Monthly Gather at the Grange Event Aimed at Building Entrepreneurial Ecosystem of Mt. Pleasant and Henry County

 MOUNT PLEASANT, IA NOV. 9 —Traction Steam, a nonprofit focused on economic development through entrepreneurship in Mount Pleasant, IA, is hosting the first monthly Gather at The Grange event. Area entrepreneurs and businesspeople interested in building the Mount Pleasant business community are invited and asked to register ahead of time on the Traction Steam website (www.tractionsteam.org under Programming & Events). Event begins at 5 PM on Wednesday, November 17th at The Grange Public House, 129 W. Washington, St. in Mt. Pleasant, IA.

These monthly gatherings are aimed at building a small business community, supporting business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs, and creating an environment where the business community can come together to support and encourage one another. Traction Steam call on all entrepreneurs and business owners from the Southeast Iowa region to this, and future events. While their aim is squarely on Mt. Pleasant, a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem will naturally require ties to other like-minded folks from around the area.

The Grange is a recently opened brewpub and restaurant in the heart of Mt. Pleasant on the southwest corner of the square. At this first meeting the owners of The Grange, Sue and Eric Sorenson, will share their story of taking a business from idea to realization, and some of their experiences as new businessowners in Henry County. There will be a mix and mingle portion of the night, as well as some additional information and resources that Traction Steam will make available to participants. Ultimately, the goal of the event is to begin the process of creating a local environment that fosters small business creation and growth. As such, anyone interested in small business or entrepreneurship are encouraged to attend. The group hopes to benefit from beginning entrepreneurs with a new idea, long-time business owners with an established operation, and all of those in between. A portion of the night will also be dedicated to strategic planning for the organization and the community writ large.

The group is focused on helping both existing and aspiring businesspeople. If you, or someone you know, has a business idea but isn’t sure how to convert it from an idea into reality, this is the place to bring it. The group believes a healthy entrepreneurial ecosystem is a critical need for growth and prosperity in the area, and a key component is participation by established businesses as well. While networking is an important part of the event, it is also geared towards helping businesses from the area solve problems and come together as a community to find ways to maximize efficiency. As the organization grows, more and more resources for entrepreneurs will become available.

At about 11:35 Thursday morning a call went out regarding a possible fire at Gro N’ Glo Preschool in New London. All adults and children evacuated the building safely. The New London Fire Department and the Mount Pleasant Fire Department were on the scene. Apparently, there was an issue with their furnace. The 4/5’s Afternoon class had to be canceled.

The new Winfield Hy-Vee Clinic Pharmacy, located at 107 N. Locust Street in Winfield, will open its doors to the public at 8 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 12. Local media are invited to attend the ribbon cutting event at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 16.

The approximately 900-square-foot clinic pharmacy will operate as a telepharmacy and provide patients with a direct line of communication to a pharmacist without having to leave their community. At the telepharmacy, a prescription is processed similarly to how it would be at a Hy-Vee retail pharmacy. A pharmacist verifies the prescription for accuracy, as well as reviews the prescription for appropriateness in dosing and safety. Once the pharmacist completes an initial verification, a certified pharmacy technician may fill it at the telepharmacy location. The pharmacist provides an additional verification by checking the accuracy of the filling process via digital equipment. Pharmacists then are able to counsel the patient via iPad and telephone technology.

At the Winfield Hy-Vee Clinic Pharmacy, patients can access the following services:

• Automated prescription refill ordering
• Generics medication discount list
• Private medication consultation

The Winfield Hy-Vee Clinic Pharmacy also offers over-the-counter health and convenience-style items. Though it does not have a full-time pharmacist, it will have a pharmacist on site 16 hours per month. The Mount Pleasant Hy-Vee is the home store for the Winfield pharmacy location.

The pharmacy will be open to patients Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

WHAT:                 Winfield Hy-Vee Clinic Pharmacy Ribbon Cutting             

WHEN:                 2 p.m.

                                Tuesday, Nov. 16

WHERE:               Winfield Hy-Vee Clinic Pharmacy

                                107 N. Locust St.

                                Winfield, IA 52659