Affiliate Chamber Spotlight: 2021 Indianola Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Name + Website

Indianola Chamber of Commerce

Elected Leader for 2021

Amanda Ripperger, Chair

Professional Staff Leader of the Chamber

Brenda Easter, president & CEO

Number of Members

295

How Does a Business Join Your Chamber?

Visit indianolachamber.com or connect with us via email at chamber@indianolachamber.com.

What Inspired You to First Get Involved with Your Chamber?

Honestly, as a business owner I never really understood everything the Chamber did. I just wrote the checks every year and never fully utilized my membership. When Brenda, the president and CEO, came to me and asked if I would like to join the board, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to get involved and start to understand the function of a Chamber. I am encouraged that the Indianola Chamber proactively focuses on economic, workforce and income development for businesses and our community.

What is a Signature Offering of Your Chamber?

We offer online advertising and provide professional assistance in documenting businesses digitally to help tell their stories.

What is Your Chamber’s Biggest Accomplishment in the Past 12 Months?

We are proud of our work to assist businesses during an unforeseen pandemic crisis. It didn’t matter what they needed; we were there for them. We partnered with the Greater Des Moines Partnership, City of Indianola, Warren County Economic Development and local businesses to create a local grant program to help businesses with losses in revenue during the crisis. We are also excited about our work with the City of Indianola and other stakeholders to help develop an award-winning Streetscape plan, which is a major investment in the Indianola Downtown square that will have a huge economic impact for businesses and the community. The project starts in May and will be done early next summer.

What Initiative/Project Are You Looking Forward to in the Upcoming Year?

We are focusing on placemaking, which plays a large part in economic development of communities. We are developing an online Indianola Welcome Center that will document our community professionally, connect the dots between area attractions and businesses and invite guests and residents to explore everything Indianola has to offer. In reality, it’s a community-wide advertising system that becomes a treasure trove of content for search, utilizing technology and professional expertise to build a beautiful presentation of our city through our local directory, mobile applications and Chamber, City and business websites.

What Partnership Tools/Resources Have Been Most Beneficial to Your Chamber Members?

The Partnership’s leadership in Greater Des Moines (DSM) and continued efforts to attract business and industry and people to the area sparks economic growth and success for the region as a whole. Their proactive approach to creating resources that help affiliate chambers stay relevant in their communities is unprecedented and greatly appreciated.

What Are Your Upcoming Events?

• Shop Local Saturday to Celebrate Our Businesses: Saturday, May 1
• Chamber Friday Night Live Concert Series: June 11, June 25 and July 9
• Des Moines Metro Opera Season: Opens June 2021
• WHO Tractor Ride: June 14 – 16 • Chamber Golf Open: Wednesday, July 21
• Warren County Fair: July 28 – August 2
• National Balloon Classic: July 30 – August 7

The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the fourth largest regional Chamber of Commerce in the nation. Learn more about Partnership Affiliate Chambers, browse the Membership Directory and read additional Affiliate Chamber spotlights.