Victoria Helling, Executive Director, Boone County Chamber of Commerce and Holly Stecker, Executive Director, Downtown Boone, Mainstreet, May 07, 2026

Today we're going to talk about your Boone County Chamber of Commerce Victoria Hellings back. Good morning. Good morning And joining you we've got our executive director of downtown Boone Main Street program. Oh, I stuck her. Good morning. Thank you for being here. Hey We've got a lot of things that are happening a busy time of the year. It's spring time. Okay, and Spring has sprung. Yeah, I know it depends just how cool it keeps getting here Got those challenges, but hey Those are some of the things we have to deal with especially get a lot of outdoor activities and things that are going on So Victoria, you came in a special little visit that we had to kind of kick off a lot of the things about Puffer Billy days, I know still working on that getting a logo things like that. So not a lot of new things right now Correct. So Puffer Billy is going to be September 18th through 20th this year We do have the theme which is through the decades, but yes, we are finalizing our logo So that should be posted within the next couple weeks and then there will be opportunities for Pre-order for merchandise. Okay. I was gonna say memorabilia time. Yes. Yes It's always about getting the colors and stuff like that including the buttons are back. Oh, yeah buttons coming back. So Obviously, you got you got your Puffer Billy committee. I'm guessing are they staying pretty much on task? Absolutely, we're meeting every couple weeks now Yeah, so yes, we have such a great team that we're working with and I'm I'm excited for what we're what we're rolling out for the 50th anniversary of Puffer Billy and one of the things I know we touched on is with the website Gradually you're going to be getting updated information on the Puffer Billy pages. So people should keep checking that Correct. All the communications going to go mostly through our Facebook page was his Puffer Billy days So I would definitely follow like and follow that so that way you'll know when we release information about vendor applications You know just exciting events that we'll be posting throughout the next couple months So that would be the place to follow. There you go and and or come in and volunteer if you want Absolutely, there will also be a Volunteer application posted as well. We definitely are going to need all hands on deck this year It's going to be an amazing celebration So looking forward to as more information becomes available We'll get it out there, but kind of just going with the committee and you're trying to cover as much as you can at this point So that was one thing that we had touched on last time was we had applications open Looking for an operations communications person and how's it been progressing? It's been wonderful. We did extend an offer and it was accepted So there will be more information on that applicant Fourth coming so we'll get a breaking news. You'll get breaking news

Obviously golf outing that's your next big event, right? Yes. So on Friday, June 12th We will be having our annual golf classic at Cedar Point Golf Very excited this year for that one. We have a special offering for our participants. Okay. What's this? So you will have the opportunity to win an all-expense paid package to Pebble Beach For getting a hole in one on Cedar Point's famous hole for number four Lucky number four and that will include airfare hotel and a round of golf for two not the easiest hole in one Well, they have to make it challenging You got you got to have some because basically, you know, you get insured for this and What you got to do some but I believe in our expert golfers and I feel like we're gonna have someone give You know very lucky and win that. Okay. I'll include the package sign up going. Well, I again, you know I think some were just waiting for it. So I Know I feel like a lot. We're just waiting for it. So we're we're nearly at half capacity and the registration does close on May 29th Okay, so we just have a couple weeks left on that So their registration website has been posted to our Facebook page. Okay, we're utilizing a website called charity golf today That keeps everything organized for us. So that's been posted on the Facebook page so information on registration as well as volunteering opportunities and Sponsorships are all listed on that website and you can do an easy online check out through that website So if you'd like your business to get a little high profile a little more profile Absolutely, and and this year we do have a lot of different sponsorship opportunities ranging from $100 to 2500 because that was something that was requested by some of our, you know, smaller local businesses Can you get something to get my name out there? But yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Great opportunity That's that's part of the chamber. You got have that flexibility, right? Absolutely. Absolutely Holley you went to give a quarterly update to the council the other night and Said by the way, we're gonna be going to a Main Street event Yes Tonight we are attending the Main Street, Iowa's 40th anniversary Awards leader awards and leadership dinner where our very own Booney George Eckstein is receiving The first of Boone's leadership awards for his volunteerism Throughout his lifetime, but Significantly with the arch mostly the most recently the arch was yes one of the drivers there So yeah, I've got that but yeah, he's done a lot a lot over the years. Yes Yeah, and so that'll be coming up. Well at least what will we get a picture? We hope yes I should have a press release available tomorrow. All right good Okay, yeah, you did talk about at the at the council meeting It just hit a couple of quick highlights about some of the things over the last quarter But you really wanted to talk more about grants that are available opportunities and we've talked about the Main Street Grants in the past highly competitive. Yes, not easy to be successful with but you can I get if you put together a good Enough project, but there's a lot of other grants that are out there and I know you've been talking to your businesses your partners Here there are opportunities to do things correct and I would like to Again, we spoke at Council on Monday night in regards to the our very own KWBG building here receiving downtown Boone's first mural and this is a project in Collaboration with the Edge students and the project Palooza Group as well as downtown Boone The students identified a mural as a project that they wanted to see get off the ground We identified the KWBG building Excuse me the north wall of the building we identified it as a good candidate for the city's BDIF grant, which is grant up to $1,000 and We'll get that wall ready and then the students will paint the partnership aspect there ace hardware is matching 50% for the paint and Then downtown Boone has the downtown Boone beautification grant. Yeah, and this is a grant that's up to $1,000 for Any downtown district business It's an essay form for the application the essay form You just apply the Main Street principles to your project so it can be interior exterior you just apply the principles and again in an essay format and we were able to stack those grants and really come in for a mural project at a Nominal cost for those that are wondering. No, it's not our garage our overhead door But it is it is right. It's right right to the east of that there It's the basically it's at the large gray sharia that yeah We just need to have have a little work done on that and then once that's done it'll be ready to go Yep, so kudos to KWBG for getting the south facing wall Mural ready a few years ago. That's just quite an extensive project for one of our first hitters Yeah, so we identified the smaller 18 by 9 foot section on the north side Smaller bite of that. It's a good way to start and by the way the committee or that group They painted the garbage cans. I mean, you know, you've used them a lot. Yes the edge program last year. We had the Trash cans at the green space were painted as well as the fabrication class did the tree grates Which then went on to win a blue ribbon at the Iowa State Fair

