NEWSLETTER OF THE BOONE COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

1908

2017 ~

Express

VOLUME 33, EDITION NO. 8 | AUGUST 2017

cham

ber

our mission: “The Boone County Chamber of Commerce' mission is to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in Boone County”

CE TRIVIA:

In what year did Iowa become part of the Louisiana Territory?

ANSWER ON PAGE 17

CHAMBER EXPRESS | AUGUST 2017 2

3 FROM THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR

4 CALENDAR

5 LIST OF EVENTS

6 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

7 OGDEN REPORT

8 FREEDOM FLIGHT

9 BUSINESS BEFORE HOURS-MIDWEST DENTAL

10 CHAMBER APP

11 CHAMBER APP INSTRUCTIONS

12 PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE/WHO 13 RVTV

13 MADRID AREA CHAMBER REPORT

14 BOONE AMBASSADORS

15 OGDEN AMBASSADORS/ CHAMBER BENEFIT

16 CVB HAPPENINGS

17 BAMA/ NEWS IN A NUTSHELL

18 BUSINESS AFTER 5/ BUSINESS BEFORE HOURS

18 NEW TEACHER BREAKFAST

19 BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S NOMINATIONS

2017 Board of Directors Jamie Williams, President*

Michelle Kelly, Vice President* Craig Downs, Treasurer*

Tracy Van Sickle* Bill Gebhart* Fred French

Wayne Lamoureux Holly Larson

Mark Schneider Amy Landas

Doug Lau Perry Overton

*Executive Committee Members

Ex-Officio Dr. Brad Manard, Dr. Drew Nelson, Bill Skare,

Jeff Gano-Past President

Chamber Staff

Kurt R. Phillips Executive Director

Email: director@booneiowa.us Alyssa Knudsen

Mgr. of Programming and Events Email: events@booneiowa.us

Kris Blocker Mgr. of Member Services and CVB

Email: office@booneiowa.us

Contact Us The Chamber Express newsletter is

published by the Boone County Chamber of Commerce 903 Story Street | Boone, Iowa 50036

Phone: 515.432.3342 | Fax: 515.432.3343 events@booneiowa.us

www.booneiowa.us

■ CONTENT

Headline from Des Moines, IA: “City leaders plan $250,000,000.00 investment into downtown housing project near Gray’s Lake.” This announcement is just the latest in a trend for Iowa’s capital city in the last few years that has also included a major convention center and connected hotel project, moves by corporations like Krause/Gentle Corp (Kum & Go Stores) and Cognizant Technology Solutions into the downtown district, and some wildly successful downtown festivals and events. Des Moines is not alone in this renaissance. After many years of exodus from downtowns, communities of all sizes are re-envisioning their core retail, cultural, historical and housing districts and pouring resources into revitalizing the city centers. Why? Because a lively downtown is a major quality of feature, and continues to be the heartbeat of a healthy community. Efforts are happening all across the country to bring new events to main street like farmers markets, cultural festivals, concerts, and brewfests. Public space development has included river walks, ice rinks, sculpture parks, walking, bike path, and other pedestrian friendly developments. Add to that the spawning of niche dining and shopping experiences with delis, mid and upscale restaurants, and specialty stores dotting the main street. The Boone County Chamber of Commerce staff is spending much of our time and resources in 2017 visioning these same types of opportunities for our county’s downtowns. Along with our Retail Task Force looking deeper into retail gap studies and local consumer attitudes, we’ve also participated in the state’s Downtown Exchange program, a peer review program that brings another communities’ leaders to our area to objectively judge our downtown as it relates to signage, parking, retail spaces, consumer friendliness, and a host of other criteria. Of course, most ideas and projects for revitalizing a downtown come with a price tag. So, we’ll dig deeper into the resources available to us to help pay for research, planning and implementation of these ideas. August 1st through the 3rd I’ll attend the state’s Downtown Conference in Sioux City to engage with towns that have enjoyed these successes, and gather more information about how we can infuse that same energy into Boone County’s downtowns. Armed with the proper tools and right investment, maybe the next headline for downtown success can be ours.

From the desk of the DIRECTOR

WWW.BOONEIOWA .US 3 Come check us out!

—Kurt Phillips, Executive Director Boone County Chamber of Commerce

Your business

should be here

Ad sponsor

dollars support

Chamber Programs

■ CALENDAR

CHAMBER EXPRESS | AUGUST 2017 4

1 2

3 4

Executive

Meeting

8:15AM

5

6 7

CVB Meeting

7:30AM

8

Pufferbilly Days

Meeting

7:30AM

9

BAMA

Meeting

7:30AM

10

11

12

13 14

15

Ambassadors 9:30AM

16 New

Teacher

Breakfast

7:30AM

17

18

19

20 21

22 Ambassadors

9:30AM

Business After 5

Midwest Dental

Pufferbilly Days

Meeting

7:30AM

23

24

25

26

27 28

Chamber

Board

Meeting

11:30AM

29

Ambassadors

9:30AM

30 31

AUGUST

2017

S S M T T W F

■ LIST OF EVENTS

WWW.BOONEIOWA .US 2 5 Come check us out!

