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…
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…
Pioneer Property Management and the City of Boone celebrated the groundbreaking of The Villas at Fox Pointe, located at the northwest corner of 22nd Street and P Avenue in Boone, Iowa, on Thursday, October 6, 2022. This groundbreaking ceremony marked the beginning of a two-phase, $19 million investment in Boone….
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…
The Iowa Finance Authority recently approved a senior housing tax credit project for the community of Boone. The $7.6 million new construction project will include 30 total units, all two-bedroom, for community members 55+ years of age. Twenty-seven of those units will be identified as affordable housing units while three…
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…
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…
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…
As a leader, I try to spend most of my time shining a light on the many positive things happening across our region. And truthfully, that’s easy to do—we live in a community filled with innovation, collaboration, and momentum. But the reality is, not everything we do succeeds. Failure is…
Earlier this month, we proudly broke ground—ceremonially, at least—on the highly anticipated Daisy Brand project in Boone. Though the rain kept us from putting actual shovels in the dirt, it didn’t dampen our excitement or the significance of the moment. We celebrated a $1.2 billion investment coming into our region…
On Episode #004 of the AREA Podcast, Jill Klindt, Chief Financial Officer of Workiva said, “If you’re not building something new, then you’re not growing. So, it’s really important to find the next thing.” I think about this often because it gets at the heart of what drives the Ames…
One of the greatest responsibilities of leadership is building a strong team. Over the years, I’ve learned that the best way to do that is to hire people who are better than you in key areas—and then give them the authority to lead. Too often, leaders hire for comfort rather…
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…
The Ames Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the participants who have been selected for Leadership Ames Class XXXVII: 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…
AgCertain Industries, Inc. has begun its Phase III expansion in the Boone Industrial Park located in Boone, Iowa. AgCertain held a groundbreaking at their Boone campus to announce the construction of Rail Spur B, additional processing and logistics capabilities and the start of planning phases for the industrial campus including…
The Ames Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2023 Inter-City Visit from October 18-20, where city and community leaders from Ames, Boone, and Nevada toured Lafayette and West Lafayette, Indiana, and met with their community leaders. “The goal of the 2023 Inter-City Visit is straightforward,” said Dan Culhane, President & CEO…
Danfoss Power Solutions campus in Ames is undergoing an expansion project that will double the space for engineers to do work on innovative solutions with a focus on sustainability. Known internally as Americas Application Development Center (ADC), the area will focus on research and development and will be available to…
Empire Reality, LLC will be constructing eight market rate rental units on four infill lots in West Boone. The Ringold Estates project will consist of four twin homes. Josh and Heidi Walters, owners of Empire Realty, LLC explain, “This State of Iowa funding is critical to move our Ringold Estates project forward. We…
In a Statewide announcement made Friday, August 11th the following Ames MSA housing projects were awarded Workforce Housing Tax Credits from the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Awarded $1.0 M in state funding assistance, Nevada Flats, LLC will add sixty market rate apartments in the Nevada community when complete. The proposed…
YSS celebrated their ninth Kids Club location with a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, August 1 at the Colo-NESCO Middle/High School. “It’s been a year’s worth of planning and pulling things together and we’re really excited to kick this thing off,” said Marc Snavely, Colo-NESCO Superintendent and Elementary Principal. YSS Kids…
The Iowa Economic Authority (IEDA) has announced funding for two companies in the Ames MSA. State funding has been approved for M.H. Eby, Inc. in Story City and Mid-States Material Handling and Fabrication in Nevada. M.H. Eby, Inc. M.H. Eby was founded in 1938, as a manufacturer of wood livestock…
The Ames Chamber of Commerce is excited to welcome Ottie Maxey to the team as Director of Business Retention & Expansion. “A large part of job growth in any region is the result of businesses and companies growing and expanding,” said Dan Culhane, President & CEO of the Ames Chamber…
Earlier this month, the State of Iowa identified and ranked 96 new “Broadband Intervention Zones” for its Empower Rural Iowa Broadband Grant Program. The status makes areas eligible for “enhanced incentives” and “higher prioritization” for state dollars, according to a news release from the state. These zones identified by local…
Dan Culhane, President & CEO of the Ames Chamber of Commerce, has been selected as this year’s Leadership for Iowa Award winner. The award is presented annually to a past participant of the Leadership Iowa program who exemplifies quality leadership both on a community and statewide level and demonstrates a…
