FUEL Story County, the young professional’s organization and an affiliate organization of the Ames Regional Economic Alliance, has officially rebranded as AREA Young Professionals. “Our young professional organization has seen a lot of growth in recent years, and this rebrand is another exciting step in our efforts to build young,…
“The future of Agriculture is not about blindly throwing increasingly expensive inputs and precious resources at our food, fiber, and now fuel production,” said Roger Underwood during this keynote presentation at the 2024 Agriculture Breakfast event. “The future of agriculture is borderless and global,” as he provided a worldly perspective…
The Ames Regional Economic Alliance hosted the 2024 Inter-City Visit from September 11-13, where city and community leaders from Boone, Hamilton, and Story County toured Fargo, North Dakota, and met with their community leaders. “The goal of the 2024 Inter-City Visit is straightforward,” said Dan Culhane, President & CEO of…
This spring, the City of Ames prepared an Urban Revitalization Area (URA) designation to include a plan for incentivizing construction of new housing. The Council action form stated that “expanding housing options with the community is both desirable and necessary for the economic health of the city,” and that qualified…
The City of Gilbert is proud to announce the grand opening of Steel Street that is not only providing another access point for community drivers but also to the brand-new light commercial park with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held on Monday evening. This long-targeted business park, which spans almost ten acres,…
The Ames Regional Economic Alliance is excited to welcome Brian Horn to the team as Director of Economic Development and Executive Director of the Boone County Economic Growth Corporation. “I am thrilled to have Brian join our team,” said Dan Culhane, President and CEO of the Ames Regional Economic Alliance….
Earlier this month, we announced that the hosts of the Discovery Channel’s popular show, “RV There Yet?” will visit the Ames area in early October to record an episode on our region. The show will feature local amenities in Boone and Story County, including the Rail Explorers in Boone, Reiman…
Engagement and giving back to the community are part of the fabric of First National Bank, located in Downtown Ames. They were the presenting sponsor of this year’s 515 Days, a three-day event that included a nighttime farmers’ market with food trucks, vendors, and live music, kid and family activities,…
August 20, 2024 (DES MOINES, IA) – Gov. Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) today announced more than $37 million in workforce housing tax credits to develop housing across the state. The awards will support 62 housing projects that are expected to create more than 2,000 residential units….
The hosts of the Discovery Channel’s popular show, “RV There Yet?” will visit the Ames area in early October as part of a production session for a show that will feature local sights in Boone and Story County and include tailgating at an Iowa State University football game. The show…
The Boone Community School District and Mary Greeley Medical Center (MGMC) established a partnership to provide students with opportunities to explore healthcare careers during the 2020-2021 school year. Gracie Boon, a 2024 graduate of Boone High School, is one of the beneficiaries of that partnership. Thanks to her experience through…
Every day at Overflow Thrift Stores, savvy shoppers find great deals and vintage treasures. But for the past ten years, Overflow’s mission has been more than simply providing an economical and unique shopping option in Story County. “The heartbeat of the Overflow team is a desire to transform the abundance…
The Ames Chamber of Commerce and affiliate organizations is excited to announce the 2022 Annual Award winners. The award recipients will be honored at an event on Thursday, January 26, 2023, at Prairie Moon Winery in Ames. Since 1987, the Ames Chamber of Commerce has recognized individuals and businesses who…
The Ames Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the participants who have been selected for Leadership Ames Class XXXVI: 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…
The Ames Chamber of Commerce and Ames Economic Development Commission are excited to introduce the 2023 Board Chairs for their respective Board of Directors. Reynolds Cramer will serve as the Board Chair for the Ames Economic Development Commission and Michelle Vogel will serve as the Board Chair for the Ames…
The Ames Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Commission is excited to announce our new 2023-2027 Strategic Plan. Created by Ames Chamber of Commerce leadership, in collaboration with the executive members of each board of directors, the plan is designed to guide the organization, and affiliate organizations, for the next…
The City of Boone, Boone County, Iowa Department of Transportation, and Fareway Stores, Inc., celebrated the opening of the Iowa 17 overpass with a ceremony on Wednesday, December 7, 2022. The Iowa DOT constructed the overpass to improve driver safety and traffic flow in the area by allowing traffic to…
The Ames Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce promotions for two team members: Steven Lawrence and Sarah Dvorsky. As Director of Marketing, Steven Lawrence will support the marketing efforts for the Ames Chamber of Commerce and affiliate organizations. Lawrence has been with the Ames Chamber of Commerce for over…
A new hardware store in Madrid, True Value, is expected to open this spring. Stacey and Jesse Bannor have been business owners for over a decade, launching Bannor Toys in Des Moines back in 2011. After moving their growing business to Madrid in 2016, the Bannor Family has not only…
The Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission is excited to welcome Shannon Thiele to the team as Director of Member Retention & Affiliate Programming. “Shannon is a wonderful addition, and the right fit, for our Ames Chamber of Commerce team,” said Dan Culhane, President & CEO of the…
Kruck Plumbing & Heating, a company that has been serving the needs of the local community in Central Iowa since 1941, has opened a new facility along Highway 30 in Boone. “As an organization we are excited about the opportunities that will come with this new facility,” said Chad Houston, President…
SmartAsset ranked the Ames MSA as the #1 Best Place to Work in Manufacturing. The 2022 ranking analyzed nearly 400 metro areas across topics such as manufacturing employment, income, and cost of living. Local manufacturing can provide high wage jobs, be essential for innovation, help reduce the national trade deficit…
All Iowa Homes, Inc. headquartered in Boone has initiated construction on two homes in the community of Ogden. These homes will feature three bedrooms, two bathrooms, attached garages, and either finished or unfinished basements. The square footage on the homes range from 1,360 –2000 square feet. All Iowa Homes builds…
The Ames Chamber of Commerce is excited to welcome Crystal Davis to the team as Executive Director of Ames Main Street (AMS). “Crystal understands what it takes to lead our main street organization because she understands Ames,” said Dan Culhane, President & CEO of the Ames Chamber of Commerce. “For…
Lincolnway Energy, located between Ames and Nevada, celebrated the milestone of 1 billion gallons of ethanol produced in January 2023. Originally formed in May 2004, the plant started as a 50 million gallon per year dry mill ethanol plant. Today, it produces close to 95 million gallons of ethanol a…
Evie Peterson is a roll-up-her-sleeves type of entrepreneur who requires little sleep, a lot of coffee, and is not afraid to tackle the next big thing. Over the past 17 years, she has grown a successful catering business into a quintet of companies that has transformed Main Street Nevada. She is relentless…
The Ames Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Program focuses on educating and engaging members on key legislative issues and initiatives impacting the Ames MSA. Maintaining strong relationships with federal, state, and locally elected officials is a key tenet of the Ames Chamber of Commerce, and a service we are proud…
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