717 8th Street (515) 432-1220 www.bankofthewest.com

432-2222 1703 South Story Street

Boone, Iowa

Chamber Members save 10% on your next order (Print this page)

August 4 — Friday Night Live August 10 -20 – CVB at Iowa State Fair August 16 – Chamber of Commerce Annual New Teacher Breakfast August 22— BA5 – Midwest Dental August 29 – 31 – Farm Progress Show (Decatur, IL) September 2—All American Car Show September 2, 3, 4 & 5 – Madrid Labor Day Celebration September 4— Labor Day (Chamber Closed) September 4 – 9 – IMCA Super Nationals September 7-10 - Pufferbilly Days Celebration September 23 — Forte Studios Battle of the Bands September 26– BA5– Boone County Hospital September 28– Chamber HS Tour (Agriculture) October 5—Chamber HS Tour (Business/Industry) October 6 — Friday Night Live October 10— Chamber CONNECT October 17— BA5 - Fareway October 19 & 20— KWBG Fall Auction October 26—BAMA Trick or Treat November 2—Harvest Omelet Breakfast November 8—BA5 - Hy-Vee November 11-12—BAMA Holiday Open House November 24 – Thanksgiving November 30—Holiday Lighted Parade December 1-19 — KWBG Christmas Light Scavenger hunt December 2– Ogden Christmas on Main December 4 – Madrid Christmas Extravaganza December 12—BA5– Boone High School December 25 – Christmas

Please send your event dates for 2017 to: events@booneiowa.us. Event dates sub-ject to change. More information of times, dates and places of Boone events and businesses is available from the Boone County Chamber Office and at www.booneiowa.us. Updates are also available at the Caboose Information center on South Story Street from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Call 433-0591 or email:

info@boonelandfill.org

for information on workplace recycling

Ad sponsor

dollars support Chamber

Programs

This space is available

■ MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

CHAMBER EXPRESS | AUGUST 2017 6

WE LOVE TO SPOTLIGHT OUR MEMBERS!

Send us a photo of your staff, along with

a brief, two to three paragraph history

of your company to:

events@booneiowa.us

We’ll publish your article in an

upcoming issue of the CHAMBER

EXPRESS

Ogden Legacy Community Update

WWW.BOONEIOWA .US 7 Come check us out!

&

NO REPORT

#boostleadconnect

CHAMBER EXPRESS | AUGUST 2017 12

As the kids start to prepare for a new school year and we start getting used to a routine again I also start to think about what we want to accomplish for the year. Those who work in the education fields think of the new year starting at the beginning of the school year or maybe it's just ingrained into our brains from when we were in school! One of the greatest things we can do for ourselves is learn new things or even learn how to do things better. Many times that involves staying current in your field by reading about current trends or picking up a new book and reading about something that's new and revolutionary. My hope for every individual is that they never stop improving whether it's their business, their knowledge, their health or whatever their goal might be. My other hope is that individuals take advantage of experts in their community or field, webinars, classes, continuing education and even the local library! There are so many resources available at your fingertips and we often forget to take advantage of those learning opportunities. Many of those opportunities are provided to you by your Boone County Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber has a wealth of knowledge from its staff and the desire to help you succeed. Ensure that you're taking full advantage of all the Chamber programs, events and knowledge our staff offers to help you improve and succeed!

President’s Perspective

—Jamie Williams, Board of Directors President Ericson Public Library

13 WWW.BOONEIOWA .US Come check us out!

Madrid Area Chamber and Community Update

Your

Ad Here

—Mary Swalla Holmes Madrid Area Chamber of Commerce

August is another a busy month in Madrid! Join us for refreshments and conversation on August 10 for “After 5” at the

Madrid Flower Shop. MAC members will be promoting Madrid and all that there is to explore in the county, helping to staff

the Boone County Chamber booth at the Iowa State Fair. The community is getting ready for the big Madrid Labor Day

Celebration, held Friday, September 1 – Monday, September 4. Parade registration begins at 7 a.m. on Sept. 4. We are

looking forward to great participation from the communities in Boone County!

www.flynnrealestateiowa.com

804 8th Street • Boone, IA 50036

Business 515-432-8860 • Fax 515-432-9968

Becky Dose

$6.4 Million in sales for 2014

Choosing The Right Realtor Really Does Make

A Difference!

515-298-1121

■ BOONE AMBASSADORS

CHAMBER EXPRESS | AUGUST 2017 14

ribbons & shovels

Thank you to Walgreens 1-Hour Photo for the donation of pictures for Ambassadors.

