Columbia The newspaper industry's print model has hit a rough patch—its outdated pricing strategies continually fail to produce reliable revenue. And with local classifieds moving online, it's easy to see why some … read more

Lincoln After three months in private beta, Lincoln, Neb., startup Boutique Window on Friday began letting any small retailer sign up for its online marketing tool. The startup's software, which costs users $40-$60 per month, aims to make it easy for brick-and-mortar stores, such as clothing boutiques, to showcase their merchandise online in order to boost sales offline. "Boutique Window has saved our customers time by allowing them to publish … read more

Cedar Rapids The Iowa Economic Development Authority on Friday awarded a $100,000 loan to Bandwith Pool, the Cedar Rapids startup that wants to make it easier for businesses to find reliable and affordable Internet providers. The assistance came through the state's Demonstration Fund, a fund that aims to help potential high-growth companies reach a position where they're able to attract later-stage private sector funding. When we first covered Bandwidth Pool in March, it had just released its public beta—users could sign up, pay … read more