 The Ames Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2022 Inter-City Visit from August 17-19, where city and community leaders from Ames, Boone, and Nevada toured Marion, Cedar Falls, and Dubuque and met with their community leaders.
“The purpose of the trip is to bring business, civic, and community leaders together to look at places that are often aspirational markets,” said Dan Culhane, President & CEO of the Ames Chamber of Commerce. “There are many communities that have done wonderful things to make their community better and we can draw on their vision and leadership and apply those concepts in Ames.” The first stop on the 2022 Inter-City trip was Marion, Iowa. The group toured the newly constructed YMCA, new fire station, and the beautiful Lowe Park, a $1.7 million project that was funded with local, county, and state level support. Our team then toured the Marion Uptown, a Main Street Iowa community. Uptown is a vibrant placemaking project full of art, a streetscape project, and new commercial and residential construction. The next day, the Inter-City trip brought our delegation to Cedar Falls where our team visited with Cedar Falls Community Main Street and gained insights about their downtown redevelopment including their River Place Project. Cedar Falls has spent over a decade making improvements to their downtown area that now includes robust commercial offerings, a community plaza, and residential living. The final stop was the amazing river city of Dubuque. Greater Dubuque Development Corporation led our tour and talked about how both public and private investments led to the revitalization of the Mississippi Riverwalk, Port of Dubuque, and the Historic Millwork District. One of the major themes that was reinforced for our delegation was the importance of public and private partnerships related to investment. Other observations and aspirational ideas surrounded the concept of placemaking; transforming public spaces to strengthen the connections between people and our community. These spaces are often used socially and their vision is shared across the community. This is the fifth Inter-City trip that the Ames Chamber of Commerce has hosted. Previously visited communities include Manhattan, KS, Bloomington, IN, Columbia, MO, and Fort Collins, CO. Thank you to Sarah Dvorsky, Ames Chamber Executive Director of Ames Main Street and Affiliate Programming, for organizing this event. And a special thank you to the Marion Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO), Uptown Marion District, City of Marion, Cedar Falls Downtown District, Grow Cedar Valley, City of Cedar Falls, Great Dubuque Development, City of Dubuque, Dubuque Main Street, and the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce. It was an amazing 3 days for our entire delegation. A special thank you to our sponsors who helped make this trip a reality: 10Fold Architecture + Engineering, Keen Project Solutions, Discover Ames, Hunziker Companies, and City of Boone.
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 The Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission is excited to welcome Eric Smidt to the team as Vice President of Marketing & Communications.
“I am excited that Eric decided to join our team here at the Ames Chamber of Commerce," said Dan Culhane, President and CEO of the Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission. "He is creative and highly skilled in communications and I believe will serve us well in this role while also providing valuable leadership and insight into our programming and the work we do throughout the Ames MSA.” As the Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Smidt will oversee the overall marketing and communications strategies and implementation for the organization. "I am incredibly excited to be able to continue to serve our community through communications, now focusing on business and economic development through the Ames Chamber of Commerce," said Smidt. "I’ve built my career on telling the amazing stories that are all around us. Ames is a Smart Choice and I’m excited to continue the vision that the Chamber has developed and share those stories across our community." Smidt has spent the past five years as the Director of Communications for the Ames Community School District. During that time, he coordinated the communication campaign that led to the successful approval of the $110 million bond referendum for the new Ames High School. He also launched several new communication channels including the Amazing magazine that has a quarterly distribution of 12,000 copies across the Ames community, and the district’s award-winning Amazing Education Podcast. Smidt began his position on August 15 and can be reached at eric@ameschamber.com December 13, 2021 (Ames, IA) - The Ames Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that the 2022 Economic Outlook Breakfast will be held at the Gateway Hotel & Conference Center on Tuesday, January 11, 2022, presented by Keen Project Solutions.