The Ames Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce that Emory Widlowski has been promoted to Director of Events. As Director of Events, Emory Widlowski will continue to manage the planning and organization of events on behalf of the Ames Chamber of Commerce and affiliate organizations. Widlowski has been with…
Earlier this month, we recognized individuals and businesses who have shown exemplary service and commitment in their profession or in the community at our Annual Awards ceremony. This is a tradition that has continued since 1987, and it’s an event that I look forward to each year. This year’s awards…
Author Tommy Spalding was the keynote speaker at our Annual Luncheon event on December 5, 2023, held at Cornerstone Church. His message of servant leadership is one that resonates with me, and I was excited to hear him speak. Leadership is something that I think about often, always aspiring to…
This year’s Inter-City Visit to Lafayette / West Lafayette, Indiana, October 18-20, was an overwhelming success. This was the sixth Inter-City Visit that we have hosted, and each one has delivered on the purpose of learning from comparable communities. When selecting communities to visit, we always try to find those…
This past weekend, I walked my daughter Katie down the aisle and gave her hand to her husband (and my new son-in-law) Hugh. The ceremony and reception were perfect, and I could not be more proud of them as a couple. For some reason, I scheduled my annual physical examination…
I recently finished the book Fans First: Change the Game, Break the Rules, & Create an Unforgettable Experience by Jesse Cole. It was a book that was recommended to me by a colleague, and I must say it is an exceptional (and quick) read. Jesse Cole is the owner of the Savannah…
In July, the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, known to all of us as RAGBRAI, once again visited Ames as an overnight stop. This was the 50th anniversary of the Iowa summer tradition and Ames has been part of it from the beginning. Ames was an overnight stop…
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…
The concept of an escape room is simple: challengers are locked in a room and need to discover clues, solve puzzles, and accomplish tasks in a set amount of time in order to escape from the room. No Escape Iowa offers three levels for challengers: easy, moderate, and hard. Jon…
Woodworking techniques combined with the latest trends and custom graphics is what created the DIY Board & Brush Creative Studio concept. Now with a location in Ames, Board & Brush wants to turn you into a DIY master by educating you to understand and appreciate the beauty of raw materials—the…
Have you ever wanted to learn how to make French macarons, Vietnamese egg rolls, artisanal sourdough, or a delicious apple tart? Consider taking a class at The Recipe, a new culinary venue in Downtown Ames. The venue is owned and operated by Patrick and Mindy Bergstrom, proprietors of other Downtown…
After twelve years of considering proposals for a new hotel or the extensive remodeling of one of the old existing hotels, a group of Ames business leaders organized the Ames Improvement Company to carry out the community’s desire to have a hotel that would meet not only immediate needs but…
Golf simulators, axe throwing, baseball simulators, duckpin bowling, darts, pool tables, shuffle board, cornhole, foosball, Golden tee arcade, and ping-pong, not to mention a full-service bar and kitchen… the newly rebranded Inside Golf & Games has all the ingredients for a great time! “We view ourselves as being a staple…
If you’re looking for a unique night out in Ames, Time Out may be the place for you. A family-owned bar and arcade, Time Out is full of pop culture nostalgia from the 1980’s and 1990’s. Owned and operated by Chris Harding and her sons, Lance Harding and Logan Ristau,…
On any given weekend, people will arrive at The Slater Station in Slater, Iowa, by car, bicycle, or the preferred method of a golf cart, to enjoy the outdoor atmosphere, conversation amongst friends, and a cold one. This summer, the bar celebrated its one-year anniversary of selling drinks in a…
Iowa State University (ISU) was recently named the #1 Entrepreneurial University of the Year for the Americas by the Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities. This latest recognition of Iowa State’s entrepreneurship program is the third national or international award in as many years and is the result of…
In 1996, Anne Taylor and Roger Ossian launched A & R Marketing, a custom screen printing and embroidery company, located in Campustown. For the past 27 years, they have served the business and Iowa State community with apparel marketing needs. Thinking back to those early days, Ossian said “the company…
In 2022, YSS, focused on creating hope and opportunity by putting kids first, launched its Ambassador Program with Gabe Kalscheur as their first-ever YSS Ambassador. Kalscheur, a member of the Iowa State men’s basketball team at the time, engaged in volunteer activities such as helping at the local YSS youth…
Name, image and likeness — more commonly known as NIL — has rapidly become an integral part of collegiate athletics over the past couple of years. The adoption of NIL stems from a 2021 court case, and subsequent NCAA rules change, that allows student-athletes to monetize their personal brand and…
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…
