Pizza Ranch Opening in Carroll

Pizza Ranch will open a new restuarant in the Depot Business Center this fall. They will be located on the east side of the former Wal-Mart structure. Pizza Ranch offers a daily buffet or patrons can order pizza, pasta or chicken off their menu. What a great addition to Carroll's business community. Congratulations to Badding Construction.

Iowa Ranks 2nd in the Nation for Quality of Life

According to Washington based Congressional Quarterly Press when it comes to quality of life, Iowa has jumped to 2nd place. Other states ranked are Wyoming, 1st; New Hampshire, 3rd; Minnesota, 4th; and Nebraska, 5th. The comparison uses a broad range of economic, education, health-oriented, public safety and environmental statistics. Yes, our Midwest values and hard-working people are what makes Iowa a great place to live, work and do business. Proud to be from Iowa and living in Carroll.

March Unemployment Figures

The figures for Iowa's March unemployment have been released and the rate for Carroll County is 3.9%.

Carroll Volunteer Week

The Carroll Chamber of Commerce hosted a Chamber coffee Friday, April 17th in the Harold Bierl Community Room in honor of Carroll Volunteer Week. Mayor Jim Pedelty signed a proclamation naming the week of April 19-25th as Carroll Volunteer Week. Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors were present along with several Chamber volunteers and staff. The Chamber thanks all the volunteers that make Carroll such a vital community.

When Conversations Turn Crucial! Workshop

Mark your calendar for Thursday, June 18th.

The Carroll Chamber of Commerce will be hosting When Conversations Turn Crucial! Mastering conversations is key to supporting high performance in organizations and improving relationships. Managers who can't talk honestly with the right people about the right issues can expect poor results. Learn insights and actions that you can use to make it safe to talk with almost anyone about almost anything. The workshop held at the Carrollton. Sign-in and refreshments at 7:30 am, workshop from 8-9 am. Registration for this fast pace and engaging workshop is only $15.00. Register today by calling the Chamber at 712-792-4383 or email s.schrad@carrolliowa.com.

Welcome Chamber Board Members

Welcome to the Chamber's new blog. As you can see we have a lot of work to do. By the end of the month all the internal comments between staff and board and such will go away and the blog will go "live". At that time we will promote the blog to all Chamber members and anyone who searches for Carroll on the web!

Now is the time to look critically at the blog and make suggestions concerning what you think is important to include here so that the Chamber and community are promoted effectively.

At any time, please contact me with your questions or concerns email, or 792.4383.

CYP Easter Egg Hunt

Ready

Set . .

Go !

Carroll to host Community College Baseball Tournament

This is GOOD baseball! Come out to Merchants Park May 7-11 for the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference tournament. This tournament will have nationally ranked teams from all over the state of Iowa.

The team to watch will be returning tournament champions Des Moines Area Community College (Boone). Coach Dan Fitzgerald and the Bears are currently ranked #2 in the National Junior College Athletic Association polls.

Check the Chamber website closer to tournament time for a complete schedule!

"Khrushchev in Iowa" Celebration Planned in Coon Rapids

Plan to join in a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Russian President Nikita Khrushchev's historic visit to Coon Rapids, Iowa. August 28 there will be a conference and banquet at Hotel Fort Des Moines, and the next day, Saturday, August 29, will be an all-day Agricultural Progress Day in Coon Rapids.

The interchange between Iowans and USSR agricultural managers that began in 1959, led to years of profitable sales of seed and agricultural equipment. In fact, quite a few Coon Rapids residents traveled to Russia and other Iron Curtain countries to set up and provide training on tractors and planting and harvesting equipment.

Check the Chamber Blog often for more updates and links.

2009 Iowa Character Award

Do you know someone that helps people in need? Do you know someone who treats others with respect? Do you have someone special in mind that is a good role model? If you can answer yes to any of these questions, please nominate this person for a 2009 Iowa Character Award.

The 2009 Iowa Character Award nomination deadline is June 15. The categories are as follows:
Business/Organization of Character
Citizen of Character (students and adults)
CHARACTER COUNTS! Community
School of Character
Educator of Character
Pursuing Victory With Honor

Download complete nomination materials online at www.CharacterCountsInIowa.org. Call 515-271-2293 with any questions.

2009 Carroll Magazine

Plans are under way for a new edition of the Carroll Magazine. The 2009 Magazine will be the 4th edition of this special publication. The magazine has proven to be a great marketing tool for businesses and the community.

The outstanding quality and success of the magazine is due the Chamber's great partnership with the Daily Times Herald and Stone Printing. Another key to the successful publication is the wonderful participation of Chamber member businesses.

We hope that is has proven to be a unique and valuable marketing tool for your business and you will consider being part of 2009 edition.

Representative King Hosted Town Hall Meeting

Representative Steve King hosted a town hall meeting at the Carroll Depot Harold Bierl Community Room, April 8, from 8-9:30 AM. There were approximately fifty people in attendance. He gave an update on the legislative happenings. Several topics he spoke specifically on were Iowa legislature's responsibility to pass the Marriage Amendment to the Iowa Constitution and not that of judges legislating from the bench and the massive goverment spending and the debt America is accumulating. There as also a question and answer period held.

When Conversations Turn Crucial! Workshop

Mark your calendar for Thursday, June 18, 2009. The Carroll Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a workshop presented by Shirley Poertner. Shirley will give tools for talking when the stakes are high and what to say next. Mastering conversations is key to supporting high performance in organizations and improving relationships. Watch this blog for more details.

Drees Co. adds Electrical Divsion

Congratulations to Chamber member - Drees Co., and Howie and Sarah Drees. They announced this week that the company would add a commercial electrical division. "It's something we've wanted to do for a number of years," said Howie. The division has already created two jobs in Carroll. Stay tuned for more..