Grocer to dare shoppers to compare savings, average family to save nearly $2,000 annually

Batavia, Ill. (July 15, 2010) - Starting Monday, select assortment discount grocer, ALDI, will boldly launch a "one week challenge," daring consumers to shop ALDI for one week and compare the cart-to-cart savings to their typical weekly shopping bill.  The new campaign comes with its own reward for shoppers: a family of four can save approximately $1,996.80 per year - each year - compared to traditional supermarkets' store brands, or $998.40 compared to big box store brands.

"Everything we do is designed with one goal in mind - to help our customers stretch their grocery dollars," said Joan Kavanaugh, ALDI vice president of corporate purchasing.  "Competitors may offer specials or sales on an item here or there, but cart-to-cart, no one matches the quality and value ALDI offers everyday."

Known for offering high quality grocery items, fresh meats and produce at up to 50 percent less than the competition, customers can expect to find more than 1,400 of the most frequently purchased items sold under its exclusive select brands.

The grocer's streamlined, efficient approach eliminates hidden costs (such as in-store banking, pharmacies, bagging clerks, check cashing, photo processing or other non-essential grocery store services), and passes on the savings to customers in the form of lower prices.

ALDI stores' efficient layout makes it easy for shoppers to get in, get out and get on with their day, and the smaller store footprint uses less land and utilities, all helping keep prices low on the high quality items offered every day.

"We know that anyone who shops ALDI will save money, but there's nothing like seeing those receipts for yourself and feeling the satisfaction of having more money left in your pocket," said Kavanaugh.

Quality, taste and satisfaction are always double guaranteed at ALDI. If for any reason a shopper is not 100% satisfied with any product, ALDI will replace the product and refund the money.

[Note: Estimated savings based on the average $416 monthly grocery shopping bill for a family of four, according to Consumer Reports, 2009.  ALDI prices are typically 30 to 40 percent less than store brands at traditional supermarkets and 15 to 20 percent less than big box store brands.]

About ALDI Inc.

A leader in the grocery retailing industry since 1976, ALDI has more than 1,100 U.S. stores located in 31 states primarily from Kansas to the East Coast. In the spring of 2010, ALDI opened a new division in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.  A select assortment discount grocer featuring its own ALDI select brands, ALDI applies smart and efficient operational and business practices to save more than 20 million monthly customers up to 50 percent on their grocery bill.  ALDI, named 2009 Retailer of the Year by PL Buyer, sells more than 1,400 of the most frequently purchased grocery and household items in manageable, non-bulk packaging.  For more information about ALDI, go to www.aldi.us.

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John Taylor Salon and Day Spa will be celebrating their 10th Anniversary by putting on a Fashion Show.  Miss Iowa Contestants, including Miss Iowa, will be modeling the latest trends in Hair, Make-up, Nails and Fashion on the runway.  This event will be judged by a panel of fashion experts and one former runway model.

Event begins at 5:30 on Thursday, July 15th at John Taylor Salon and Day Spa, 4102 Black Hawk Road.

1,2, FREE!!!!  Now through July 31st, buy 2 Pureology, Redken, Bioelements or Identity Cosmetics and Receive the 3rd for FREE (must be of equal or lesser value).  Come in today and save.  You Deserve it!!!

Washington, DC - Congressman Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) announced today a total of $5.1 million in grants for cities in Iowa's First District. The grants are awarded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and will be used to stimulate the local housing markets.  

"These grants invest in eastern Iowa's economic future at a very critical time," Braley said. "As Iowa continues to recover from the economic downturn, investing in the housing market and Iowa's local economies is key to achieving successful growth. This grant will directly benefit middle class families in Iowa and help our local economies get back on track."

The Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) program is sponsored by HUD and aims to develop housing and expand economic opportunities specifically for low to moderate-income workers.  The HOME grant program helps expand housing available to low and very low-income families by providing grants that meet local needs and priorities.

The grants will be distributed as follows:

CDBG

Davenport          $1,883,503

Waterloo             $1,507,033

Cedar Falls          $335,659

HOME

Davenport          $713,195

Waterloo             $673,556

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The new business will bring a unique new tourist attraction to LeClaire and the Quad Cities metro area.

LeClaire, Iowa -- July 12, 2010 - Work began today on a new building in downtown LeClaire that will soon be the new home of Mississippi River Distilling Company. With plans to open on the banks of the Mississippi in late 2010, Mississippi River Distilling Company will produce handmade, premium spirits made from locally grown grains.

