Last month, Creston was announced as one of the eight stops in the 44th Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI), a weeklong cycling event that will include an estimated 10,000 cyclists this year.
Cyclists are set to ride into Creston July 25.
That’s less than six months away. So this month, preparations for the community event will begin. Ellen Gerharz, executive director with Creston Chamber of Commerce, addressed Creston City Council Tuesday evening.
“We need volunteers right now,” Gerharz said. “Have your friends, relatives, acquaintances and neighbors call the Chamber. We will be compiling a list of volunteers so we can begin forming committees.”
RAGBRAI recommends having 1,000 volunteers. City officials said volunteers are needed before and during the event.
Gerharz said eventually these volunteers will form 19 committees. Some of those committees include entertainment, sanitation, housing, ride right, food and vendors, publicity, electricity and more. Gerharz added that a Creston RAGBRAI 2016 Facebook has been launched and a Twitter page should be created this week.
“This is a great opportunity to showcase Creston and southwest Iowa,” Gerharz said, “but we are going to need all hands on deck.”
Estimates have shown RAGBRAI can bring in $3 million a day to local economies, which includes gas, meals and other items.
Volunteers can call the Chamber at 641-782-7021.
Creston has not hosted RAGBRAI in 19 years. Creston was an overnight town in 1997 and 1984.
This year, RAGBRAI organizers tout the route as the third-shortest course, the 24th flattest and 15th easiest. All stops include Glenwood, Shenandoah, Creston, Leon, Centerville, Ottumwa, Washington and Muscatine.
Gerharz added the entire route cyclists will take to and out of Creston will not be announced until early March.
“That (route) will be in coordination with road construction in different counties,” said Mike Taylor, city administrator.