Get Into All Things Grinnell through this regular recap of community activities, events and opportunities!
Nearly two years ago to the day, we received news that Grinnell's application as an Iowa Reinvestment Act District was officially approved by the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Since receiving this news a number of people and projects have sprung into action. While large-scale projects can take an incredible amount of time to come to fruition, some exciting things are on the horizon, with a couple of them targeted for completion in the next few months!
The application included a number of projects: repurposing the Community Center into a Boutique Hotel & Event Center, a Central Park makeover, the final phase of downtown reconstruction, Grinnell College campus improvements, and new projects located in the 'Zone of Confluence' - part of the area between campus and community. Essentially, the Reinvestment Act allows state taxes collected over a period of time to be reinvested into these projects.
As with many ventures, there always seems to be a fair amount of skepticism, but I want to spend some time today providing an update on these projects. Firstly, Central Park is really coming together and is anticipated to be open by early fall! If you've not taken the time recently, I would encourage you to check it out: the stage and shelter areas are nearing completion, and the crew will soon begin work on the splash pad, final grading and seeding the area. Downtown street reconstruction is also on the 2017 calendar - crews are currently working on 5th Avenue between Park & State Streets, and once this portion is finished, will be moving to Broad Street between 5th & 6th Avenues with anticipated completion in November.
Hotel Grinnell, the downtown boutique hotel and event center, is anticipating opening in just 60 days (and is currently looking to hire nearly 50 employees)! Having begun construction just seven months ago, this one has been in fast-forward, and is using many local contractors. This adaptive reuse project is transforming the 1921 Junior High School (most recently the community center and city offices) into a 45-room hotel, 350-seat ballroom, 550-seat auditorium, lobby bar and outdoor patio. Hotel Grinnell is independent and unique, and will strive to offer an authentic local experience.
The College continues to acquire land in the Zone of Confluence, and has swapped the land directly north of St. Mary's Catholic Church for the St. Mary's Religious Education Center across the street on Broad. St. Mary's has begun construction on their new center, and is currently leasing the building across the street from the College for $1/month until their new space is complete.
Grinnell College has broken ground on their Humanities and Social Studies Complex (HSSC) on campus, and the new portion of the building is beginning to emerge. Plans for the 196,000-square-foot complex include renovation and revitalization of Alumni Recitation Hall (ARH) and Carnegie Hall. When the complex is ready for occupancy in the fall of 2020, it will include 40 classrooms complete with advanced technology to support changes in education, 145 faculty offices, team and social spaces, and a redesigned auditorium.
All of these projects combined have great potential to attract more people to our community and downtown. We will keep you updated as these projects continue to come together. Exciting things ahead!
Much of our work is spent strengthening the local Grinnell community, and as such, it's important that we work with the other communities in our region. The old adage that we're stronger together is so true and we can accomplish great things when we work together. You may not know that our Chamber of Commerce is a member of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, which is a powerhouse regional chamber in Des Moines. We work together with the Partnership and its 23 affiliate chamber of commerces to work toward a common goal of strengthening central Iowa as a great place to do business and raise families. Our local chamber members are all members of the Des Moines Partnership, which represents over 6,000 business members and is the 4th largest chamber in the nation. I think that speaks volumes for the collaboration, and regionalism, happening in our state.
It's easy for those of us in Grinnell to look at Des Moines as a giant and opponent, but the great things happening there can have ripple effects felt throughout the region. Rather than working in our own bubble, we aim to collaborate with our counterparts and neighbors in other communities to learn from each other and grow stronger together.
Just last week, I was fortunate to be part of the Greater Des Moines Partnership's Annual Des Moines to DC trip, along with a couple others from our community. Not only did we have the chance to talk with our elected delegation and their staffs about a number of issues important to the continued growth and vibrancy of our community, but we were able to network with more than 200 business leaders from the Central Iowa region. We were encouraged by the support and encouragement from our peers, and are excited to work with them in a variety of ways in the coming months as we continue to strengthen many newfound relationships.