Amazing It's Gerald. It's Gerald. He had the he had the kids that wanted to do it. So It's good too. So now the grants and there are a variety of grants. So you're aware of those and Opportunities so businesses do have Startup boom grants, you know jumpstart boon things like that. There are a bit for businesses that want to do things There are opportunities 100% my Call to action today might be if you're within the district just shoot me an email Give me a call stop in the office and let me know what's on your mind and we'll figure out a way to get it finished Might be a five-year project might be something we can tackle yet this summer. Just reach out. Okay now You've also gonna do some things for rag bright coming up. Correct. So this is a very exciting announcement the downtown boon business support grant is Granting $50 and reimbursement for any food and beverage Business within the district again when you put yourself on the rag bright map We will reimburse you $50 of that 200. So there's there's a charge to be on the map, correct Which rag bright riders look at that's what they want and this map will be in the hands of 26,000 riders the day before they're in boon as well as the day they are in boon. So if you are Selling anything you want to be on this map. So again You're within the district which the main street district right downtown. So that's what we've got. Yep. So if you're gonna be there Get a little bit of reimbursement. That's good. Correct. The the deadline on The map is on the map is May 15th. Yeah, so My only have a week or so. Yep. Exactly. So I've got packets to hand out this week But if you haven't seen me and you're wondering about this again, just reach out call email Stop in the chamber office. You'll catch me there. Okay, Victoria back to you back to chambers You did last time when you came actually not last time because we talked just puffer-billy days there But before that you talked about the lead program how it was coming to an end And we're getting ready for graduation, but they had a community project They did so our lead graduates participated in a community service project at mckhose park So that was very exciting as part of this program, you know, in addition to Professional development, you know, we also want to have that community service aspect where we can give back So yes, that was that was a wonderful project that they just participated in Our lead graduation is coming up. That's going to be on May 13th So we're going to be able to celebrate these graduates and they're gonna have official certificates that they are given and we're also gonna have a Really wonderful speaker coming to join us Reynolds Kramer from fairway is gonna come speak to our group and motivate and inspire them And then yeah, we'll be looking forward to our next program starting at the fall of 2026 and there will be applications posted for that if you'd like to participate or someone within your company would like to participate You'd like to sign them up Will be in the fall early fall of 2026 when that'll be posted So that was one of the questions I had for you was this particular program and stuff because you've been through these kinds of things and seen them Do you like what's structured there? What's been happening? Is it something to build off? Absolutely. So with this program, there's you know, it runs from the fall to the spring Okay, and these participants are growing not just as Business professionals, but also as individuals. So we discuss everything from leadership to handling sensitive You know communications with your staff. I feel like this program we've gotten so much great feedback We send out a survey and everyone was thrilled about what they the the value that they received from being part of this program So we have speakers come in each month and talk on specific subject matters Dealing with business development workforce development and things of the nature as well as visiting some of our local businesses and learning I say learning from the pros but learning from Boone Boone County Hospital learning from you know, some of the larger organizations to help mentor and You know really share their knowledge I was going to say that some of the participants that were doing presentations of very successful business people and Why reinvent the wheel And you know that that's something that mentorship piece of being part of the chamber of being a chamber member having these you know seasoned business professionals that you have access to and Can help, you know lead you guide you and grow you as a business is really I feel one of the the big benefits of being a chamber member So we're looking at that again. Yes Some other things that other things that are coming up outside of the fact you just keep working on Puffer bill Like Puffer billy is you know what I mean one of those things that's