This start-up business will be the first whiskey distillery in the Quad Cities area since prohibition. Once in operation, the public will be able to tour the facility daily to see the production of vodka, gin and bourbon whiskey up close.

"We are so excited about the potential for our company in LeClaire," said company partner Garrett Burchett. "The town fits our company's image and the proximity to Interstate 80 gives us a steady stream of potential tourists to visit our facility. The community has been a great partner in bringing this dream to reality."

People who visit the distillery will be able to witness the entire process of liquor creation on site. From the milling of the grain to the fermentation, distillation, aging and bottling; everything from grain to glass will be done at the distillery.

A new Iowa law that went into effect on July 1 allows micro-distilleries in Iowa to offer limited retail sales and tastings on the distillery premises. Mississippi River Distilling Company plans to be the first new distillery in Iowa to open after the passage of this legislation.

As the building is being constructed, operators are also awaiting the construction of a 1,000 liter handmade German pot still that will be the focal point of the facility. This copper and stainless steel instrument takes craftsmen up to six months to fabricate. Once shipped from Germany and installed, it will be the only one of its kind in the Midwest. The steam heated still gives producers the flexibility to create vodka, gin, whiskey and other spirits.

Aside from the production facility, the building will also house a retail area and large tasting room. Tours will conclude in the tasting room that will feature a large glass window looking into the production facility as well as a large window view out to the Mississippi River.

This building is the first of four to be constructed that will extend the existing downtown retail area of LeClaire to the north and develop a block of land that has stood empty for several years. This commercial expansion in LeClaire has many business people excited.

"LeClaire is experiencing continued growth and this development will enhance the experience of our visitors," said Deb Mulvania, the president of the LeClaire Chamber of Commerce. "We are excited that Mississippi River Distilling Company has chosen to locate their unique new business in our downtown area. They will compliment our existing businesses and create excitement for further economic development."

The construction of this facility has been the culmination of efforts from many entities across the region. Mississippi River Distilling Company has worked closely with the City of LeClaire, First Central State Bank in LeClaire, New Ventures Initiative in Davenport and the Iowa Department of Economic Development to develop and fund the project. "We can't say enough about the community support we've received throughout this process," said Burchett. "It really strengthens our connection to the local community to have such wonderful support from LeClaire, the greater Quad Cities region and the State of Iowa."

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CORVALIS, Ore., July 12, 2010 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced Recovery Act investments for 11 businesses in 9 states to strengthen rural economies by supporting local and regional food systems. Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Victor Vasquez made the announcement on behalf of Secretary Vilsack at the annual conference for the National Rural Economic Developers Association.

"Our farmers are the most productive in the world, supplying much of the nation's food, and in so doing, are creating the create jobs that are necessary to strengthen our economy," said Vilsack. "By connecting farmers and ranchers more closely with consumers of food, we are creating new economic opportunities for producers and helping consumers to access healthy, nutritious food."

These announcements come as part of USDA's "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" initiative, which seeks to create new economic opportunities, to promote local and regional food systems that help keep wealth in rural communities, and to encourage a national conversation about what we eat and where it comes from in order to benefit producers of all sizes.

"The Obama Administration and USDA are committed to strengthening and supporting rural business and regional economies in order to revitalize our small towns and communities," Vasquez said. "This funding will help create and save jobs and build on America's economic recovery."

For example, in O'Neill, Neb., Garden Fresh Vegetables, LLC was selected to receive a $3.9 million guaranteed loan to expand its greenhouse business by purchasing a 10-acre greenhouse, and by constructing a new facility. The expansion will create an estimated 35 new jobs in the community. The company is one of the largest employers in O'Neill, whose population is 3,733. Garden Fresh Vegetables currently employs 50 full time and an additional 10 part-time workers and also offers seasonal employment opportunities to high school and college students. Their produce is currently used in many local grocery stores and they also participate in the local Farm to Schools program.

Meanwhile, in Dundee, Ore., the Torii Mor Winery, LLC was selected to receive a $6 million guaranteed loan that will enable the company to restructure debt and establish a working capital reserve to create and retain jobs -- including preserving nine existing positions. Established 17 years ago, the business is in the heart of Oregon wine country and is an integral part of the local value-added agricultural economy. The winery purchases nearly 90 percent of its grapes from local vineyards, which helps sustain additional jobs and agricultural businesses in the region.

The loan guarantees announced today are from USDA Rural Development's Business and Industry (B&I)Guaranteed Loan Program, which received $1.57 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding to help rural businesses stimulate their economies and support local communities. Under the B&I program, eligible applicants include private businesses, cooperative organizations, corporations, partnerships, non-profit groups, Federally-recognized Indian tribes, public bodies and individuals. The funds are targeted to create and retain quality jobs and serve difficult-to-reach populations and areas hardest hit by the current economic downturn.