The Economic Outlook Breakfast will focus on forecasting the local, state and regional opportunities, challenges, and economic trends, and how they affect the Ames and Story County business community. The Ames Chamber of Commerce is excited to welcome Anna Paulson, Director of Economic Research from the Chicago Federal Reserve as the keynote speaker. Paulson is an expert on financial markets and institutions, with particular expertise on the insurance industry. Her research investigates how households and firms adapt to incomplete financial markets and how household financial decision-making is influenced by exposure to institutions and economic events, including financial crises. Paulson’s research has been published in leading scholarly journals, including the Journal of Political Economy, Review of Economics and Statistics, and Review of Financial Studies. She is a past member of the American Economic Association’s Committee on the Status of Women in the Economics Profession and a past board member of the Western Economic Association International. This event will be held Tuesday, January 11 from 7:30am - 9:00am. To register for the event, visit ameschamber.com/events or by clicking here. For any additional questions or information, you can reach the Ames Chamber of Commerce at 515-232-2310. The Ames Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the participants who have been selected to participate in Leadership Ames Class XXXV:
Leadership Ames is a program of the Ames Chamber of Commerce that offers the opportunity for participants to gain experience in civic leadership responsibilities and cultivate relationships with other local leaders and community members. Co-Chairs for Leadership Ames Class XXXV are Kate Reynolds, ChildServe (XXXIII) and Tom Mortice, South Story Bank & Trust (XXXIV). Participants in this year’s class will participate in twelve day-long sessions designed to develop informed, involved and concerned leaders. "We are thrilled to announce the 35th Leadership Ames Class,” says Dan Culhane, President & CEO of Ames Chamber of Commerce. “This longstanding program has a history of empowering local leaders and being a catalyst for connections and contributions to the Ames community. I am excited for Class XXXV to take their skills to the next level.” Classmates will hear presentations on important topics, debate issues, participate in class activities, visit with area leaders, tour facilities and get to know other individuals representing a broad cross-section of the community. Session begin in January 2022. For more information on the Leadership Ames program, visit AmesChamber.com. (December 8, 2021) - The Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission is pleased to welcome Greg Piklapp to the team as the Director of Community & Economic Development Outreach.
“We are thrilled to have Greg joining our team," said Dan Culhane, President & CEO of the Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission. “His knowledge and appreciation for both economic and community development will be highly useful as he tackles the important work of engaging with the various communities in Story County. His considerable tenure as a local elected official also lends itself to understanding the wide array of needs within a community and that every community is different. I am confident he will thrive in this important role.” As the Director of Community & Economic Development Outreach, Piklapp will serve as the liaison between the Ames Economic Development Commission and the rural communities outside of Ames. In this role he will focus on the development of “small” or new business start-ups in the retail, commercial, and industrial sectors. "I am thrilled to be joining the Ames Chamber and Economic Development team," said Piklapp. "I was born and raised in rural Iowa and am eager to help local leaders tap this unprecedented time of investment opportunities for their communities. Doesn't matter if it is building new or renovating the historic, all are pieces of the puzzle to building their hometowns stronger and better." Piklapp previously worked at Simplified Benefit Solutions as the Vice President of Sales before accepting his new role with the Ames Chamber of Commerce. He also serves as an elected city councilmember for the City of Boone, a position he has held for 12 years. As a Boone City Councilmember, Piklapp has served as Chair on the City Economic Development Committee the past 6 years, while also serving on the Policy & Administration Committee. Piklapp began his position on December 6 and be contacted at greg@ameschamber.com. (December 1, 2021) - The Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission is excited to welcome Dylan Kline to the team as the new Director of Business Development.
“Dylan's strong passion for community makes him a great fit for what we do," said Dan Culhane, President & CEO of the Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission. “Couple this with his past project management experience and I think that he will hit the ground running as he engages companies looking at the Ames MSA for investment opportunities.” As the Director of Business Development, Kline will support the ongoing implementation of our economic development strategies, to provide timely customer service and follow up to prospective clients that have expressed interest in the Ames/Story County area. He will also serve as a representative on the City of Ames Development Review Committee and as a liaison to Story City. "I love being apart of the Ames community and the amazing things that are happening here and in central Iowa," said Kline. "Having an opportunity to be a part of the continued improvement of this community is something that I am excited about in this role." Kline has spent the past nine years working as a Project Manager for Integrity Construction overseeing their new home projects. Kline began his position on November 29 and be contacted at dylan@ameschamber.com. November 23, 2021 (Ames, IA) - The Ames Chamber of Commerce and Affiliates are pleased to announce their 2021 Annual Award Winners:
Award winners will be honored at the Ames Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, December 8 at 6:00 pm at Prairie Moon Winery (3801 W 190th St). This year’s Awards Ceremony will include dinner and a ceremony with the presentation of awards. Award winners will also be recognized at the Ames Chamber of Commerce Annual Event on Wednesday, December 15 at 6:30pm at the Sukup Endzone Club at Jack Trice Stadium. This year’s Annual Event will include dinner and entertainment by comedian and magician, Derek Hughes. For more information or to register for the Annual Award Ceremony (public is welcome to attend) please visit www.ameschamber.com or contact the Chamber office at 515-232-2310. Tickets for the Annual Award Ceremony are $60 for Chamber Members and $75 for non-members. The Ames Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the launching of the Story County COVID-19 Workforce Retraining Initiative. This plan was previously approved by the Story County Board of Supervisors in order to support the employment needs in Story County. Over 400 passionate workers in numerous industries now have the opportunity to retrain and develop their careers at no cost.
