Happy Colors, Simplicity and Sustainability Top the List,
Says Award-Winning Designer

Lighten up!!

That's the buzz phrase for fall as a recovering economy fans a collective determination to put the bad news of recent years - from layoffs to natural disasters - behind us, says Roy Joulus, CEO of the award-winning, design-forward Greenbo, LLC, (greenbo.co).

"We'll see an insistence on hope, optimism and joy in the simple things in life reflected in bright, happy colors and clean designs with strong lines,'' says Joulus, whose innovative new railing flowerbox, Greenbo XL, won the prestigious international Red Dot Design Award for product design in 2012.

As a manufacturer of high-quality products for urban homes, Joulus says he and his team must forecast global style trends two to three years out. That's why their new line of garden containers is made from sustainable and recyclable materials in uber-upbeat colors, with attached drainage trays that can be mixed and matched for custom color combos.

The Greenbo designers also see a growing demand for products whose form is as appealing as their function. That's why the Greenbo XL railing planter is a flowerbox "that you don't have to hide with flowers,'' Joulus says.

"Consumers' desire for sustainability and 'green' products is only going to continue to grow; in fact, that was one reason we launched our company in 2008 even though the global economy was tanking at the time," says Joulus. "The interest in gardening will continue to grow, as will demand for high-grade products that can either be recycled or are made from recycled materials."

The fall colors, which you'll see in everything from fashion to furniture to the garden, include bright greens, deep fuschia, bright orange, fiery red, ochre yellow and violet. How can you brighten your garden with these colors? Joulus offers some tips:

• Forget terra cotta - use containers that offer a vivid pop of color. Colorful containers add a carefree, cheerful element to any garden - whether it's a full yard, a patio, a balcony, or a cluster of plants indoors by a south-facing window. "Plastic containers require less watering than terra cotta or unglazed ceramic, but be sure to get a very high-grade plastic," Joulus says. "Nothing looks worse than plastic that has faded and cracked, which will happen quickly when low-quality plastics are exposed to the elements." Mix up the colors, just as you would wildflowers in a garden, or use all one color for more impact."

• Coordinate plant color and pot color. Play with different combinations to see what you like. One extreme is the monochromatic approach - where container and plants are all the same color, although shades may vary. On the other end of the extreme, a "cottage garden" with a jumble of colors (polychrome) will work beautifully, too. You might try pairing containers and plants from opposite sides of the color wheel, such as red and green, violet and yellow, or blue and orange. Or use colors that reside side by side on the color wheel, such as salmon and violet or fuchsia and bright red.

• Create a pattern of repeating colors and textures. Containers and plants with different colors can create an eye-catching display when arranged so that each color repeats at a regular interval.  For instance: blue, purple, violet, green, blue, purple, violet, green. This technique is sometimes used with border plants, or plants in linear beds. The addition of colorful containers heightens the effect and adds to the options for placement. Create a repeating pattern on a railing, along a patio or even using hanging containers.

About Roy Joulus

Roy Joulus is CEO of Greenbo, which was founded with a focus on simplicity, efficiency and innovation in creating urban agricultural products. Its Greenbo XL flowerbox, designed to hang securely on any balcony railing up to 6 inches wide, won the prestigious 2012 Red Dot Design Award. Greenbo products are manufactured in a multi-cultural Israeli-Arab setting using sustainable and recyclable materials, and with safety the No. 1 priority. Find Greenbo products at garden centers and independent nurseries in the United States and Europe, and online at amazon.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Rock Island, IL - Ballet Quad Cities' will present Tchaikovsky's famous The Nutcracker ballet in partnership with Orchestra Iowa this December.  Auditions for the community cast will be held on Saturday, September 7studios for supporting roles in the performances.

Before auditioning it is important that all candidates read and understand the mandatory requirements and expectations of the cast members performing in The Nutcracker productions. 

This information can be found on Ballet Quad Cities' website: www.balletquadcities.com

Only dancers present at the age-appropriate auditions will be considered for a role.  Dancers are asked to please arrive early to fill out registration forms.  Auditions will begin promptly on the hour.

8:30am Studio opens (613 17th St, Street, Rock Island, Illinois)

9:00am 12 years old and up

10:00am 8-11 year olds

11:00 6 & 7 year olds

The Nutcracker will be performed on December 7th and 8th at the Paramount Theater in Cedar Rapids, IA (not all cast members will be performing in Cedar Rapids) and on December 13th, 14th and 15th, 2013 at the Adler Theatre in Davenport, Iowa.

Ballet Quad Cities leadership is excited to continue its partnership with Orchestra Iowa during their 2013-2014 season.  The two premier state arts organizations in their respective fields will once again team up for two amazing productions. In December, they present Tchaikovsky's famous The Nutcracker ballet and in April, Stravinsky's mesmerizing Rite of Spring.  Both productions will be staged at both the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids and the Adler Theatre in Davenport.