As your chamber of commerce, we spend much of our time collaborating with others. Not only in our community, but within our region, making Grinnell and Central Iowa an amazing place to live, learn, work and play.
This week we celebrate National Tourism Week. We all have those favorite vacations we've taken, places we're excited to go visit next, or trips you're dreaming of planning. Most of us look forward to getting out of town for the weekend and relaxing but have you ever thought about being tourist in our own community?
We all have our go-to dinner place in town, but instead of doing a whole meal in one spot have you done a Progressive Dinner? We've got one mapped out for you on our website but with the wide range of great restaurants in Grinnell, the combinations are endless!
After months of rain and chilly temperatures, what better way to welcome summer than by getting out to one of the parks or the sweeping bike trails! Don't forget, Grinnell Games is right around the corner with a whole weekend of family fun activities geared toward getting everyone outside!
If you need a break from the great outdoors, stop in the Faulconer Art Gallery and take in some of the great collections they have throughout the year. Currently on display is Robert Hodierne's Vietnam War Photographs. This chilling collection gives you a look inside the war through the eyes of a Grinnell College student. Don't forget to stop by The Loft Theatre and catch one of the locally-produced features or a national show while you're out!
We could go on and on with ideas on how to be a tourist in Grinnell but the most important part is that you get out and experience everything our community has to offer. There's nothing more we want than to show the world how great Grinnell is but we need your help doing it. So go, get out there and take in Grinnell. And the next time someone asks you where to take a weekend trip, tell them about the Jewel of the Prairie.
They may be small, but they are mighty. Grinnell's small businesses are integral to making our community thrive. As we celebrate National Small Business Week, we recognize their ongoing commitment and thank our small businesses who work hard to serve our community. For many decades, this week has highlighted the impact of amazing entrepreneurs, small business owners and their employees, and we are proud to celebrate our small businesses in Grinnell.
Small businesses are critical to the economy and viability of communities. More than half of Americans own or work for a small business and those businesses create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. every year through their innovation and growth. The Small Business Association (SBA) has several definitions of 'small', but generally speaking they reference businesses with less than 500 employees. Of course this means the majority of businesses in Grinnell qualify under this category so while a business of 75+ employees may feel large to us in a small community, we recognize them as a small business this week.
In honor of Small Business Week, we encourage you to look local for the goods and services that meet your everyday needs. Although not everything you need can be found in Grinnell, pledging to look local first is a way to directly give back to our community. Our small businesses play an important role in making Grinnell a wonderful place to live, learn, work, and play.
As this week comes to a close, let's remember the importance of looking local. Please join me in saying THANK YOU to the small businesses that make Grinnell a more prosperous community!
Make a difference. Meet new people. Be part of community. Learn new skills. Volunteering has many benefits to volunteers as well as the organizations they serve. On this national week recognizing volunteers, we'd like to say a sincere and heartfelt THANK YOU to each of you who help our community organizations make a difference.
It can be hard to find time to volunteer, but many organizations in our community depend on volunteer support to move their missions forward. Did you know the Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation and its partner organizations were served by over 500 individuals, including board members and volunteers who carry out their mission, in the last year alone?
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id you know the chamber's board of directors is all volunteer? We appreciate the time and talent they each bring to our organization. We also utilize volunteers at nearly every event we do! Friday Fest, Grinnell Games, Grinnell on the Fourth, Jingle Bell Holiday, are all made possible with the support of individuals just like you, even several of you. For that we are grateful.
Additionally our office (Louis Sullivan Jewel Box Bank) is kept open on weekends throughout the year because of the commitment from a core group of docents. If you're interested in architecture, greeting visitors or simply spending time in one of the most beautiful buildings in Grinnell, please contact our office. We're always looking for new folks to get involved. We'll even be holding a volunteer training (and update for existing volunteers!) on Saturday, May 20 at 9:00am. Respond to this email if you're interested in attending and learning more.
