In The News

It’s the Season to Reflect


December is a good time to reflect upon 2021 and plan for 2022.  It’s also a perfect time to pause and give thanks for our family, friends and countless blessings, not to mention share some comfort, joy, and gratitude. So, as you reflect, take a moment to see how you can spread some holiday cheer to others and to ask yourself what you truly are grateful for this year.


Does your family love the sparkle and magic of holiday lights? Local neighborhoods, working with our Hometown Pride Committee, have turned their streets into Holiday Lanes of lights and Pickard Park has lighted displays to share with your family and friends. Your family can follow the holiday lane map that will be posted at https://www.facebook.com/indianolahometownpride/. Share some joy with others by making a donation at Pickard Park as you enjoy the sights. All proceeds will go to Helping Hand of Warren County and the Heal House. Find more holiday fun at indianolachamber.com. 


Are you making that list and checking it twice and intentionally finding gifts at one of our local businesses? There is no better way to show your gratitude to our local businesses than to make the choice to shop local and show our small businesses how important they are to our local economy. I guarantee they are grateful to you and all of their loyal customers. There’s no better way to share some holiday cheer than buying local this season. 


Have you thought about gathering with family and friends for a night out? We have some awesome entertainment venues and businesses, not to mention restaurants, bars, breweries, and wineries who would love to see you. If you have a large group, be sure to call ahead. While they are happy to see you, please remember that staffing continues to be an issue for many. The gift of patience will be greatly appreciated as some of our businesses navigate continued workforce shortages.


Do you have family or neighbors that could use your help? I am certain they would be grateful for a warm meal or tasty treat, ride to the doctor’s office, snow removal, or just a warm cup of coffee and friendly conversation.  There’s no greater gift than making another person’s day better.

The Indianola Chamber is grateful for all of our investors and businesses who support our work to build a strong local economy and thriving community. Thank you. Our community is better because of you.


Happy Holidays!

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President’s Message to Indianola Chamber Investors Your investment in the Indianola Chamber of Commerce is so much more than a membership. It’s a partnership that strengthens our community, supports local businesses, and drives meaningful progress for everyone. Thanks to your support, we’ve accomplished incredible things together this past year. Some of our 2024 highlights include: New Businesses: Celebrated 25 new businesses opening their doors in Indianola. New Members: Welcomed 53 businesses to our Chamber community. Member Promotions: Successfully promoted Chamber member news and 543 member events, with a reach of over 300,000 on social media channels and an open rate of over 50% open rate in Chamber in communications. Impactful Events: Hosted events that brought members together and showcased the vibrancy of our community. Main Street Designation: Helped lead the charge to be one of two communities to earn the Main Street designation from the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Tourism Launch: Welcomed visitors to Indianola through enhanced tourism marketing and our Experience Indianola campaigns, showcasing the best our community has to offer, including hosting bus tour visitors from multiple states that made a $50,000+ impact. RAGBRAI: Spearheaded efforts to bring over 20,000 RAGBRAI riders to the front door of our downtown business community. Advocacy: Advocated for local businesses by driving initiatives that support growth, visibility, and collaboration. Economic Growth: Provided support to developers who are bringing to Indianola over 500 housing units, commercial development, and attractions that will drive significant economic growth. These achievements are a direct reflection of the investment you have made in the Chamber’s work. Your support matters. It fuels everything we do. Here’s what’s new and exciting for 2025: Major Event Twist: We’re turning Summer Nights Live into something extraordinary— the Dad’s Rock Festival, taking place over Father’s Day weekend! With great band acts, fun experiences, and unique activities like a BBQ competition, Iowa's largest man cave, and more, we expect to draw visitors from all over. This is an incredible opportunity to bring a crowd and for your business to be part of this exciting event. Celebrating the Best of Indianola: At our Annual Chamber Celebration, in addition to a fun awards show recognizing 2024 award winners, we’ve added the Taste of Indianola, a unique experience and competition where a restaurant will be recognized as The Best of Indianola for 2025. This is a fantastic chance to experience the local culinary scene while celebrating our Chamber community. New Digital Marketing Summit: We will continue our popular Business Series events with the addition of a new Digital Marketing Summit. This educational event will help businesses stay ahead in an ever-evolving digital landscape and provide valuable insights for growing their online presence. Expanded Advertising Options: New this year, we’re offering enhanced advertising opportunities to include your brand in some of our most highly visible communications. This is a fantastic way to stay top of mind with Chamber members and the community. Tourism Packages: Through the Experience Indianola website and campaigns, your business or organization can shine in front of visitors and locals alike. 100% of the proceeds of the tourism packages will go towards advertising our community. If you are a tourism-friendly business or organization, we look forward to connecting with you to discuss the year ahead and ensure you have every opportunity to participate in this exciting initiative. Enhanced Investor Membership Levels: We’ve added even more value to our investor memberships, with additional advertising, social media promotions, and tourism marketing opportunities. These enhancements are packed with ways to help your business stand out. Be sure to explore our new 2025 Membership, Marketing & Sponsorship packet for information on how you can leverage the Indianola Chamber in 2025. The packet can be found HERE . Thank you for being an essential part of our Chamber family. We’re excited to make 2025 our most impactful year yet—with your partnership leading the way. Enjoy your holidays with your family and Happy New Year! Warm regards, Amanda Zwanziger Amanda Zwanziger President & CEO Indianola Chamber of Commerce 515-961-6269 amanda@indianolachamber.com
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