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.

Quad Cities finishes 81-57 overall and will open the playoffs with first-place Cedar Rapids Wednesday

DAVENPORT, Iowa (SEPT. 2, 2013) - Quad Cities River Bandits right-hander Daniel Minor pitched a season-high six strong innings, center fielder Teoscar Hernandez hit his team-high 13th home run, and right fielder Jordan Scott had the go-ahead RBI as part of his two-triple game to lead a 3-2 win over the Beloit Snappers in Monday's regular season finale in front of 3,911 at Modern Woodmen Park.

Playoff-bound Quad Cities (43-26 second half, 81-57 overall) won 13 of its final 16 games and took the final five series in order to tie for the third-most single-season victories in the 54-season franchise history. Monday's win earned a season-series split with Beloit (34-35, 77-62), assuring the River Bandits a .500 or better regular-season record against every Midwest League Western Division opponent. Quad Cities will host Cedar Rapids for Game 1 of the Western Division semifinals at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Modern Woodmen Park. River Bandits right-hander Chris Devenski (4-3) is scheduled to face Kernels left-hander Brett Lee (8-4) in Game 1.

Minor (8-3) allowed Beloit to take a lead in the top of the second inning, as designated hitter John Wooten hit a one-out double down the left-field line and scored when second baseman Roberto Pena dropped a two-out popup in shallow center field. After a third-inning single by right fielder Aaron Shipman, Minor retired eight straight hitters, including striking out the side in the fifth.

Hernandez led off the third inning by hitting the first pitch from right-hander Deyvi Jimenez (2-6) over the left-center-field fence to tie the game. Hernandez scored his league-leading 97th run, which ties him for fourth-most in a single season by a Quad Cities player since the Midwest League franchise began in 1960. Hernandez's total is the most since Jon Schaeffer scored as many in 1999.

In the fourth inning, Pena drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and reached third base on a flyout. Scott then drove a fly ball over center fielder Brett Vertigan and reached third base, while Pena scored the go-ahead run. Hernandez later drew a two-out walk, and shortstop Carlos Correa grounded a single into center field for his team-high 144th hit and 86th RBI. Those single-season totals place Correa in ties for ninth and eighth, respectively, in franchise history. Correa's .320 batting average finished third in the Midwest League and is tied for sixth-best in franchise history. His .407 on-base percentage was also second-highest in the league, and he led the circuit with an .875 on-base-plus-slugging (OPS) percentage.

With a 3-1 lead, Minor allowed three sixth-inning hits, including an RBI single by Snappers first baseman Matt Olson. On the same play, Scott and Correa relayed to third baseman Rio Ruiz to retire a runner at third. Minor got a popout to keep the 3-2 lead. He allowed six hits and two runs - one earned - while striking out five batters. Right-hander Jamaine Cotton started the seventh and worked around a leadoff single in the eighth for two scoreless innings. Right-hander Zach Morton pitched a perfect ninth inning for his first career save.

Monday's victory also means The Captain's Table at 4801 River Drive in Moline will offer The Captain's Table Victory Discount Tuesday, Sept. 3. Anyone who mentions the River Bandits victory can receive a free appetizer or dessert with the purchase of two lunches or dinners with beverages on Tuesday, Sept. 3.

 

UP NEXT:The River Bandits will give away a used car and a used pick-up truck at the playoff game Wednesday night. 12-ounce beer and soda, as well as hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn and nachos will be $1 each, and all regular individual tickets are just $5 each. Tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at  563-324-3000 and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

 

ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership is making one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 112 feet over the playing field, is planned for next spring, along with a carousel and other new games and attractions. This season, the team just unveiled a new 300-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, a Mediacom Frog Hopper, and a number of new bounce houses. The team also boasts a new major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, and fans can see the first team in Minor League Baseball history with back-to-back No. 1 overall draft picks - 2012 top pick Carlos Correa and 2013 top pick Mark Appel, as well as 2012 first-round draft choice Lance McCullers. With new rides, new attractions, new improvements, a new affiliate and future major league stars, the second half of this season is one every fan will not want to miss!