Small communities are founded and driven on core values. Their citizens, their businesses and their volunteers work together to make things happen. If you already volunteer in some capacity, thank you. If you'd like to get more involved, please consider joining your fellow Grinnellians by volunteering and making a positive impact on our community.
Have you ever heard someone say, "The only constant is change"? In an ever-evolving world, this phrase couldn't be more true. But change is generally not easy, and we were reminded of that this week as a couple businesses announced upcoming closures.
Businesses and their owners are faced with difficult decisions every day: where to spend marketing dollars, what products to carry, etc. Perhaps the biggest decision they face is choosing the time to close their doors. Unfortunately that decision became a reality for two of our downtown businesses this week: Gamers and Memories Maid. I hope you had the opp
ortunity to patronize their businesses during the time they were open, but if you have not I would encourage you stop by in the next few weeks. We are confident they have grown throughout the process of owning their businesses and are excited to see what the future holds for them as individuals. Please remember, these are individuals who took a risk to open a small business in downtown Grinnell and we recognize their accomplishments and commitment to community.
Do not fret or start to worry about the future of downtown; many people are committed to ensuring the success of downtown for years to come and are working diligently to make this happen. There are many things in the works, and I believe there will be some exciting announcements in the future.
In the meantime, please make sure you continue to support the existing businesses in our community. Shopping local truly is critical to their long-term success.
--Rachael Kinnick
It's that time of year again - our office is busy preparing for many warm-weather activities! Grinnell Games, presented by Grinnell State Bank, is just 59 days away! Make sure to mark your calendar for June 16th - 18th to bring your family out for another great weekend of activities. Returning events include the popular 5k Warrior Run on Friday night, co-ed sand volleyball tournament and UV Splash run/walk on Saturday, and the 5K run on Sunday morning.
We've also added two new events to this year's lineup. Saturday's activities will kick off with a Sprint Triathlon which will start with a swim in the Natatorium at Grinnell College, a bike ride out on the trails near Rock Creek State Park, and a run through downtown Grinnell. You can complete the whole thing yourself or sign up as a team of 3 to tackle this event!
Saturday afternoon, take a bike ride through downtown Grinnell, as a part of another new event, "Tour de Grinnell". This family-fun ride will bring you to some of Grinnell's favorite shops and treat you to a scenic tour of the latest art installations in town.
In addition to these great events, a Movie Under the Stars will be held Friday night, the Lil Warrior Run returns Saturday morning followed by free field day activities Saturday afternoon and Sunday.
For more information on these events and to register, visit www.grinnellgames.com
Interested in volunteering? We’d love to have your help – along with your spouse, your frineds, your neighbors, your teammates, your church group, and anyone else you know! Sign up for a shift here - volunteers for at least one shift and get a free t-shirt!
There are only a couple weeks left of summer vacation, and chances are you have a lot left to squeeze in. Here are some ideas of things to do with the family before school starts up again!
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1. Go for a final swim at the Grinnell Mutual Family Aquatic Center. August 23rd is the last day of the season!
2. Enjoy live music at Music in the Park on Thursdays through August 25.
3. Relax at the final Movie Under the Stars tomorrow night.
4. Treat yourself to an ice cream cone from Dari Barn, McNally's or Candyland Station.
5. Go for a ride on the bike trail.
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6. Challenge friends to a game of disc golf at Lake Nyanza.
7. Take in the scenery at Rock Creek State Park and Krumm Nature Preserve.
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8. Stock up on fresh, locally grown tomatoes from the Grinnell Farmers Market.
9. Get in a round of golf at Grinnell College Golf Course or Oakland Acres Golf Club.
10. Take the kids to a story hour at Drake Community Library.
11. Start your back to school shopping right here in Grinnell!
How else do you like to soak up these last days of summer? Leave us a comment with your suggestions!