Right now it's kind of yeah again Kind of dominates a lot of things that you're working to but you still have all your other things you got your red coats going out Yes, we actually we just had a ribbon cutting this morning at held space, which is a it's a Right off of Arden 710 Arden and it offers in addition to massage therapy and things like that She houses a I would say a health and wellness center. So she has lots of different You know participants there who are providing different services, you know all from Esthetician services massage therapy and she's even bringing in some mental health professionals To offer therapy. So that's something that'll be coming soon So very exciting to have this this business right outside my right outside my door

Holly you have coming soon to June Farmers market the farmers market will be back. It will be back on Story Street also between 9th and 8th Street and we've got our a Standard staple and caps Reinhardts and Wilbur's will be coming back as well as a handful of new vendors as well Okay, every Thursday three to six Okay, and one Thursday a month entertainment one Thursday a month will be that entertainment That's the third Thursday. Okay. So again makes it all in and again Story Street's gonna be blocked for this folks. Correct. Well, I got a little busy I mean when they were over in the green space area over there and six 28 I mean, but everybody was kind of crowding over there and then how many parking spaces we People are walking around. It's it's more of a carnival atmosphere when you get in the middle Yep And the initial thought there is that when you have to go around it reminds you that the farmers market is here and Just stop and grab something fresh. So we know obviously Wilbur's Reinhardts They this is one of the biggies that they really do And again others that are still interested I mean, I know they make contacts with a lot of people to come in you had quite a variety of things I mean, they had a lot of different things last last year Not just not just produce stuff. Correct. Correct. And I believe a couple service Businesses have signed up as well Just always a new changing field and the hopes that bringing it back to Story Street will remind people to Stay and hang out a while as well. Come on. It's a Thursday in downtown. We like that. Don't yes And we cross our fingers for good weather. Yeah. Well, there's always that we do have outdoor activities Other things that are happening again on the chamber side of things outside of sign up for the golf Yes, I would say that's our our big focus right now is getting ready for that June 12th Golf tournament and then we have, you know, like I said lead graduation and then on the 13th Okay, and then of course signups will be for the fall program in early fall Okay, and I know you keep thinking about other things other things we can do obviously dominated by Puffer belly right now, but do you get a chance to? Yes kick around ideas with others you'd say Holly I got this idea I'll tell you what Holly is my sounding board over at the chamber. I'm so grateful to have her there Yeah, we're always trying to find new ways to make sure that we're serving our chamber members and providing value So, you know, I have an initiative in the works Called Boone brainstorm that I'll be launching soon that will be dealing with having Really an open forum for business members of the community to come sit talk and share ideas and act as sounding boards just like me and Holly do with each other and then provide insight so really a chamber-to-chamber member member-to-member networking and Mentoring program the big challenge again for you your county wide Yes, and so you going to Ogden and you got yes sisters and cheese And oh got all the other things that are around Holly you got your confined area downtown, but still the mission is to help them be Successful. Mm-hmm. Absolutely. Yeah, and to support our you know and to support our local businesses and so that way we can You know help them grow and also attract new businesses when they see that the city of Boone is is somewhere where businesses can grow and thrive Holly Grant information and rag-brag grant to support or assistance if they are interested get a hold of you, right? Correct And otherwise Congratulations to George Eckstein this evening. Thank you. Thank you both for coming in