The Ames Regional Economic Alliance is excited to launch the AREA Podcast, a new platform dedicated to sharing the personal stories and professional journeys of leaders across our region. The AREA Podcast will feature in-depth conversations with business leaders, entrepreneurs, and community stakeholders, covering topics such as leadership, innovation, and economic development initiatives…
One of the things I love most about our team is that we never stop searching for the next opportunity. Whether it’s connecting businesses through networking, driving new housing developments, or expanding the ways we tell our region’s story, our passion for making a positive impact never fades. Economic development…
Webster City, Iowa (February 26, 2025) – The Webster City City Council has officially approved a resolution to create a 600-acre industrial park south of Highway 20, a strategic move designed to attract new business investment and create jobs for the region. This project will be developed as part of…
When driving along Interstate 35 between Ames and Ankeny, you may have wondered, “What is that big brown building next to Ditch Witch in Huxley?” For the 170 employees working there, that building represents more than just a structure: it’s the home base for Continental Manufacturing Chemist (CMC), a leading…
Dr. Jason Niegsch (pronounced “Nicks”) and his wife, Marcie, have called Dentistry At Somerset their dental clinic location since 2002. Last year, after practicing at this location for over 22 years, they made a significant investment in the community to more than double their patient capacity. In July 2024, the…
“Who would have thought that the art of nails could save lives?” This is the question that Bi Ayers, owner of Pro Nails in Ames, asks in Polished, his 2023 book that is part memoir and part business book. “The idea of writing a book was not to tell the…
In October, the Ames History Museum (AHM) held a grand reopening event celebrating their new expansion project and permanent installation. The weekend event saw nearly 1,000 guests visit the Museum, officially launching a new era for the organization. Founded in 1980, the Ames History Museum provides unique opportunities to learn…
Mid-States Companies, located and headquartered in Nevada, Iowa, is in the final stages of their most recent expansion effort: a 9,000 square foot administrative office building intended to bring together their range of businesses and services under one roof. The expansion is the latest in a long line of reinvestment…
If you’re anything like me, you’re eager to fully embrace 2025. Now that we’re already a month into the year, 2024 feels like a distant memory. While I tend to focus on the future, I encourage you to take a moment to review our 2024 Annual Report if you haven’t…
A solo brand and website design agency in Ames, Studio A Designs focuses on connecting Iowa small business owners with their dream buyers. Founder and rural Iowa native Amanda Thompson helps businesses uncover their standout qualities, unique personality traits, visual differentiators, and more to develop brands that locals love! “My…
Ryan Newstrom, owner of Cornbred Barbecue, was the personal tailgate chef when the RV There Yet? Discovery Channel show recorded a segment of their episode in the RV Village at Jack Trice Stadium. “Cooking and serving delicious food is my favorite thing in the world,” said Newstrom. “I appreciate the…
The end of another year is now here, and I can tell you that 2024 has been nothing short of transformative. As we look back on the past twelve months, it’s clear that this year has been filled with opportunities and milestones that have shaped our organization and the communities…
As we close another productive month at the Ames Regional Economic Alliance, I’ve been reflecting on the important role our organization plays in shaping the future of our region. Earlier this month, members of the Alliance team and regional partners joined Governor Kim Reynolds at the Iowa State Capitol as…
Every month, the Board of Directors for the Ames Regional Economic Alliance gathers for a Friday morning meeting that begins promptly at 7:00 a.m. Despite the early hour, the room is consistently full. These meetings bring together leaders from across our four-county region to hear updates, discuss emerging opportunities, and…
Leadership transitions are defining moments for institutions and communities alike. They are opportunities to reflect on the past while setting a renewed course for the future. Here in the Ames region, we are experiencing just such a moment with the appointment of Dr. David Cook as the next president of…
As we close out the month, I’ve had the opportunity to stand in a couple of very different places and be reminded that they are all part of the same story. Recently, I joined partners at the ribbon cutting for the Advanced Magnet Facility at Ames National Laboratory. Not long after,…
This April, I will celebrate 20 years as CEO of the Ames Regional Economic Alliance. Candidly, when I started in April of 2006, I envisioned staying five to seven years. But life happens. Kids grow up, schedules fill, and you learn quickly what you do not want to disrupt. Before…
As we wrap up the month, I want to take a moment to reflect on one of the most meaningful gatherings of the year to date for the Ames Regional Economic Alliance: our 2025 Annual Awards celebration. Since 1987, this event has served as more than a ceremony, but as…
