In The News
I’m not sure about you, but I am ready for summer. Indianola has always been a powerhouse for summer events, and we have a great lineup. Not only that, but we have other economic development projects happening around town that will have a positive, long-term affect on our local economy. We are the envy of many communities as we progressively elevate Indianola by investing in our community to attract business, industry and people to live, work and raise families here.
This summer the Indianola Downtown Square will get a badly needed upgrade. Did you know that we have underground water lines on The Square that are 100 years old? It’s time to replace them. The good news is it won’t cost us a dime in taxes, and the best news is we will have a better, safer downtown district that will attract more tax-paying businesses and happy shoppers to our square.
Updating outdated infrastructure is an economic driver for growth, and it’s now more important than ever for our community to focus on place-based economic development. Again, the good news is that after the project is complete, Indianola will have a great place to host events, a place for people to gather, and a safe place for businesses to thrive.
Yes, it’s an investment but 82% ($8.3m) of the cost of the project will secure the safety of residents and businesses and 18% ($1.9m) goes towards beautification. The renovation project is being funded through grants, Tax Increment Financing (TIF), utilities, and local option sales tax. Again, it will not raise our taxes. You can learn more about the project at: www.indianolaiowa.gov.
As you make your summer plans, be sure to put these local favorites on your calendar:
- Friday Night Live Concerts – June 11, June 25, and July 9; Memorial Park 7 – 9:30 pm; www.indianolachamber.com
- Des Moines Metro Opera – July 2 – July 25; www.desmoinesmetroopera.org
- Chamber Golf Open: July 23 – 9 a.m. shotgun start; Indianola Country Club; Register online www.indianolachamber.com
- Warren County Fair – July 28 – August 2; Warren County Fairgrounds; www.warrencofair.com
- National Balloon Classic – July 30 – August 7; National Balloon Classic Memorial Balloon Field; No Parade in 2021; www.nationalballoonclassic.com
I am grateful to everyone in our community who has been supportive of all of our businesses. As always, please LOOK LOCAL for all your professional service and shopping needs before going anywhere else!
