director@keokukchamber.com ˖ www.keokukchamber.com 1

In This Issue

Lee County Leadership Update

Member Accomplishments

SET Update

Vote!

Keokuk Area Chamber of Commerce 2015 First Quarter

In Every Issue

Director’s Letter

Community Calendar

New Members

ISU News

2 Affiliates Office ˖ 429 Main Street ˖ Keokuk, Iowa 52632 ˖ 319-524-5055

The Mississippi and Des Moines Rivers Confluence Region; Embark on Regional Economic Development Process

The Mississippi and Des Moines Rivers Confluence Region of Lee County, Iowa, Clark County, Missouri and Hancock County, IL has been awarded a USDA Strengthening Economies Together (SET) Grant in order to develop a regional eco-nomic development plan. The SET process was kicked off with a public forum of 50 participants.

Participants represented a variety of tri-state organizations and businesses. This included organizations and businesses interested in economic development, work force, education, small business growth, industry and entrepreneurship to name a few. Participants discussed challenges and opportunities within the region. Topics included; income, poverty, education, unemployment, workforce and population demographics.

“As citizens of a tri-state region we cross state borders with little thought when it comes to employment, shopping and entertainment,” said Shelley Oltmans, Community Development Special with Iowa State University Extension and Out-reach and Executive Director of the Keokuk Area Chamber of Commerce. “But when it comes to collaboration between businesses, economic development organizations and governments it is perceived to be more difficult.”

Oltmans said the SET process will help bring these groups together and build on some very strong relationships between organizations in the region. “The SET planning process will assist us in developing regional goals and strategies that will strengthen our global competitiveness, increase the quality of life for our residents across the region and help us build upon our long industrial history.”

“USDA Rural Development’s SET program helps establish a state resource team that will bring the talents and resources of key state and federal agencies, extension programs, and other organizations together to provide coaching and tech-nical assistance to each of the regional teams,” said Bill Menner, USDA Rural Development State Director in Iowa. “Rural communities that work through regional and strategic part-nerships can complement and draw upon the resources of another to create jobs and strengthen economies.”

The SET Initiative is a 6 month collaborative initiative that provides hard economic data on the participating communi-ties and a structured process to discuss regional assets and challenges. Ultimately the grant will culminate in a High Quality Plan approved by USDA Rural Development. The initial meeting will be followed by monthly focused discus-sions on specific topics such as industry clusters, agriculture, environment, infrastructure and other targeted issues.

Moving Forward

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Calendar of Events

City Council - First and Third Thursday of the Month

Kiwanis - Every Monday @ Noon

Lions Club - Every Tuesday @ Noon

Rotary - Every Thursday @ Noon

School Board - Every Third Monday @ 7pm

Lee County Board of Supervisors - Every Tuesday @ 9 am

Keokuk Community

Meetings

SAVE THE DATE Tri-State Nonprofit

Management Academy Keokuk, Iowa

April 2016 – March 2017

Second Tuesday of the Month • 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

The Nonprofit Management Academy was established in 1999 by Iowa State University in partnership with the United Way Man-agement Assistance Program to enhance the management skills

of those serving nonprofit human services groups, hospitals, government agencies, churches, private schools, arts organiza-

tions, environmental groups, and others in the nonprofit sector.

For more information please contact:

Shelley Oltmans • 319-524-5055 • shelleyo@iastate.edu

Future Academies

2017 Illinois • 2018 Missouri

4 Affiliates Office ˖ 429 Main Street ˖ Keokuk, Iowa 52632 ˖ 319-524-5055

Calendar of Events

Online

Community

Calendar

SEE WHAT’S COMING UP!

If you would like something posted to the online community calendar,

contact Jaclyn at officemanager@keokukchamber.com

January 6, 2016

8:00 am

KHS Gym Friday, December 4, 2015 4:30-9:00 pm

At participated Main Street Retailers

presented by

Main Street Keokuk, Inc.

director@keokukchamber.com ˖ www.keokukchamber.com 5

ISU News

Keokuk City Elections

November 3, 2015

Food Safety Certification Scheduled for Fall Local county offices of ISU Extension and Outreach sponsor food safety certification courses for food service managers and employees. Upcoming sessions at Great Prairie AEA in Burlington are Thursday, October 15 and Wednesday, December 16, 2015. Each class runs from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm with the exam to follow.

According to Patricia Steiner, Nutrition & Wellness Specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, the course content is based on the Na-tional Restaurant Association Educational Foundation's ServSafe® certification program and the Iowa Food Code. Participants will receive a copy of the ServSafe® Managers training manual and have the option of testing for certification.