As we close out another year, I want to take a moment to reflect on one of December’s highlights for our organization. If you attended our Annual Event earlier this month, I hope you enjoyed our keynote speaker, Valerie Grubb, an internationally recognized keynote speaker and author on leadership. I…
As we close out November, I’m reminded that this season naturally brings a sense of gratitude and we have much to be thankful for across the Ames Regional Economic Alliance. We’re in the season of many of our affiliate organizations hosting their annual events, giving us the opportunity to recognize…
As we near the end of another busy month, I’m reminded of a saying I used recently: “Success has many fathers, failure is an orphan.” I’ve been told I have a lot of these sayings. I credit President Kennedy with this one, but it certainly applies to our organization and the momentum…
This past month has been another strong reminder of the incredible role Iowa State University plays in the life of our community and our regional economy. Few things highlight this better than the national attention Ames received when FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff show came to town for the Cy-Hawk football game. The…
Years ago, when I was only months on the job here in Ames, I held one of my first board meetings and timidly outlined a new direction for the organization. I was timid because I wanted to honor the amazing work that had already taken place while instilling new ideas…
I recently attended the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) annual conference in Philadelphia. It’s a conference that I attend often, as do others within our organization. The programming is always excellent, and it gives our team an opportunity not only to learn from others but also to reflect…
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…
Governor Kim Reynolds has recently announced eight recipients of the Iowa Health Careers Registered Apprenticeship Grant Program. The Boone Community School District has been awarded over $410,000 to further expand their existing apprenticeship program. The Health Careers Registered Apprenticeship Program is a new grant opportunity built on an innovative learning…
The Ames Economic Development Commission is pleased to announce that both the City of Boone and City of Collins have received funding for Downtown renovation projects. The Iowa Economic Development Authority has awarded both cities with $100,000, respectively, for projects that will transform an underutilized building into new commercial and…
In March, the City of Ogden and Ogden Legacy announced that they were again partnering to provide homeowners the opportunity to apply for matching funds to make exterior improvements to their Ogden residences. In addition to funding for exterior work, the City and Ogden Legacy were successful in their efforts…
Recognizing the desire of Ogden to accelerate its housing interests, the Ames Economic Development Commission (AEDC) has come to an agreement with the City of Ogden for an enhanced level of support beyond those that would generally be expected. The agreement comes as a result of the City of Ogden’s…
The Ames Economic Development Commission (AEDC) has entered into a contract of services with the Boone County Economic Growth Corporation (BCEGC). With the addition of this new contract, the Ames Economic Development Commission will now play a role in strengthening the BCEGC organization while building stronger partnerships across Boone County…
The Ames Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that the 2022 State of the Community will be held at the Ames Community School District Administration Office on Wednesday, January 26, 2022. The State of Community, sponsored by the Ames Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters of…
The Ames Chamber of Commerce is excited to welcome Emory Widlowski and Caroline Stewart as new additions to their staff. “I am thrilled to have two brand new graduates of Iowa State University joining our team,” says Dan Culhane, President & CEO of the Ames Chamber of Commerce. “Emory’s event…
The President & CEO role of many organizations must look at the “big picture,” or serve as the visionary leader. Part of that is focusing on the culture of the organization, establishing and maintaining relationship with stakeholders, putting into place a strong team, and moving forward the big rocks that…
Every other month, we have an all-staff meeting where we get together for lunch, laugh on a personal level, and cover a variety of business along the way. Even though we see each other on a weekly basis, these meetings are great ways for us to connect, provide updates, and…
Next month, May 8-12, we will celebrate Economic Development Week. It is a hallmark week for our organization as we pride ourselves on being a driving force of economic development for our region. In many ways, we have already started the celebration. If you follow our social media accounts, you…
One of the three pillars that leads our work here at the Ames Chamber of Commerce is advocacy, or our ability to publicly support or privately recommend a course of action related to a particular cause. We want local businesses to succeed, and it is our responsibility, and honor, to…
