What Corridor Business Journal does

Corridor Business Journal (CBJ), operated by Corridor Media Group, Inc., is an independently owned regional business news publication serving the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Corridor. Founded July 26, 2004 and headquartered in North Liberty, Iowa, CBJ combines a weekly print magazine with daily digital content on its website (corridorbusiness.com) and operates Quad Cities Business Journal (QCBJ) as a geographic extension. The company is privately held by John Lohman (CEO & President) and Aspen Lohman (Vice President) and is staffed by approximately 16 personnel covering editorial, sales, events, design, and IT functions. CBJ covers sector-specific beats including education, healthcare, innovation, real estate, small business, and business of sports, and publishes the annual Iowa 500 magazine plus special industry sections and custom publications.

CBJ generates revenue from six streams: print and digital subscriptions (managed via Corridor Media Group), display and digital advertising, event sponsorships and tickets for signature events (Women of Influence, Forty Under 40, Coolest Places to Work, Fastest Growing Companies, Economic Forecasts, Manufacturing Conference, AI Symposium, AI Certification Course), sponsored content in the Business Insights section (with named recurring partners Hills Bank, Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust, Delta Dental, Slingshot25), tiered Movers & Shakers professional listings ($350 for print/online in CBJ and QCBJ), and custom publication services for corporate partners. Go-to-market is sales-led, executed by named media consultants covering the Cedar Rapids and Quad Cities markets, supplemented by event-driven engagement through signature awards programs and conferences. The portfolio is supported by multiple email newsletters (CBJ Daily, CBJ Morning Rush, CBJ Real Estate Weekly, CBJ Small Business Weekly, CBJ Top Story, CBJ Movers & Shakers, CBJ Health Care and Innovation, and a Commercial Real Estate News Brief) and two podcast partnerships (Real Success with Nate Kaeding and Downtown Dish with Downtown Iowa City District, produced by Upload Media Group).

The core technology stack is a standard web publishing platform with email newsletter distribution and event management capabilities; no proprietary technology, AI/ML systems, APIs, or integrations are disclosed. Distribution is regional print, digital, and in-person events. CBJ reports strong reader engagement metrics (4.2 readers per copy, 64% spending 30+ minutes per issue, 72% discussing content with others) and maintains strategic partnerships with Kirkwood Community College (Coolest Places to Work survey), Downtown Iowa City District, Upload Media Group, and Nate Kaeding. The company is actively operating as of July 2026.

Name

Corridor Business Journal

Legal name

Corridor Media Group, Inc.

Website

https://corridorbusiness.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Corridor Business Journal is an independently owned regional business news publication serving the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Corridor since 2004, delivering weekly print, daily digital content, signature awards events, podcasts, and custom publishing for local business leaders and advertisers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Business News & Media

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (51312), Periodical Publishers (513120)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Local & Regional Newspapers (Print & Digital) (MPAJADAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Business, Finance & Industry Trade Magazines (MPAJAEAM)

Keywords

• Regional business news
• Business journalism publishing
• Print and digital media
• Corporate event marketing
• Advertising and sponsorships

Headquarters

HQ city

Coralville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Print and Digital Subscriptions: Paid subscriptions for print magazine and digital access to business news coverage of Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Corridor. Subscription managed through Corridor Media Group.
2. Advertising: Display advertising, classifieds, and digital ad placements sold to local and regional businesses targeting Corridor business community.
3. Event Sponsorships and Tickets: Revenue from event ticket sales and corporate sponsorships for signature events including Women of Influence, Forty Under 40, Coolest Places to Work, and Fastest Growing Companies awards.
4. Sponsored Content / Business Insights: Business Insights section featuring sponsored content from partners including Hills Bank, Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust, Delta Dental, and Slingshot25. Also includes dedicated special sections and custom publications.
5. Movers & Shakers Listings: Paid listings for Movers & Shakers professional announcements with tiered pricing for print, online, and email newsletter placement.
6. Special Publications: Custom publication services where CBJ writes, creates, designs and distributes publications through print, digital, video and events for corporate partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Corridor Business Journal is a regional business news publication covering the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Corridor, delivering weekly print magazines and daily digital news content including industry-specific sections, opinion, and business insights. Beyond news, CBJ sells advertising and sponsorships, publishes email newsletters and podcasts, and monetizes signature events, awards programs, and custom publication services for local and regional businesses.

