Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, Hawkeye Molding

RED OAK, Iowa - U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: Hawkeye Molding of Story County. Throughout this Congress, Ranking Member Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa's 99 counties.

"There is no better way to kick off National Small Business Week than honoring Hawkeye Molding in Story County. With over 45 years of history, this small business is a leader in plastic injection product manufacturing that many industries, from agriculture to furniture manufacturing, rely on," said Ranking Member Ernst. "I commend Ryan Gruhn and Lana Leander's leadership. It's folks like these that keep jobs in the Hawkeye State."

Purchased by husband-and-wife team Ryan Gruhn and Lana Leander in 2021, Hawkeye Molding is a plastic injection product manufacturing company with deep Iowa roots. In 1979, Bob Russell and Mike Lawrence founded Hawkeye Molding in Albia. The business was sold in 2008 to Innovative Lighting. Now under Ryan and Lana's leadership, Hawkeye Molding is headquartered in Roland and has been recognized for its economic contributions to the community. In 2022, Ryan and Lana were presented with the Ames Chamber of Commerce's Economic Impact Award. The Iowa Farm Bureau recognized Hawkeye Molding with the Renew Rural Iowa Entrepreneur Award in 2021. This year, Hawkeye Molding will celebrate its third business anniversary under Ryan and Lana's ownership.

Stay tuned as Ranking Member Ernst recognizes more Iowa small businesses across the state with her Small Business of the Week award.

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