March 28, 2024

Creston Chamber of Commerce happenings

The Creston Chamber of Commerce wears many different hats. I know many people view the chamber as an organization working primarily for promoting and growing our various businesses in the area, and that is one of our primary objectives, but we are also viewed as a source of information for people and businesses outside of Creston who desire to know more about our community. We are also a place where Creston residents can turn for answers. I hope all of you visit the chamber's website at www.crestoniowachamber.com regularly. It is a great source of information about our community, and the calendar of events found on our home page is updated regularly.

The chamber also works very hard to promote and showcase Creston, as well as being a leadership organization, which works to unify and map a course for Creston’s future development. With this in mind, I would like to detail some of the various committees and groups within the Creston Chamber of Commerce or that we will partner with over the next few months.

The chamber takes the lead in the promotion of tourism for our area. Creston/Union County Tourism continues to increase the visibility of our area, our various tourism attractions and events. Highlighting a few of the things we are doing include our ad in the 2019 Iowa Travel Guide and information and ads in various other publications both printed and on the internet.

In addition to these efforts, the chamber office sends out information and brochures to Iowa Welcome Centers and attractions across the state and to other states and other media outlets in a continuing effort to make people aware of our great area and what we have to offer.

Another method used to reach individuals who might want to visit our area is through the internet. In the past few years, more and more people are using the internet to gather information, and we have continued to grow our presence there. Besides the chamber website, there is the Union County Tourism website at www.unioncountyiowatourism.com. It is an excellent source of information about Creston and Union County. In addition to the two websites, we are also active on Facebook and Twitter, all of these providing a digital front door, to the community which sees tens of thousands of visits per year.

I would also like to pass along the 2019 edition of Southern Iowa Tourism tabloid is now available at the chamber office and various other locations in our area. If you are looking for things to do in our corner of the world, this is a great place to get ideas. The tabloid includes information not only on Creston and Union County, but also Adair, Clarke, Decatur, Ringgold, Taylor and Wayne counties.

Creston Sesquicentennial update

History of Creston

The Sesquicentennial Advisory Committee in conjunction with a group from the Union County Historical Village is in the process of updating the written history of Creston, which has not been done since 1969. If you would like your business, organization or group included, please email a narrative of no more than a 1,000 words, subject to editing, to the chamber prior to Feb. 26. The narrative needs to be typed in Times New Roman, font 11. We would love to have you included. If you have any questions, please contact Ellen.

Be part of the Sesquicentennial sculpture

Individuals wishing to have a part in the creation of the sesquicentennial sculpture may drop off ferrous materials such as wrenches, hand tools, chain and other metal objects at the Creston Chamber Office, 208 West Taylor St., to have them incorporated into the artwork. If you have a larger item, please call, so it can be picked up. It can be one item or many. Let’s make it a community project.

Did you know?

Please see below – positive, interesting facts about a business, organization or individual in Creston. If you have information you would like to share in Did you know?, please contact Ellen.

Did you know that Hammer Medical Supply is now NuCara Home Medical? Same great people and products.

Did you know that DK Events was recently sold and is now GD Events? They can be reached by calling 641-782-4135.

Did you know that before the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901, McKinley Park was known as Lake Park?

Upcoming Legislative Coffees

During the 2019 Legislative session, the chamber will provide you an opportunity to offer our Legislators written questions during Legislative Coffees. The coffees have been scheduled at 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, March 9 and April 13, in the mealsite at the restored Creston Depot. They last for an hour. Currently State Representative Tom Moore and State Senator Tom Shipley are planning to attend. Please mark your calendars now, and plan on attending one or all of the sessions. All coffees are open to the public at no charge.

Hi-Five Honorees

The following individuals were honored with the Hi-Five Honor in February – Congratulations to Paul Daniels of Taco John’s, Lori Means of Lori’s Boutique and William Drake of Creston Walmart.

The Hi-Five for Service allows us to recognize those who make shopping and doing business in Creston a rewarding and positive experience. Please call the chamber with your honoree.

Gold Star Business honored

The chamber honored KSIB Radio this month as the February Gold Star Business in Creston. They were nominated by their fellow Crestonians because of the appearance both inside and out of their building and property. Congratulations.

Please call the chamber, if you would like to acknowledge a business property.

Have a great month and remember, Creston – A great place to visit, work and call home.