This program will take place between the Ames, Boone, and Ankeny DMACC campuses, where education and training will allow for high skill development. Upcoming in December of 2021 is a Manufacturing Production Technician Certification. In early 2022, Certified Nursing Assistant (Basic & Advanced), and Welding, Construction, and Manufacturing opportunities will be available. In each of these focus areas, numerous employers are eager to hire passionate and qualified workers as the current unemployment issues press on. “The vision to retrain Story County residents and support employment is inspiring yet a natural course of action. This Story County COVID-19 Workforce Retraining Initiative acts as a reinvestment to our community, local economy, and residents. We are excited to bring our community into the future alongside many Story County organizations and the Des Moines Area Community College,” says Nikki Fischer, Director of Workforce & Diversity. To encourage and aid participants, there are resources available such as transportation assistance, childcare support, WTA funding, scholarship opportunities, and stipends. Among these supporting resources, there will also be chances for participants to meet employers and prepare themselves for their career with guidance and support. Those interested in the December Manufacturing session should plan to attend an informational session on Thursday, November 18 at the Ames Chamber of Commerce office at 304 Main. Sessions will be held at 3:00pm and 6:00pm. Registration is not required. If you are interested in the program, contact Nikki Fischer, Director of Workforce & Diversity at the Ames Chamber of Commerce at nikki@ameschamber.com or by calling 515.232.2310. October 26, 2021 (Boone, IA) – The Boone Scenic Valley Railroad has received a funding award from the Iowa Department of Transportation that totals $551,112.
These funds are intended to improve rail operations for the industrial areas in Boone, which will make a positive impact for both their current and future customers. This project will also include a second track installation and rehabbing track to meet the growing industrial needs in Boone. "The City of Boone is pleased with the funding award to the Boone Scenic Valley Railroad by the Iowa Department of Transportation," said Bill Skare, Boone City Administrator. "The Boone Scenic Valley Railroad is a tremendous asset to the city and its citizens. Undoubtedly this funding will help bring additional economic development to the area." The Boone Scenic Valley Railroad employs 9-10 people and works with more than 200 volunteers that support the tourism aspect of their business model. “It is great to see the leadership of the Boone Scenic Valley Railroad continuing to invest in its infrastructure as it is a critically important asset for economic development in the Boone community,” said Dan Culhane, President and CEO of the AEDC. “We are excited they received this financial assistance and look forward to their continued growth and expansion as they serve two very important sectors in the Boone community, industry and tourism.” October 25, 2021 (Nevada, IA) - The Nevada Economic Development Council is pleased to announce that M&R Properties has broken ground for another building in the Nevada West Industrial Park.
“We know that many small businesses are excited to come to Nevada, and we are proud to provide this opportunity for them to grow in this community,” said Matt Riesselman, Owner and Developer at M&R Properties. Now the company’s second location in the Nevada West Industrial Park, this new building features 7,600 available square feet and offers five additional units for small businesses to utilize. “We are excited to see M & R Properties move ahead with another phase of their project in West Nevada,” said Brenda Dryer, Executive Director of the Nevada Economic Development Council. “We look forward to the new and existing businesses that may utilize this space.” For more information, please contact Brenda Dryer, Executive Director of the Nevada Economic Development Council at 515.232.2310 or by email at brenda@ameschamber.com. |
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Ames, Iowa 50010 Phone: (515) 232-2310 |
About the Ames Chamber
Centrally and conveniently located in the heart of the Midwest and Iowa, Ames is known for its healthy, stable economy, flourishing cultural environment, and the world-renowned Iowa State University. With over 670 members, the Ames Chamber of Commerce strives to make Ames a better place to live, work, and do business by strengthening the economic vitality and the quality of life in the Ames community. |
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