Fastest Growing Companies unveiled

At its annual Fastest Growing Companies event this morning, the Corridor Business Journal awarded 20 companies for their revenue growth during the past three years.

The awards were presented at the Coralville Marriott. More information will be made available in the May 30 edition of the CBJ. Following is the company rankings, with percent growth:

1. Precision Revenue Strategies, 292
2. Health Solutions, 275
3. Skywalk Group, 212
4. Clickstop, 180
5. MindFire Communications, 128
6. MobileDemand, 119
7. Thomas L. Cardella & Associates, 105
8. Ovation Networks, 87
9. Crystal Group, 85
10. Raining Rose, 74
11. HR Green, 72
12. Children's Center for Therapy, 55
13. MD Orthopaedics, 50
14. Geonetric, 48
15. TMone, 44
16. Genova Technologies, 43
17. AES Corp., 41.46
18. Oasis Falafel, 41.22
19. HH Ventures (Ready Mobile), 38.3
20. TrueNorth, 37.6

Coralville First Avenue closed tonight

Coralville Transit's night route will be rerouted due to the temporary closure of First Avenue to thru traffic at the bridge over Clear Creek beginning at 8 p.m. tonight. First Avenue is a popular commuter road in the Corridor.

The following bus stops will be impacted:

-Stop 0385 (Clear Creek)

-Stop 4381 (Fifth Street and Second Avenue Place)

-Stop 4372 (Fifth Street and Fourth Avenue)  

Passengers using stop 0385 should proceed to stop 4015 at Highway 6 and First Avenue - Hardees).  Passengers using stops 4381 or 4372 should proceed to stop 4371 (Fourth Avenue and Fifth Street - southeast corner). 

Regular service will resume May 25. 

For more information, contact Coralville Transit at (319) 248-1790, view bus schedules and route maps at www.coralville.org/transit, or check bus routes and arrivals at www.ebongo.org.

Marion celebrates opening of 35^th Street extension project tomorrow

The Marion Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon cutting for the opening of the 35^th Street project at 4 p.m. May 25.

The event will take place on 35^th Street just north of 29^th Avenue in the roundabout area.  Attendees are encouraged to park on the east side of 35^th Street in the construction area.

For more information, contact Rachel Krug at the Marion Chamber of Commerce at (319) 743-4723 or email rachel@marioncc.org.

UI researcher receives major U.S. Air Force grant 

A University of Iowa researcher has received a five-year, $875,000 grant from the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research as part of a multi-university research initiative that may lead to faster, more secure and more energy-efficient computers.

Michael Flatt�, UI professor of physics and astronomy and director of the UI Optical Science and Technology Center, will lead the UI effort on the project titled "Quantum Memories in Photon-Atomic Solid State Systems."

The UI research goals are to integrate atoms, photons and electron spins in diamond for new chip-scale quantum technologies and will include training quantum scientists and engineers.

Quantum technology is an interdisciplinary field using physics, materials science, and engineering to manipulate individual basic units of energy and matter called quanta. Applications can be found in the fields of information technology, such as cryptography, high-speed computer searches, and extremely low-power computing, and metrology, such as precise measurement and timing.

"The fundamental science and device design essential for quantum technology is an internationally-recognized strength of the University of Iowa and especially the Optical Science and Technology Center," Mr. Flatte said. "Information processing using electron spin devices has been predicted by researchers at UI to require less power than current silicon microprocessor technology. Quantum technologies permit a new paradigm of computing that can solve problems that cannot be solved by current computers."

The overall research program is led by the University of California at Santa Barbara and, in addition to the UI, also includes the California Institute of Technology, Harvard University and Iowa State University.

Heartland GreenUp Symposium & Expo in Des Moines June 2

The Technology Association of Iowa (TAI) is offering the Heartland GreenUp Symposium & Expo. This day-long event is designed to educate companies of the increased demand for natural resources, constrained supply, stricter regulations and social responsibility.

The Heartland GreenUp will include six tracks, 12 speaking sessions and two keynote addresses. It will be held June 2 at The Meadows Events Center in Des Moines.

This event will connect executives, technologists, entrepreneurs and thought-leaders with new clean technologies that will harness business growth while lessening effects on the environment.

Harris M. Warsaw, vice president of General Business in North America - IBM is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech as part of the conference. Also keynoting the event will be Andrew Winston, founder, Winston Eco-Strategies, and author of "Green Recovery," a guide to using environmental thinking to survive and thrive during an economic downturn. Tim Dwight, former University of Iowa football star and owner of iPower, a solar energy company will be the master of ceremonies.

There will be more than 20 qualified experts leading the 12 speaking sessions. A corresponding webinar is available. For more information, visit www.heartlandgreenup.com.

Civil rights forum in CR June 4

On June 4, the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission will be sponsoring an open forum/panel discussion titled, "Fostering an Understanding: Racial Profiling vs. Criminal Profiling." This event will take place at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 1340 Third Ave. SE beginning at 2 p.m.  This event is free and open to the public.

Panel moderator will be Beth Malicki from KCRG-TV9. Members of the panel will include representatives from the Cedar Rapids, Marion and Hiawatha police departments, Linn County Sheriff's Office, NAACP and the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission.

For more information, contact the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission at (319) 286-5036 or civilrights@cedar-rapids.org.

IC's Fair Grounds ranked No. 2 in country for best vegan pie

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has just completed its first-ever ranking of the top five vegan pies from restaurants across the country and the chocolate silk peanut butter pie from Iowa City's Fair Grounds Coffeehouse came in at No. 2.

Fair Grounds, 345 S. Dubuque St., sells a number of vegan menu items, as well as fair trade, organic coffee.

First place went to the apple crumb pie a la mode at Sublime restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The other top five winners were located in Arizona, Massachusetts and Kentucky.