Nicole Johnson

President Obama just announced that he signed the Extension and Expansion
of the First Time Home Buyer tax credit

Extended until April 30, 2010
Expanded to current homeowners Increased income limits
Includes provision for anti-fraud

For complete details click here "Changes to the Homebuyer Tax Credit Law"

Mel Foster Co. Announces New Mobile Application

Mel Foster Co. Ranks Nationally

Two Quad-City Businesses Awarded U.S. Chamber Blue Ribbon Small Business of the Year Award

(DAVENPORT, Iowa) -Edwards Creative Services and Midland Information Resources have been selected as Blue Ribbon winners of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Small Business of the Year Award. DavenportOne nominated the two member businesses, which were selected as two of 56 Blue Ribbon winners from a pool of hundreds of applicants across the United States. Seven regional finalists will be selected from the Blue Ribbon winners on March 16, and will then go on to compete for the Small Business of the Year Award to be announced at the America's Small Business Summit Awards Luncheon on May 12 in Washington, D.C.

Edwards Creative Services, a Milan-based graphic design business, specializes in large-format print products, including trade-show displays, vehicle wraps, banners and signs. Steve and Cathy Edwards, co-owners, established the business in 2005 and have since grown to six employees, expanded to a larger, more updated facility to accommodate growing production needs, and added three divisions in response to customer needs.

"We are just thrilled about earning the Blue Ribbon Award for the second year in a row. It's a true testament to the dedication of our entire design staff," said Cathy Edwards, co-owner, Edwards Creative Services. "Our success is the result of continuing to develop nurturing relationships between clients and our entire team so that both parties grow professionally. We also aspire to be an effective community partner by supporting and promoting the success of local businesses."

Davenport-based Midland Information Resources is a full-service provider of information management and distribution solutions. Combining state-of-the-art content management systems with the latest digital printing technology, they offer customers a "total solutions" approach to solving their communications needs.

"We are honored to be selected by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for this award. It is a reflection of the hard work and commitment to excellence by all Midland employees," said Tom Sheehan, president of Midland Information Resources. "In addition to providing employees with the support and resources necessary to pursue personal and professional excellence, Midland has a strong commitment to contributing to the quality of life of our corporate and neighboring communities."

Submissions were judged on financial performance and business history, staff training and motivation, community involvement, customer service, and business plan or strategies and goals.

"Earning the Blue Ribbon Award is truly an outstanding accomplishment for these two area businesses," said Rene Hipple, vice president, Member and Resource Development for DavenportOne. "Both Edwards Creative Services and Midland Information Resources consistently demonstrate smart business planning, excellent customer service and a true commitment to their employees and our community."

To be eligible for the award, the business had to meet the following requirements:

· Fewer than 250 employees

· Gross revenues of less than $20 million in 2007

For more information on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Award, contact Rene Hipple at (563) 823-2662 or rhipple@davenportone.com.

Eastern Iowa Real Estate:

IOWANS INVITED TO WEIGH IN ON STATEWIDE HOUSING POLICY

On Wednesday, July 22, eastern Iowans will have the opportunity to help to
form Iowa’s housing policy at a meeting hosted by Iowa State University Extension.

The meeting is one of a series of public meetings at which housing experts will present a discussion of housing priorities and goals. It will be held in
Bettendorf, IA at the office of the Quad City Area REALTOR® Association.

ISU Extension and the Town/Craft center in Perry, Iowa, are hosting meetings throughout the state to gather input from Iowans about housing needs and priorities, as part of an ongoing process to develop astate housing policy.

The topics to be discussed were identified by community leaders from across the state and top national and regional experts during a housing policy roundtable sponsored by ISU Extension and Town/Craft in April 2009.

Housing policy roundtable participants identified five topics as crucial: governance, funding,
sustainable housing design, capacity building and planning policy.

The Bettendorf meeting will begin at 1:00 p.m. with presentations on each topic by a panel of experts who attended the roundtable, after which participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and make
recommendations. The meeting will close with refreshments and an informal networking session at 3:30 p.m.

Input from the meeting will be used when the full group of experts reconvenes this August.
The center for Town/Craft is an alliance of Hometown Perry, Iowa, the ISU College of Design
and ISU Extension Community and Economic Development for the purpose of identifying and
developing new "ideas and strategies that strengthen small communities". For information
regarding the Iowa Housing Policy Initiative, contact Mickey Carlson at 515-520-9505 or
michaelc@iastate.edu.