Product overview

Corridor Business Journal (CBJ) is a regional business news publication serving the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Corridor. Founded in 2004, it operates as a single unified product combining weekly print publication with daily digital content. The portfolio includes the core CBJ publication, two branded podcasts (Real Success and The Downtown Dish), seven award/event programs (Women of Influence, Forty Under 40, Coolest Places to Work, Fastest Growing Companies, Manufacturing Conference, AI Certification Course, and AI Symposium), custom publication services, special industry sections, multiple email newsletters, and the Movers & Shakers spotlight section. The publication also offers commercial real estate news briefs and custom publication services for partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corridor Business Journal (CBJ) Print and Digital Publication A weekly print magazine and daily digital news publication covering the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Corridor region, delivering local and regional business news, analysis, and strategic insights across industry-specific sections (Education, Healthcare, Innovation, Real Estate, Small Business, Business of Sports).
• Real Success Podcast A podcast produced in partnership with former NFL athlete and entrepreneur Nate Kaeding, featuring conversations with Iowa-connected business leaders about success, purpose, and what makes them tick, distributed on Apple Podcasts.
• The Downtown Dish Podcast A monthly podcast collaboration between Downtown Iowa City District and Corridor Business Journal (produced and distributed by Upload Media Group), covering downtown Iowa City news, interviews with movers and shakers, and local headlines.
• CBJ Email Newsletters A portfolio of email newsletters including CBJ Daily, CBJ Morning Rush, CBJ Real Estate Weekly, CBJ Small Business Weekly, CBJ Top Story, CBJ Movers & Shakers, and CBJ Health Care and Innovation, delivering recurring business news and updates to subscribers.
• Movers & Shakers Listings Paid professional announcement listings showcasing key hires, promotions, and appointments shaping the Corridor business community, with tiered pricing for print, online, and email newsletter placement.
• Women of Influence Awards Annual awards event held since 2005 recognizing exceptional female leaders in the Corridor community, having honored over 200 women, with ticket sales and corporate sponsorship packages.
• Forty Under 40 Awards Annual awards program recognizing 40 young professionals under age 40 who have made significant impact in their businesses and the Corridor community.
• Coolest Places to Work Annual awards program honoring local companies that create engaging and rewarding work environments, based on a Worker Satisfaction Survey conducted in partnership with Kirkwood Community College.
• Fastest Growing Companies Awards Annual awards program identifying the Corridor's most dynamic companies that have contributed significantly to economic strength in the region.
• Manufacturing Conference Annual signature event bringing together manufacturing industry leaders for networking and industry insights, scheduled for August 27, 2026.
• AI Certification Course A certification event offering AI training to attendees, scheduled for September 30, 2026 virtually.
• AI Symposium Signature event focused on artificial intelligence topics, scheduled for October 1, 2026 at Hyatt Regency Coralville.
• CBJ Special Sections Focused publications published throughout the year targeting specific industries or professional trades, offering advertising opportunities aligned with readers.
• Custom Publications A service where CBJ writes, creates, designs, and distributes custom publications through print, digital, video, and events for corporate partners.
• Commercial Real Estate News Brief A newsletter covering commercial real estate news and announcements in the Corridor and Quad Cities markets.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Nate KaedingflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner"Real Success" podcast produced in partnership with former NFL athlete and entrepreneur Nate Kaeding. The podcast features conversations with Iowa-connected doers about success, purpose and what makes them tick.
• Downtown Iowa City DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDowntown Dish podcast presented in partnership between Downtown Iowa City District and Corridor Business Journal. The show covers downtown Iowa City including interviews with area movers and shakers, news headlines, and local gossip.
• Upload Media GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUpload Media Group produces and distributes the Downtown Dish podcast for the Downtown Iowa City District and Corridor Business Journal partnership.
• Kirkwood Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoolest Places to Work award program partners with Kirkwood Community College, which conducts Worker Satisfaction Survey for companies in Kirkwood's seven-county service region.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Quad Cities Business Journal: Sister regional business journal serving the Quad Cities market, operated under the same Corridor Media Group umbrella (per the team listing showing Marsha Luedtke as Managing Director of QCBJ). Directly comparable in product mix, audience model, and event-driven revenue approach.
• Business Record (Des Moines): Iowa-based regional business news publication serving the Des Moines metro. Closest in-state peer with overlapping business audience, similar advertising and events revenue model, and comparable B2B focus on a single metropolitan market.
• Business Times (Iowa): Iowa-focused business news outlet covering statewide business news. Overlaps with CBJ's Corridor coverage area and competes for the same regional B2B advertising pool.

Broad incumbents

• Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal: American City Business Journals regional business publication covering the Twin Cities. Operates the same regional business journal template as CBJ but at significantly greater scale, including larger events, larger staff, and broader advertising reach.
• American City Business Journals: Parent operator of more than 40 U.S. regional business journals. Provides a benchmark for the chain-owned model that CBJ competes against and has explicitly differentiated from via its independent ownership positioning.
• Crain's Chicago Business: Long-running regional business publication serving the Chicago metro. Comparable in combining local business journalism with signature events (e.g., Crain's 40 Under 40) and event-driven revenue, but at meaningfully larger scale.
• Des Moines Register: Iowa's largest general-circulation newspaper. Competes with CBJ for state-level business advertising and reader attention, though it serves a broader non-business-focused audience.

Regional players

• Daily Journal of Commerce: Regional business-to-business news publication serving a different metro (Portland, OR). Comparable in combining trade-focused journalism with advertising and event revenue targeting local business decision-makers.
• The Gazette (Cedar Rapids): Local general-interest newspaper serving the same Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Corridor market. While not a business-only publication, it covers overlapping local business news and competes for regional advertising dollars and audience attention.

Emerging players

• Silicon Prairie News: Digital-first regional business and startup news outlet covering the broader Midwest including Iowa. Represents the digital-native challenger model that CBJ must compete with for online readership and digital advertising share.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CBJournal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/corridor-business-journal
• Facebookfacebook.com/CorridorBusinessJournal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Corridor Business Journal