For more details about the food safety sessions or to register, contact the Des Moines County Extension & Outreach office at 319-394-9433 or 800-914-1914 or by email to psteiner@iastate.edu or contact your local county ISU Extension and Outreach office.

Training to be Held for New 4-H Leaders

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach 4-H Youth Development Staff announce statewide trainings for all new 4-H Club Lead-ers. This training is targeted to those who are beginning as volunteers or those with three years or less experience. The training is open to all volunteers and current club leaders are encouraged to attend if they have not attended before.

Advantages of this training program include: learning about the role of a caring adult, dynamic training to boost positive youth devel-opment knowledge and skills in order to support a vibrant 4-H club or Clover Kids group, and an opportunity to meet and network with other volunteers. The interactive training includes an agenda loaded with knowledge, skills, and tools needed to enhance a vol-unteer’s work with 4-H youth. Volunteers will receive a binder of resources to prepare them for working with their club or group.

Training will be held two times in southeast Iowa on Saturday, November 7th at Johnson County Extension Office and Saturday, De-cember 12th at the Lee County Extension Office. The training will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There are numerous trainings throughout the state; volunteers are able to attend any of the locations. To register, go to www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/volunteertraining. Registration is due one week before the trainings. The training will include resources, lunch and snacks. There is no fee to the volunteer to attend.

For more information on how to volunteer with 4-H in your county please contact your county’s Extension office. For more infor-mation on New Leader’s Training in Southeast Iowa, please contact Youth Program Specialist, Kati Peiffer, 319/385-8126 or Kpeiffer@iastate.edu.

6 Affiliates Office ˖ 429 Main Street ˖ Keokuk, Iowa 52632 ˖ 319-524-5055

Chamber News

Gemini Travel Celebrates 25 Years

For 25 years, Chuck and Pat Mayfield have provid-

ed the area with their travel expertise. What start-

ed out as a dream, has now turned into a very suc-

cessful agency. Family owned and operated, Gemini

Travel has been one of Keokuk’s most successful

small businesses.

Along with their expert staff of agents, Gemini

Travel has provided excellent service with great

deals. Gemini Travel provides everything from

cruises, vacation packages, and transportation ser-

vices to custom packages. Whether staying in the

states or traveling abroad, Gemini Travel has

strived to provide the knowledge and deals to

make travelers come back time and time again.

7th Annual Tri-state Recycling Event

Keokuk’s 7th annual community-wide e-waste/

recycling event on September 29, 2015 had a strong

turnout with 445 total Tri-State participants (346

from Keokuk). North Cedar South received paper to

be shredded as well as paper, cardboard, books, mag-

azines, and newsprint for recycling. Great River Re-

gional Waste Authority had 63 Lee county customers

with hazardous material. Midwest Recycling Center

received 320 CRT TVs and 122 CRT computer moni-

tors, along with over a ton of appliances and electron-

ics for recycling. The Lions Club collected 24 eye-

glasses, and the Iowa State Penitentiary received

more than 70 bikes. The event was co-sponsored by

Roquette America, the City of Keokuk, and the Cham-

ber of Commerce.

Looking for volunteer opportunities? Want to help make a

difference in your community?

Join one of our many committees and help

us make the difference.

director@keokukchamber.com ˖ www.keokukchamber.com 7

Chamber News

Royal

Ad

Van Meter Inc. Name a Top Iowa Workplace

Van Meter Inc. is pleased to announce that it has been selected as one of Iowa’s 2015 Top 150 Workplaces. Top Workplaces are determined

based solely on employee feedback. Van Meter Inc. ranked fourth among Iowa’s top midsized companies. This is the fourth consecutive year

on the Top Workplaces list for Van Meter.

The employee feedback survey is conducted by WorkplaceDynamics, LLP, a leading research firm on organizational health and employee

engagement. WorkplaceDynamics conducts regional Top Workplaces programs with major publishing partners across the United States. In

Iowa, WorkplaceDynamics partners with The Des Moines Register.

What makes Van Meter a winning workplace? According to Van Meter Chief Operating Officer, Lura McBride, it’s the people. "When you hire

the right people and create a culture where they can be engaged and understand how they make a difference, everything else takes care of

itself,” states McBride. “Delivering a positive employee-owner experience is the best way to ensure we deliver an exceptional customer expe-

rience.”

In 2015, one-hundred percent of Van Meter’s employee-owners participated in the company’s engagement survey via WorkplaceDynamics.

