The Chamber Wraps Up 2020 & Plans Event Lineup for 2021

The Chamber says thank you for your membership and support for 2020 with the Chamber End of Year Thank You Letter 2020.  The newsletter provides an overview of the 2020 year as well what to look forward to for 2021.  The Chamber reflects on how resilient, strong, and supportive our community has been in the  midst of the financial and healthcare crisis.  The impact has varied across our community, and yet we witnessed unity in our responses as we fought for ways to support and lift one another up.

Despite our hardships, we found ways to do more with less.  We hosted Eastern Iowa’s first parade in the pandemic, with the reverse Tractor Parade to celebrate Ag Day.  We promoted new events like Dinner in the Park, Hocus Pocus, Washington Dines In, Buy Local Saturdays, Chamber Bucks Receipt Challenge and HACAP’s Groceries for Good.  The Chamber Ambassadors hosted 18 Ribbon Cutting events, with 11 being Grand Opening events in our community.  15 new members were welcomed as Chamber members.  Washington’s Shop Local Promotion was offered in partnership with the funds raised from the Hotel Motel Tax.  Nearly $16,000 of Chamber Bucks were distributed in the community and generated over $176,000 of local spending.

As we look ahead to a more promising 2021, the Chamber is optimistic and set to host all events for the 2021 year, as well as adding a new Craft Fair: Spring Edition and the Birdies, Beer & Brats: Oktoberfest Golf tournament.  We are currently seeking sponsors for all events, the Sponsorship Letter 2021 outlines all events offered and the benefits for your contribution.  The events we organize have a big impact on bringing our community members together with participation, volunteerism, social, and cultural development.  Sponsorship opportunities are customizable, if you have an idea of how you could support one or more of the Chamber events that doesn’t fit in the sponsor categories, we would love to partner with you and find a way to make it work.