A Movie In The Making (For Real)
Did you know there's a movie being filmed in Grinnell this month? The independent feature film tells a fictional story of two sisters who reconnect with each other over their shared love of music during the course of one summer in Grinnell. It is a modern-day musical that includes ten original songs, and is named "Saints Rest" after the coffee shop, which is the primary location of the film.
Filmmaker Noga Ashkenazi graduated from Grinnell College in 2009 and describes the film as a "love song to Grinnell". I think it is amazing that our community left such an impression on Noga that she chose to spend the past three years writing and producing a film that showcases her favorite places here.
Filming began a couple weeks ago, and we had a chance to meet the cast and crew last week. One of the actresses who had never visited Grinnell until now told me that Grinnell feels like a charming town that fell straight out of a storybook and onto Earth. She was wowed by our pretty town and welcoming people. I wish I had gotten her description of our community on camera!
The crew is wrapping up their final day of filming inside Saints Rest today, so the coffee shop will be back open for regular business tomorrow! They will continue filming at other locations around town, so watch for them out and about. If you'd like to be involved in the film, there are upcoming opportunities to volunteer as an extra:
If you are interested in being an extra, you may email Katie In at kathrynsoheein@gmail.com to sign up.
We look forward to a premiere of Saints Rest here in Grinnell next year! The film will be screened at the Sundance Film Festival and other venues, and is expected to become available to a wider audience in 2017.
In the meantime, please make an extra effort to get out and support our Grinnell businesses! Many storefronts have limited visibility and sidewalk access this summer due to the facade construction taking place downtown plus filming of the movie. Ridiculous Day sidewalk sales are this Saturday, which are a perfect opportunity to get out and do some shopping right here in Grinnell!
Ridiculous Day is from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday at more than 20 shops this year! Participants include Anna Kayte's Clothing Boutique, Bates Flowers by DZyne, Beauty Hair & Nails, Beckman Gallery II, Bill's Jewelry Shop, Brown's Shoe Fit, Gamers, Giggles & Bows, Loralei's Giftshoppe, Luther Floor Covering, Malcom Lumber, Memories Maid, Paul's ACE Hardware, Phase 2 Consignments, Pioneer Bookshop, Starnes TV & Appliance, Stepping Stones Christian Bookstore, Tea Rose Trinkets, The Music Shop, Total Choice Shipping & Printing, Van Wall Equipment, Village Decorating Studio, and Wagon Wheels West. Find Ridiculous Day details, including a list of each store's sales, on our website.
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Are you one of Facebook's billion active users? Odds are, a majority of our readers have an account and at least log in occasionally to check out what your friends are up to, or perhaps your favorite businesses or attractions. Did you know that 75% of businesses have a presence on social media, with the majority of those having a Facebook page? Social media is a great, and fairly inexpensive way, for businesses to reach their clients and potential customers. With over one billion active users on Facebook, there are bound to be some good opportunities for businesses to connect with social media users.
Earlier this year, we decided to offer an educational series, open to both chamber members and non-members alike, focusing on what can sometimes be a challenging component of any business: marketing. We chose to plan this series of workshops because marketing is essential to our local businesses, but it is constantly evolving and our businesses are interested in learning ways to improve their marketing and communication avenues with their customers.
On July 21, we will host the first in our Marketing Power Hour series titled 'Social Media to Grow Your Business's Reach' for businesses or anyone who manages a social media account that is looking for tips and tricks. Jessie Brown, social media manager for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, will be our featured speaker. Attendees will learn about current marketing trends and techniques applicable to community organizations, small businesses and large corporations. Whether you represent a new or established organization, the Marketing Power Hour will be a great opportunity to learn marketing strategies from experts in the field.
Advance registration is required, and those interested in attending may register at www.grinnellchamber.org/en/
If you are one of a billion, we encourage you to 'like' our local businesses on social media. Social media provides an avenue to connect with our local businesses and organizations and stay up-to-date with what they're doing.