A note to current Chamber Members – do you have a neighbor business that has not yet joined the chamber? Perhaps sharing the following info would help to give them a little nudge -Chamber membership increases your visibility in the community. As a new member of the chamber of commerce, you will be listed in the chamber newsletter, e-newsletter, on Facebook and have the opportunity to be highlighted in other chamber publications. You also can grow your business by advertising with the chamber and sponsoring events. The chamber may also promote your grand opening/ribbon-cutting ceremony and assist with any public relations effort.

WWW.BOONEIOWA .US Come check us out! 15

USDA

CHOICE

BEEF

GROCERY

DEPT.

432-7519

FRESH

PRODUCE

1711 HAWKEYE DRIVE

MEAT DEPT.

432-8760

—Kris Blocker

■ CHAMBER BENEFIT KNOW YOUR CHAMBER BENEFITS #64:

■ OGDEN AMBASSADORS ribbons & shovels

■ CONVENTION & VISITORS

BUREAU (CVB)

—Mark Schneider, Iowa Arboretum Chair, Convention & Visitors Bureau

CVB HAPPENINGS

CHAMBER EXPRESS | AUGUST 2017

86

EEO

16

The Impact of Tourism The Boone County Convention and Visitors Bureau committee was given the challenge to create a narrative that describes the impact of tourism in our county. Here it is: • Major area attractions increase visitor traffic to other area

attractions. • Visitors to area attractions connect to and spend money at

local restaurants, hotels and businesses. • Tourism brings more visitors to the Boone County which

creates a need for new jobs and new investment at area attractions.

• People with new jobs look for places to live in Boone County and have the opportunity to spend more of their disposable income locally.

• An increase in tourism leads to more entrepreneurial businesses opening to support the needs of visitors.

• Tourism leads to an increase in revenue through profit, sales tax and hotel motel tax dollars.

How important is tourism? Tourism is and will continue to be a major economic driver in the Boone County.

BAMA

■ BOONE AREA MERCHANT’S ASSOCIATION

CE Trivia Answer: 1805

WWW.BOONEIOWA .US 17 Come check us out!

—Alyssa Knudsen Manager of Programming and Events

Boone County Chamber of Commerce

• Pufferbilly Days, September 7-10th. Live Music, Car Show, Arts & Crafts, Beer Tent and so much more. Be sure to mark you calendars! • Congratulations to Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad on being a finalist for the Best Iowa Attraction from USA TODAY 10 Best Readers’

Choice Contest. Vote at http://www.10best.com/awards/travel/ to help get them in the top ten! • Looking for a way to promote your business consider hosting a Business After 5 or Business Before Hours. Contact Kris at the Boone

County Chamber of Commerce (515) 432-3342 or office@booneiowa.us to reserve a month. • Friday Night Live, August 4th from 5pm-10pm. Musical Performances by Balefire, Dinner and Tours at the Boone History Center (fee), Car

Show, and Beer Garden. FREE to attend and participate!

■ NEWS IN A NUTSHELL

And just like that another Crazy Day has come and gone. Thank you merchants for the crazy deals that were offered to the community, thank you to the VFW for cooking and serving the free hotdog lunch and thank you to Carol Kuster and Joy Davis for all your time and effort into planning Crazy Days. A thank you shout out also goes to those BAMA members that participated in the Downtown Maintenance Program prior to Crazy Days, what a difference it made. Now that our 3rd quarter promotion is wrapped up, BAMA will jump into our 4th quarter holiday promotion. The theme this year will remain the same as last year with “Boone for the Holidays.” Look for more details coming soon. As always we encourage you to attend a BAMA meeting, the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30am in the chamber board room.

Shop Boone County

Thank you to everyone that came out and enjoyed July’s Business After 5 at RE/MAX Beacon

August BA5 Midwest Dental August 22nd

CHAMBER EXPRESS | AUGUST 2017 18

Thank you to everyone that came out and enjoyed July’s Business Before Hours at VisionBank.

The Chamber will once again host it’s annual New Teacher Breakfast on August 16th and is looking for sponsors for each of Boone County’s new teachers. Your $50 sponsorship provides breakfast for you and your teacher along with a goodie bag of school supplies. If interested in becoming a sponsor please call Alyssa at the chamber at 432-3342.

■ CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

CHAMBER Express 903 STORY STREET

BOONE, IOWA 50036

Per the Bylaws of the Boone County Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Directors of the Chamber annually invite nominations for Board Directorships that will serve a three-year term beginning in January of 2018. If you would like to nominate a Chamber member, or if you would like to know more about the responsibilities and commitment required of a Chamber director, contact Kurt Phillips, Executive Director at director@booneiowa.us. The Board’s nominating committee will review all submissions, con-duct select interviews and offer a final slate for confirmation by the end of October, 2017.

WWW.BOONEIOWA .US Come check us out! 19

—Kurt Phillips, Executive Director Boone County Chamber of Commerce