Greetings to all WDC and Chamber Members! October 2022
Well it’s done---the merger of our two great organizations is complete. We will be doing business as the Wilton Chamber and Development Alliance. I know that for some, change can be difficult, but if we look at the synergy we will create by providing more opportunities and services to our members, and all of the positive changes this partnership provides, I’m confident it will transform into success for our business community. The 2023 Dues will reflect this change. Many of you are members of both organizations so your total dues will be less than what you paid last year for both. The businesses who were members of only one organization will see a slight increase in dues to reflect the addition of the other organization. The Chamber also merged the Wilton United Way with the Muscatine Area United Way and we are hopeful that this will translate into increased goods and services for our community and non-profit organizations.
The following is a short summary of our 2022 programs and events:
Business Revitalization – The City rezoned the historic downtown business district this year and they focused on the buildings downtown that were identified for business use. The city ordinance which was put into place many years ago stipulated that the front 60 percent of the ground floor buildings in the Central Business District be businesses and could not be apartments. They sent out a letter to the building owners in the Central Business District asking them to remove all ground floor apartments to meet this code. The owners had a year grace period to accommodate leases. This ended September 1, 2022. This helps us greatly when we are recruiting new businesses to our community.
The City and WDC have also put $25,000 in a fund to establish a Grant incentive program for interior or exterior improvements to the businesses in the downtown business district. We’ve almost used up the fund and we are looking at expanding this great program to include all businesses in Wilton in the future. To date, five businesses have received or are in the process to receive grant funding for their improvements.
In November 2022, we are welcoming two new businesses to the downtown. The AXE and OAK WHISKEY HOUSE at 117 W. 4th Street and a new clothing consignment and wood furniture business at 324 Cedar Street named THE CEDAR CLOSET. We are in the process of meeting with other prospects as well as working with the building owners to fill empty spaces with professional and/or retail businesses.
Skilled Workforce Initiative – Maker/Space – The Wilton Public Library, the Wilton Development Corporation, the City of Wilton, the Townsend Foundation, along with school and business partners have created a maker space. A maker space is a place for multiple age groups to explore and learn about technology that is not readily available to the general public. Equipment includes items such as virtual reality, 3D printers, robotics, and software for engineering and design that many of our local industries use. These items are incredibly important because they give everyone an equal opportunity to learn new skillsets needed to strengthen and build our workforce. Partnerships are being developed with area libraries, schools, community colleges, business and industry.
Many Successful Events! – In 2022 we enjoyed three successful events: beautiful weather and golfing fun at Wilfundy; celebrating 100 years and reunions at Founders Day; and enjoying Fire Fighters Water Fights at Muscatine County Freedom Rock Smorgasbord. We honored the National Honor Society students in May and Welcomed Teachers in August at two luncheons and met our legislators at a get together in the spring. And we sponsored two community-wide garage sales in May and September. Many hands make light work and we are forever thankful for our members, volunteers and sponsors for their tireless support!
We have a few months left in 2022 so I wanted to share with you two of the events/promotions that we already have on the docket.
Halloween Party in Historic Downtown Wilton on Monday, October 31 from 3:30 to 5:30 pm
We will have a Haunted House (in the old Chamber office); a Weenie Roast (sponsored by the American Legion and Legion Auxiliary); Trunk ‘O Treat sponsored by the local merchants; and a performance by the Wilton High School Stepperettes at 5pm on Railroad Street in front of the Freedom Rock. All of this fun stuff is free to the public. If you want to bring a car down for the Trunk ‘O Treat call me at 563-732-5002 or email me at ballgood@wiltoniowa.org.
Christmas Activities and Window Walk
The Christmas Window Walk is on Sunday, December 4, 2022 from 5pm - 7pm. The Christmas Play entitled, “An Enchanted Bookshop Christmas”, by the Alumni Association is on Friday, December 2 and Saturday, December 3 at 7pm and on Sunday, December 4 at 3:30pm. The Theme this year will be “Christmas Classics” and we are looking at filling up empty retail spaces downtown with vendors for the entire weekend. We will be sending more out on this great holiday event soon!
We have received many good ideas such as developing a community calendar, more retail promotions and putting together a communication strategy. I welcome and value your ideas, feedback and support as we continue to complete our mission to promote, recruit and retain businesses while fostering positive and strategic growth in our community.
Becky Allgood, Director
Wilton Chamber and Development Alliance