More information about USDA's Recovery Act efforts is available at www.usda.gov/recovery. More information about the Federal Government's efforts on the Recovery Act is available at www.recovery.gov.

A list of borrowers receiving loans is shown below. Funding is contingent upon borrowers meeting conditions in the loan agreement.

Iowa

  • North American Co-Pack, LLC; Iowa State Bank: $1,890,000 loan
  • World Food Processing, LLC; Bank Iowa: $8,000,000 loan

DAVENPORT, Iowa, July 12, 2010 - The Davenport Walmart, located at 3101 W. Kimberly Road, will celebrate a grand re-opening this week, giving local shoppers a glimpse of the company's next generation of store design and customer experience. The results of a two month remodeling project will be unveiled at the Davenport Walmart at 7:30 a.m., Friday, July 16. Among the many improvements are a new layout, wider aisles, low-profile shelving, bright interior paint scheme, enhanced lighting and easy-to-read signage to make the shopping experience more convenient for customers than ever before.

"We listened to our customers and have redesigned the store to make shopping at Walmart even easier," said store manager Daniel Cosner.

New Layout Improves Customer Experience

The remodeled Davenport store features a more open shopping environment with wider aisles that contain no product displays. Walmart also aligned the departments that customers shop most frequently, making it quicker to purchase everyday items.

"The new layout is easier to navigate, which will save our customers time as they shop for necessities," said Cosner.

A bright interior paint scheme and enhanced lighting create a more inviting shopping experience and help define the store's merchandise areas. Low-profile shelving creates an improved sightline and directional signage helps customers find the products they need.

Expanded Departments Add Value and Savings

The remodel also brings Walmart customers an expanded electronics department featuring a wide selection of the latest consumer electronics and home entertainment. The new design includes a more hands-on experience for customers with interactive displays for hi-definition Blu-ray, video gaming and portable electronics. The interactive experience enables shoppers to test new technology.

A new department called Celebration Station has been added and will feature party supplies, greeting cards, balloons and helium tanks, cake supplies and gift wrap.

Grand Re-opening Activities Include Support for Local Organizations

The grand re-opening celebration is scheduled for Friday, July 16, and will begin with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:30 a.m. During the ceremony, store associates will present $2,500 in grants from the Walmart Foundation to three local organizations including Children and Families of Iowa, lowa Council, Boy Scouts of America and the Scott County Family YMCA.

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have committed $2 billion to U.S. hunger relief efforts through 2015. The Fighting Hunger Together campaign will also engage Walmart customers and associates in the fight against hunger. More information can be found at walmart.com/fightinghunger.

About Walmart 

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), or "Walmart," serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at more than 8,400 retail units under 55 different banners in 15 countries. With fiscal year 2010 sales of $405 billion, Walmart employs more than 2 million associates worldwide. A leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity, Walmart ranked first among retailers in Fortune Magazine's 2009 Most Admired Companies survey. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting www.walmartstores.com and on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/Walmartnews. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com and www.samsclub.com.

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BERKELEY, CA, July 2, 2010 - The House recently approved the Conference Report to HR 4173, a sweeping change to regulations over the financial services industry. In a mostly party line vote, the 192 no-voters received on average 41% more in contributions from big banks than the 237 members voting in favor of passage. Three Republicans joined Democrats in favor of passage while 19 Democrats sided with Republicans against passage.

  • Representatives Voting 'No' took in an average of $20,995
  • Representatives Voting 'Yes' took in an average of $14,857

Many industries are looking to carve out exemptions for their businesses or see certain provisions removed all together. See our previous post for list of industries that split their support and opposition.

See the break downs by vote and party at MAPLight.org.

DES MOINES, IA (06/21/2010)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald announced today that once again Moody's and Standard and Poor's have affirmed that Iowa has the highest credit rating possible. "We met with both companies last week and both affirmed that Iowa is a Triple A state." Fitzgerald noted.

According to Moody's report, "The State of Iowa, while not entirely immune to the current economic downturn, has fared relatively well compared to similarly rated states. Iowa's financial position has strengthened in recent years allowing the state to be better prepared for the sudden economic shift."

"The experts agree that Iowa is in a good financial position." Fitzgerald stated, "They continue to recognize the first-rate fiscal management and strong economy of our state and we can stand out as a model to other states. Only seven other states have AAA ratings across the board."