The company reported an engagement score of 80 percent, which is well above the national average of about 30 percent. “We are enthusias-

tic about our work and our passion is contagious,” adds McBride. “Every employee-owner is focused on creating lasting value for the people

we serve – our customers, our suppliers, our community partners and one another.”

According to McBride, Van Meter focuses on the “total” wellbeing of its people. This encompasses traditional things like heath, wellness and

safety, but also includes financial stability, personal growth and development, flexible scheduling to allow for better integration of work and

home life, and a very progressive parental leave program. The company recently introduced a new vacation policy called TOTALTM (Time Off

To Appreciate Life). It is a personal accountability plan where employees take ownership of their time away from work.

The Des Moines Register published the complete list of 2015 Top Workplaces in a special section on Sunday, Sept. 13. For more information,

visit http://data.desmoinesregister.com/top-workplaces/?year=2015

Recruiting new talent for your business?

We provide relocation/recruitment packages.

8 Affiliates Office ˖ 429 Main Street ˖ Keokuk, Iowa 52632 ˖ 319-524-5055

Chamber News

2016 CAB Schedule Open

The 2016 schedule for Chamber After Business is now open. These will be scheduled on a first come, first serve basis. We would like to invite any Chamber Mem-ber to contact us and schedule to sponsor or host a CAB today.

SPONSOR: Sponsor Fee $75

Provides hors d’oeuvres for the event. Contributes door prizes for attendees. Representative draws the door prizes during program. Marketing opportunity Plans event (e.g. theme, games, prizes) HOST:

The location of Chamber After Business. Marketing opportunity Provides alcoholic/nonalcoholic beverages. What the Chamber does: Create advertisement and advertise CAB Sell door prize tickets and promote prizes Introduce and thank both Host and Sponsor Feature Host and Sponsor in press release of event

Henniges Celebrates 100 Years

It all began on Aug. 24, 1915, when Emil G. Lindstrand,

a Keokuk contractor, was awarded the contract to

build the new Standard Four Tire Company that would

produce tires for the Ford Model T, according to a his-

tory provided by Henniges Automotive.

The Keokuk plant has had many owners, names and

products over the last 100 years, the current owner

Littlejohn & Co. acquired Henniges from WynnChurch

Capital Ltd. in 2010. The plant supplies weather-strips

to Detroit automakers. Ford comprises 31 percent of

the plant’s business, General Motors makes up 31 per-

cent, Chrysler has 10 percent, and others, 28 percent.

The plant employs more than 600 people from the Tri-

State Area.

Website: http://www.hennigesautomotive.com/

Starting a new business? Expanding? Need a succession plan?

Come speak with Janine Clover at the Chamber office. Second Monday each month, 12:00-4:00 pm

director@keokukchamber.com ˖ www.keokukchamber.com 9

Chamber News

Keokuk Kash

Rewarding employees? Need a gift idea?

Come get Keokuk Kash! Any denomination!

Accepted at over 170 local businesses!

A big thank you to all of our 2015 Golf Outing sponsors! Hole and Team Sponsors

Ryan M. Ruffcorn Insurance Liberty Utilities Keokuk Medical Center Taske Force

Access Door Conn Communications KSB Bank & Insurance SEIRPC

Pilot Grove Savings Bank Fitch Health Care Shoemaker & Haaland Menke & Company

HyVee Peevler Real Estate Seither & Cherry Krichel Animal Hospital

Team Sponsors

Golden Eagle Distributing i-Connect You Family Discount Shoes Climax-Molybdenum

Hole Sponsors

Korte Tax & Accounting Meyers Driveway & Septic SCC Sutlive Real Estate

Keokuk Contractors Roquette America, Inc. Keokuk Veterinary Hospital City of Keokuk

Schleier & Associates Keokuk Health Systems

Auction Sponsors

Roquette America, Inc. HyVee Shelley Oltmans B&H Marine

Johnson Schmidt Youngren Shoes Kerry Klepfer Ace Hardware

Alliant Energy Golden Eagles Distributing Pilot Grove Savings Bank Hoerner YMCA

Shoemaker Haaland Spirit Hollow Golf Course Southside Boat Club Keokuk Yacht Club

Krichel’s FCB Schleier & Associates Walmart

The Pzazz SCC Doug Ewing Darkside Tint & Graphics

TSS Safety, Inc. TO Haas The Eagle’s Nest The Lost Canvas

Table Sponsors

Advance Home Health Care River Hills Village Taske Force Peevler Real Estate

Lexington Square Roquette America Inc.

