A Jefferson-based business recently earned an award.

Tech Zone was honored with the 2023 Security Vanguard Project of the Year. Tech Zone provides security services to businesses and personal properties and owner Robert Smith says especially in rural areas, criminals are looking at anything they can get their hands on. Sources say theft in rural Iowa has risen over 60 percent in the past five years. 

Tech Zone has about 15 employees and about 40 percent of its business is in agriculture.