Law Caps Loan Interest Rates, Closes Loopholes

CHICAGO - June 21, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today signed a bill into law that will increase protections for Illinois residents obtaining consumer installment loans. The new law caps interest rates charged by consumer finance companies, which can sometimes be as high as 1,000 percent.

"Many consumers who take out short-term loans are doing so as a last resort to pay their bills and provide for their families. It is all too easy for lenders to take advantage of them by raising interest rates and setting very short repayment periods," said Governor Quinn. "It is important that we do everything we can to protect these consumers who are already hurting, by helping to make these loans more affordable."

House Bill 537 sponsored by Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) and Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-Westchester) protects consumers by setting reasonable interest rates for loans. Current interest rates for consumer installment loans can be exorbitantly high. Under the new law, rates on consumer installment loans will be capped at 99 percent rate for loans $4,000 and less and 36 percent for loans greater than $4,000.

"For too long, Wild West lending practices have dominated the marketplace in Illinois and consumers have suffered as a result - saddled with costly loans that they could never repay," said Attorney General Madigan. "Now that has changed. House Bill 537 reigns in abusive and predatory lending practices and protects consumers. I want to thank Senator Lightford, Representative Lang, the Governor's Office and consumer advocates for their hard work on this important consumer protection legislation."

The new law also includes provisions to help borrowers repay loans more easily. For example, lending is based upon the borrower's ability to repay the loan. Monthly payments on consumer installment loans are limited to 22.5 percent of the borrower's gross monthly income. In order to give borrowers enough time to repay the loan, the new minimum loan term will be set at six months - an increase from the previous four month term.

"We look forward to working with licensed lenders and their customers to make sure this law is strictly enforced," said Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation Brent Adams. "For too long, Illinois borrowers have been at the mercy of lenders who were free to charge quadruple-digit interest rates."

The law expands the existing statewide database that tracks payday loans to also track consumer installment loans, which will enable the state to ensure that lenders are complying with the new law.  The law also eliminates balloon payments and prevents lenders from penalizing borrowers for paying off loans early.

House Bill 537 was supported by numerous consumer groups and lenders alike, and it passed through the Illinois General Assembly almost unanimously.

Governor Quinn signed the legislation in Chicago. It goes into effect nine months after becoming law.

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WASHINGTON -Monday, June 21, 2010

Senators Chuck Grassley and Kit Bond have sent a letter to the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, reiterating their concerns about possible waste, fraud and abuse in the Department's distribution of stimulus funds to troubled Public Housing Authorities.

"Our oversight is focused on making sure the federal agencies handling the $787 billion in stimulus dollars passed by Congress and signed by the president last year are operating with the highest level of transparency and accountability.  In this case, taxpayers deserve an answer to why the federal agency gave tens of millions in stimulus dollars to housing authorities it found to be 'high risk.'  Is there so much pressure to shovel stimulus dollars out the door that responsible stewardship has been abandoned?" Grassley said.

"When families across the nation are still struggling to pay bills and put food on the table, the Administration owes Americans answers on why they chose to gamble with taxpayer dollars on risky organizations," Bond said.

Grassley initially sent a letter to HUD on March 15, 2010, in which he cited problems with a number of Public Housing Authorities that had been raised by the HUD Office of Inspector General and not adequately addressed in the HUD response.  Today, Grassley and Bond are seeking answers on the accuracy of troubled housing designations and the abuse of stimulus funds.

As ranking member of the Senate appropriations subcommittee that funds our nation's housing programs, Bond has questioned the Administration on their lack of oversight of stimulus funds awarded to troubled PHAs. Bond continues to stress that Congress - and the taxpayer - deserves answers on the benchmarks the Administration is using to hold PHA's accountable for their use of taxpayer dollars. The Senator also has concerns on whether the Administration is putting scarce resources to the best use - including whether they are investing in projects that will address the huge backlog of public housing capital needs. 

In its response, HUD agreed to Grassley's suggestion of posting Public Housing Assessment System scores on the HUD website.  Grassley and Bond also request that HUD post the following information on its website:  location of the Public Housing Authority; fiscal year in which the Public Housing Authority was designated as troubled; categorization of the Public Housing Authority problems (Troubled, Substandard Financial, Substandard Physical, and Substandard Management); the applicable narrative and corrective plan; total number of units involved; level of concern (high, medium, low); stimulus funding risk level; and amount of stimulus funding awarded to Public Housing Authority.

Click here to read Grassley's initial letter.

Click here to read HUD's response to Grassley.

Click here to read Grassley and Bond's June 16 letter to HUD.

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