I recently came to the realization that my job has changed. I still hold the title of President & CEO of our organization, but how I spend my time on any given week has shifted. I am not entirely sure when that happened, or necessarily how it happened, but I…
Who will be the next leader of the Ames Chamber of Commerce? It’s an odd question, but one that was proposed to me a few weeks ago by one of our board members. First and foremost, I have no plans to retire or move on from the work that we…
An end of year message can be challenging because it always aspires to condense the year that was, which is impossible. Therefore, I will not attempt to summarize the past twelve months, but rather talk about how our organization connects with our community as we move into 2023. I have…
In leadership, the axiom goes that “you’re only as good as your team.” In my career, I have grown to appreciate and understand how true this is. This week, we welcomed two new members to our Ames Chamber of Commerce team. I am incredibly excited to see what they will…
Earlier this week, the board of directors for the Ames Chamber of Commerce and Ames Economic Development Commission met together for a joint meeting. We annually have this joint meeting as a way to bring together the two parts of our organization for not only the business meeting, but a…
Greetings from the Ames Chamber of Commerce! For those in attendance, I hope you enjoyed listening to Brian Dieter, President & CEO of Mary Greeley Medical Center, speak at our State of Healthcare event that took place on Friday, September 23. I know I did! He discussed a wide range…
Art Ciccotti’s journey into the world of glassblowing began with a passion ignited during his time at Iowa State University. Originally from Southern California, Ciccotti relocated to Ames, Iowa, where he pursued a degree in Art and Design with an emphasis in Art Education. It was at Iowa State that…
In the heart of Story City, Iowa, a quiet yet powerful force is driving the future of renewable energy. Generation Repair and Service (GRS), a NextEra Energy Resources facility, which is a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, has been a cornerstone of the clean energy sector since its establishment in 2009….
This spring, Ames Main Street unveiled their transformative plan that aims to enhance its vibrancy and appeal. The “Downtown Ames: A Guiding Vision for the Future” outlines strategic improvements to position the area as a premier destination in central Iowa. “The guiding document is not a fixed plan, predetermined roadmap,…
For nearly 23 years, Heather Johnson has been a driving force behind the Octagon Center for the Arts, shaping its growth and impact on Ames. Since joining the Octagon, she has played a pivotal role in organizing the Octagon Art Festival since 2002 and has led as Executive Director since…
LIFT WC, which stands for Local Initiative for Transformation in Webster City, is a non-profit organization dedicated to revitalizing the community. The organization is in the final stages of a $3 million renovation of the historic Elks Building in downtown Webster City, a project that serves as a catalyst for…
When driving along Interstate 35 between Ames and Ankeny, you may have wondered, “What is that big brown building next to Ditch Witch in Huxley?” For the 170 employees working there, that building represents more than just a structure: it’s the home base for Continental Manufacturing Chemist (CMC), a leading…
Dr. Jason Niegsch (pronounced “Nicks”) and his wife, Marcie, have called Dentistry At Somerset their dental clinic location since 2002. Last year, after practicing at this location for over 22 years, they made a significant investment in the community to more than double their patient capacity. In July 2024, the…
“Who would have thought that the art of nails could save lives?” This is the question that Bi Ayers, owner of Pro Nails in Ames, asks in Polished, his 2023 book that is part memoir and part business book. “The idea of writing a book was not to tell the…
In October, the Ames History Museum (AHM) held a grand reopening event celebrating their new expansion project and permanent installation. The weekend event saw nearly 1,000 guests visit the Museum, officially launching a new era for the organization. Founded in 1980, the Ames History Museum provides unique opportunities to learn…
Mid-States Companies, located and headquartered in Nevada, Iowa, is in the final stages of their most recent expansion effort: a 9,000 square foot administrative office building intended to bring together their range of businesses and services under one roof. The expansion is the latest in a long line of reinvestment…
A solo brand and website design agency in Ames, Studio A Designs focuses on connecting Iowa small business owners with their dream buyers. Founder and rural Iowa native Amanda Thompson helps businesses uncover their standout qualities, unique personality traits, visual differentiators, and more to develop brands that locals love! “My…
Ryan Newstrom, owner of Cornbred Barbecue, was the personal tailgate chef when the RV There Yet? Discovery Channel show recorded a segment of their episode in the RV Village at Jack Trice Stadium. “Cooking and serving delicious food is my favorite thing in the world,” said Newstrom. “I appreciate the…