Call Ballet Quad Cities at (309) 786-3779 with questions.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) today announced its first marketing partnership in the state of Iowa to help Iowa small- and medium-size businesses boost export sales and jobs. Ex-Im Bank's City/State Partnership with Iowa Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) gives exporters enhanced access to information about the Bank's resources to exporters in all 99 counties of Iowa. The partnership is expected to accelerate export business and job growth by promoting Bank products and services within a statewide network of 15 SBDCs and an International Trade Center (ITC), where entrepreneurs meet export finance counselors and learn how to grow their foreign sales. The SBDC network is sponsored by Iowa State University College of Business, Ames, in cooperation with 14 other regional colleges and universities. It is partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration. "Ex-Im Bank has a lot to offer Iowa businesses that want to reach customers overseas and grow their export sales, and this partnership will put Ex-Im's financing benefits within easy reach," said Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg. "Owners of small and medium-size businesses already use Iowa SBDC's International Trade Center; now they will find Ex-Im Bank resources in the same place. This new connection will support increased sales and job growth in Iowa." Ex-Im Bank's City/State Partnership with international trade educators and business experts in Iowa aims to build upon existing successes there. The International Trade Center provides expertise about how export businesses start, grow, and gain profits. By means of inexpensive workshops and free one-on-one counseling and online courses, it equips small businesses with marketing savvy otherwise accessible only to large companies. "Our SBDC International Trade Center is committed to helping Iowa's small and medium-sized businesses gain access to capital for expanding to markets outside the U.S.," said Debbie Franklin, ITC director. "This partnership with Ex-Im Bank will help provide these businesses the additional support needed to export globally." The purpose of the City/State Partners program is to ensure that the Bank's export finance programs are more accessible to small and medium-sized business through local, state, and regional economic development and business support organizations. Ex-Im Bank provides its Partners with free marketing and training materials, qualified finance experts to speak at Partners' events, assistance with outreach and counseling, and access to a network of lenders, insurance brokers, and U.S. Government export resources. Through its City/State Partnership with Iowa's Small Business Development Center, Ex-Im Bank offers to Iowa enterprises expanded access to products such as its Global Credit Express, which helps exporters acquire low-cost working capital up to $500,000, as well as Express Insurance, which simplifies small business access to export credit risk insurance on their foreign accounts receivable. To contact Iowa SBDC's International Trade Center, call director Debbie Franklin at (515) 509-5745, email her at DebbieF@iastate.edu, or visit the International Trade Center web page at www.iowasbdc.org/exports.aspx. The state center for Iowa SBDCs may be reached at (515) 294-2030. ABOUT EX-IM BANK: Ex-Im Bank is an independent federal agency that helps to create and maintain U.S. jobs by filling gaps in private export financing at no cost to American taxpayers. In the past five years (from Fiscal Year 2008), Ex-Im Bank has earned for U.S. taxpayers nearly $1.6 billion above the cost of operations. The Bank provides a variety of financing mechanisms, including working capital guarantees, export-credit insurance and financing to help foreign buyers purchase U.S. goods and services. Ex-Im Bank approved a total of $35.8 billion in authorizations in FY 2012 - an all-time Ex-Im record. This total includes more than $6.1 billion directly supporting small-business export sales - also an Ex-Im record. The Bank's authorizations in FY 2012 are supporting an estimated $50 billion in U.S. export sales and about 255,000 American jobs in communities across the country. For more information, visit www.exim.gov.

Register for a chance to win a $5,290 College Savings Iowa account

DES MOINES, IA (09/03/2013)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald recently announced that Iowa has joined forces with other states in declaring September as College Savings Month. College Savings Month is a time when families are encouraged to explore the benefits of saving through a 529 plan, such as College Savings Iowa.

"As a way to raise awareness among families about saving for higher education, College Savings Iowa will be awarding a $5,290 College Savings Iowa account this fall," Fitzgerald said. "I encourage all Iowans with young children to register today for a chance to win and jump-start their children's college savings." For more information about the giveaway and to register, visit collegesavingsiowa.com.

College Savings Iowa is an affordable, tax-advantaged option for families who are saving for their children's higher education. It takes just $25 to open a College Savings Iowa account, and anyone - parents, grandparents, friends and relatives - can invest on behalf of a child. Participants who are Iowa taxpayers can deduct contributions up to $3,045 per beneficiary account from their adjusted gross income in 2013 and there no income or residency restrictions.* To learn more about College Savings Iowa, go to collegesavingsiowa.com or call 1-888-672-9116.

*Adjusted annually for inflation if withdrawals are not qualified, the deductions must be added back to Iowa taxable income. The availability of tax or other benefits may be contingent on meeting other requirements.

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Investment returns are not guaranteed and you could lose money by investing in the plan. Participants assume all investment risks as well as the responsibility for any federal and state tax consequences. If you are not an Iowa taxpayer, consider before investing whether your or the designated beneficiary's home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in such state's qualified tuition program.

For more information about the College Savings Iowa 529 Plan, call 1-888-332-7545, or visit www.my529iowaplan.com to obtain a Program Description. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information are included in the Program Description; read and consider it carefully before investing. Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor.

College Savings Iowa is an Iowa trust sponsored by the Iowa State Treasurer's Office. The Treasurer of the State of Iowa sponsors and is responsible for overseeing the administration of the College Savings Iowa 529 Plan. The Vanguard Group, Inc., serves as Investment Manager and Vanguard Marketing Corporation, an affiliate of The Vanguard Group, Inc., assists the Treasurer with marketing and distributing the Plan. Upromise Investment Advisors, LLC, provides records administration services. The Plan's portfolios, although they invest in Vanguard mutual funds, are not mutual funds.