Gift bag

Pilot Grove Savings Bank First Community Bank Keokuk Health Systems Conn Communications

Korte Tax & Accounting SCC Lake Cooper Golf & Dining KACC

Winner’s Gift Certificates

Angelini’s Ristoraunte Italiano The Cellar Hawkeye Restaurant Keokuk Spirits

McDonald’s Beef, Bread, & Brew Lucky’s Pub & Grub

10 Affiliates Office ˖ 429 Main Street ˖ Keokuk, Iowa 52632 ˖ 319-524-

Chamber News

LEE COUNTY LEADERSHIP ANNOUNCES CLASS OF 2016

The Lee County Leadership Program has accepted eight leadership trainees to the Class of 2016. These eight participants began their training on Sep-tember 15. Members are Nicole Baker, Transit Director for Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission; Emily Benjamin, County Youth Coordinator for ISU Extension and Outreach of Lee County; Diane Fader, Banking Center Manager for First Community Bank; Cindy Greer, Primrose Path Manager for The Kensington; Corby Hawkins, Sales and Marketing Manager for Seither & Cherry Co; Jaclyn Lansing, Office Manager for the Keokuk Area Chamber of Commerce; Andrea Rogers, Assistant General Manager for Keokuk Munici-pal Waterworks; and Richard Tebbs, Natural Resource Manager for the Lee County Conservation Board.

Deb Tootle, Iowa State University Community Leadership Specialist leads the morning sessions in which the leadership trainees learn the importance of community leadership development, take a deep look into the conditions of the community using data and learn tools and skills to practice communi-ty leadership. Tootle is utilizing new curriculum from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. It is a modular and interactive community leader-ship program based on cutting-edge research on community leadership (as opposed to individual, business or organizational leadership). Lee County is the first county in Iowa to utilize this specific approach to leadership devel-opment by piloting the program.

The afternoons are filled with local speakers and tours organized by ISU extension and outreach Lee County, Keokuk Area Chamber of Commerce and Fort Madison Area Chamber of Commerce. This portion of the program is part of a countywide networking process in which leadership trainees will meet diverse community leaders and partners from throughout the county. In the process, people from diverse backgrounds and experiences will work together to learn about community building in a wide array of social, economic and cultural conditions.

“We are holding the program in communities throughout Lee County so participants can create a sense of broad-er community outside of their own town,” Shelley Oltmans, executive director of the Keokuk Area Chamber of Com-merce and ISU Extension and Outreach CED specialist said. “It is important in rural communities to work with re-gional partners to build capacity.”

Trainees will utilize their leadership skills and tools to work with two community organizations, PORT (Promoting Outdoor Recreational Trails) and Live Healthy Lee County. Both organizations are looking for assistance to create marketing plans. “I believe we felt that the chosen projects would give the leadership trainees the oppor-tunity to collaborate even though they will be working on 2 separate programs” stated Laura Francisco, Fort Madi-son Area Chamber of Commerce and steering committee member. Over the next 6 months leadership trainees will work under the guidance of mentors from the submitting organizations. The final projects will be presented during the graduation ceremony to be held in early April 2016.

In addition to building skills and implementing community projects, the class of 2016 will attend the Iowa Legis-lature’s Great River Region Days in Des Moines to network with government officials and lobby on behalf of South-east Iowa.

The Lee County Leadership Program is a partnership between the Fort Madison Area Chamber of Commerce, Keokuk Area Chamber of Commerce and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. It is supported by a steering committee with representatives from the Lee County Health Department, Fort Madison Partners, Lee County Chari-table Fund, Keokuk Area Community Foundation, and Southeastern Community College. Session Two was spon-sored by Keokuk Area Hospital and the program is also supported financially by Alliant Energy.

director@keokukchamber.com ˖ www.keokukchamber.com

Pride & Ribbon Cuttings

McWilliams

1019 Seymour

DeMoss

1116 High Street

Chief Motel

2701 Main Street

Shear Royalty

715 Main Street

Barcliff

2511 Middle Road

KPLAY

Bentley’s Park

Harlow

908 S. 16th Street

Arrowhead Bowl Keokuk Prompt Care

12 Affiliates Office ˖ 429 Main Street ˖ Keokuk, Iowa 52632 ˖ 319-524-

Contact Us

Give us a call for more information.

Keokuk Area Chamber of

Commerce

429 Main Street

Keokuk, IA 52632

(319) 524-5055

officemanager@keokukchamber.com

Visit us on the web at

www.keokukchamber.com

Keokuk Area Chamber of Commerce

429 Main Street

Keokuk, IA 52632