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Chamber/Main Street reports $30,000 local spending from Blizzard Bucks; plans QR-code guide for parks and retailers
Summary
Chelsea Peterson told council the Chamber/Main Street distributed more than $3,000 in Waverly dollars through a January promotion that the group estimates drove about $30,000 of local spending; staff also outlined a QR-code wayfinding campaign for parks and an upcoming community input session on downtown planning.
WAVERLY, Iowa — Chelsea Peterson of Waverly Chamber Main Street gave a quarterly update at the April 27 study session, reporting results from a winter retail incentive and outlining downtown marketing and business-support initiatives.
Peterson said the Blizzard Bucks program issued more than $3,000 in Waverly dollars; the initiative distributed paper punch cards that rewarded $10 in Waverly dollars after $100 in local spending, and Peterson said the Chamber estimates the program supported about $30,000 of local spending in January and February. The Chamber also reported recent awards given at Wartburg College and regular outreach to local business support partners, including the UNI Small Business Center and the Small Business Development Center.
Peterson described a new QR-code campaign to help visitors and sports teams find local businesses from city parks and the soccer complex. The pilot will place about 15 QR-code signs at parks such as Cedar River Park and the soccer complex; the chamber will test the codes at the Art Walk and evaluate usage metrics via the hosting platform. She also promoted a community-input session on Thursday, May 8 from 5:30–7 p.m. at the Civic Center and noted a Shop Iowa session for retailers on May 21 supported by the Iowa Economic Development Authority and the Small Business Development Center.
Council members asked about business outreach cadence and the chamber’s connection with Wartburg College events; Peterson said she is building outreach capacity and plans regular business visits. The council thanked her for the work and encouraged continued coordination on tourism and events.
