or concepts for each meetging. Some topics other similar groups have hosted include:

* XHTML/CSS Primer
* Wordpress
* AJAX/Javascript Frameworks
* Content Management Systems
* Developing Social Media Tools
* Google Apps
* Yahoo! Pipes

Some awesome stuff going on in Des Moines…

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Des Moines Co-Working Arrives

Co-working in Des Moines finally arrives as Impromptu Studio finalizes the long search for a location. The much anticipated arrival of a co-working space will help numerous local entrepreneurs with affordable office space and the opportunity to network with many like-minded people. They have several plans available along with a la carte services. This is a very exciting development for Des Moines and the local entrepreneur community.

Here are a few pictures of the place as it sits now, before they’ve started to move anything in…

View More “Pre Move In” Pictures

Follow Impromptu Studio on Twitter for all the latest news -> @ImpromptuStudio

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Sarah Lacy Visiting Des Moines This Weekend

Sarah Lacy will be coming to Des Moines this weekend for a book signing / reading event at East Village Books. Sarah’s book (admittedly haven’t read it but will be picking up a copy from EVB Saturday) is called “Once You’re Lucky, Twice You’re Good“. It is about “the rebirth of silicon valley and the rise of web 2.0″…

“Everyone has heard the story of the Internet Bubble. Beginning with Netscape’s blockbuster IPO in 1996, billions of dollars flowed into Internet startups, and companies with no revenues and shaky business plans earned sky-high valuations on Wall Street. It was the era of paper millionaires, $800 office chairs, and Super Bowl ads for dotcoms that no one had ever heard of. Then in 2000 the Bubble burst, with the Nasdaq losing 75% of its value and hundreds of companies closing up shop. It was all written off to “irrational exuberance,” and everyone moved on. Once You’re Lucky, Twice You’re Good is the story of the entrepreneurs who never gave up on the Internet dream.”

RSVP here…

Juice Interview with Sarah Lacy

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Microsoft Data Center Coming to Iowa

I posted a comment to FriendFeed early today linking to an interview with Microsoft’s Debra Chrapaty where she said in a video Microsoft would be building a data center in Iowa. I’ve been waiting to hear more details since that comment before blogging but have heard nothing.

So if Microsoft invests in their new Iowa data center in the same manner as they traditionally have - we could see a $500 million facility coming our way. If Microsoft is going to reach their goal of having “many millions of servers” and competing with Google’s infrastructure this is the course they need to take.

No word as of yet on location… Why Iowa? Cheap(er) power, Cheap(er) labor, centralized location. Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, said technology based companies look at Iowa because of the well educated work force and good training programs at community colleges (via Chicago Tribune). According to the Des Moines Register, the tax benefits are the same as the deal Google got in Council Bluffs…

The state agreed to provide sales and use tax exemptions on purchases of computers, equipment and electricity necessary for use in a Web portal business with an investment of at least $200 million in Iowa.

The technology equipment inside the building also would be exempt from property taxes.

The tax breaks are the same as the ones lawmakers passed last year to lure high-tech giant Google.

More to come as the news unfolds…

UPDATE: I just got word from KCCI the new data center will be located in the Greater Des Moines area…

Iowa Department of Economic Development spokeswoman Stephanie Bjornson said the company confirmed Tuesday its intentions to locate the center in the Des Moines area.

She said they are looking at a final list of sites.

Iowa Governor Chet Culver had this to say…

“On behalf of all Iowans, let me be among the first to say ‘Microsoft, Welcome to Iowa!’ In making its decision, Microsoft recognized what we in Iowa have known all along – our workforce and quality of life is second-to-none. One of my top priorities as Governor is to create good jobs with good wages, and together with Microsoft, we’re doing just that,” said Iowa Gov. Chet Culver. “Their decision to make Iowa their newest home will have a tremendous impact on our local economy and our state as a whole. Microsoft’s innovative spirit is a perfect match with that of our hard working people. We look forward to working with Microsoft in the coming months as this project takes shape, and expand our economic opportunities here in Iowa.”

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Need a Job? Move to Iowa!

Great story in the NYTimes today that bubbled up to me on Twitter via the #dmtweetup crew. This time last year I wrote a post here asking “Where are all the cool jobs?“. In it I wrote of the “brain drain” that Iowa faces as its smart, young, talented workforce jump ship to head to the “cool” cities. Well this brain drain, among other reasones, has created a SURPLUS (you read it right) of jobs for skilled, knowledge workers in Iowa … even in a recession. The market has completely flipped to where employers are scrambling to attract the young, smart, and talented and giving incentives for “cool jobs”.

As Iowa Job Surplus Grows, Workers Call the Shots - NYTimes.com

“As rising unemployment and layoffs beset workers around the country, Iowa faces a different problem: a surplus of jobs. Or to put it another way: a shortage of workers. A survey of companies by Iowa Workforce Development, a state agency, found as many as 48,000 job vacancies, in industries including financial services — Des Moines trails only Hartford as the nation’s insurance capital — health care and skilled manufacturing. One estimate projects the job surplus to reach 198,000 by 2014, with vacancies increasingly in professional positions. Greater Des Moines alone faces a shortfall of 60,000 workers in the next decade.

The state provides a small, advance view of what some economists predict will be a broader shortage of skilled workers in the next 20 or 30 years, as tens of millions of baby boomers retire from the workplace, and the economy produces more new jobs than workers. Potential consequences include slower economic growth and competitiveness, as well as higher wages for skilled workers and greater inequality”

Don’t worry - once you get here you will find Iowa has a lot of cool tech people and saavy business minds.

Technorati Tags: iowa, business, des moines

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