Holiday Recipe Walk

The Carroll Chamber of Commerce Retail Committee is sponsoring a Holiday Recipe Walk on Saturday, December 5. While you are out shopping, stop at the participating stores and enjoy a bite size sample and pick up your FREE recipe.

Chart of the Week

Carroll 2008 Holiday Sales Increase Beats State Average

The Iowa Department of Revenue (IDR) released retail sales for the quarter ending December 31, 2008. This Chart of the Week pulls out Carroll and the ten counties in Iowa whose county seat town's population is closest to Carroll (click HERE to enlarge the chart). IDR's reporting lags about nine months, but is the most current data available on a statewide basis.

City of Carroll's retail sales totaled $56.8 million in the quarter vs. $54.8 million in the same period of 2007. This 3.2% increase is considerably better than the state of Iowa's .2% decrease on sales of $8.88 billion vs. $8.89 billion in 2007.

Of the ten comparably sized communities in Iowa, Carroll's increase of 3.2% ranks 6th. Three communites had decreases. Follow this link to view sales tax reports at the IDR's website.

Carroll's already low crime rate drops even further

In case you missed it, click here to read The Daily Times Herald's coverage of Carroll Police Department's annual report. The lastest crime statistics reflect one of the best reasons to live and work here...a very low crime rate.

Safety is something we tend to take for granted. As Carroll Police Chief Jeff Cayler said in the DTH article, "We're lucky, we really are, to live in this kind of environment. We should count our blessings that we live in an excellent place. A lot of it is due to the cooperative effort of the people who live here, their community pride and our excellent police officers."

Take time today to stop and yourself and others in the community a well-deserved pat-on-the-back.

Shop Carroll

Ridiculous Day

Saturday, July 25th

One Day ONLY

7:00 am - 5:00 pm

Shop Carroll & Save

It's ALIVE!!

Carroll's Central Business District is alive with activity this summer...Corridor of Commerce improvements continue on Adams and Carroll Streets...Maurice's has renewed their lease in Westgate Mall and has begun a substantial remodel...There is "iron in the air" at Carroll County State Bank as their addition and renovation continues...Carroll Auto Supply is improving their storefront...Drees Co. has added an electrical division...Santa Maria Vineyard and Winery is now open with a tasting room serving lunch and dinner and a 300 seat event center...Pizza Ranch is progressing on a new store in the Depot Business Center, as is Carroll Apothecary, which is expanding and relocating there.

So much to do..so much to see.."Carroll, It's All Here!"

Think Carroll 1st

I have been enjoying a bi-monthly newsletter, Business Record Iowa. It has tidbits and links to business news around the state. I always seem to find at least one article of interest. One that caught my eye awhile back was a discussion of buying local. The impulse for the article was a contract signed by the Iowa Department of Economic Development with an out-of-state firm to develop marketing objectives and strategies to attract business and industry to the state. Some think the department responsible growing the state's economy should only do business in Iowa. You can read the article here.

Be sure to read the comments section, where a number of readers share the view that buying local is not a entitlement of business, but that loyal customers are earned. A primary role of a Chamber of Commerce is be to help the local business realize this and understand how to put their business firstin the minds of customers, particularly local customers. Today's buyer is fickle enough... and certainly has enough demands on their time and attention, to be shamed or tricked in to buying local.

A second responsibility to business a Chamber has is to help local businesses get the message out to the consumer that selection, price and service are un-matched when you shop locally. Finally, there is a place for the Chamber make sure that residents understand that the more that is spent locally, the more the entire community prospers through additional employment, the multiplying effect of the local dollar spent, and additional tax revenue to keep the community vibrant and progressive.

Think Carroll 1st! Put local businesses to the test. Visit a local business the next time you're faced with a buying decision...Make them earn your business. You will be pleased with what you find, pleasantly surprised what you pay, and glad you made Carroll a little stronger all the while.