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Waverly Chamber and Main Street reports fundraising win and downtown projects; seeks more small‑business supports
Summary
Chelsea Peterson told the City of Waverly council the Chamber and Main Street raised $10,000 at its Bines & Steins fundraiser, secured a $100,000 challenge grant for 123 East Bremer and is planning expanded small‑business preparedness and a paid marketing push in 2026. A $30,000 Rural Iowa Initiative grant application was not successful.
Chelsea Peterson, executive director of Waverly Chamber and Main Street, told the City of Waverly council at a Nov. 24 study session that the organization met several fundraising and program milestones and is planning initiatives to support downtown businesses.
"We hosted a SBDC emergency preparedness workshop for small business owners," Peterson said, adding the Chamber plans a longer, four‑hour workshop in 2026 so owners can leave with a completed emergency plan. She told the council the Chamber hosted a Bines & Steins fundraiser this fall that "met our goal of $10,000," and that those proceeds are reinvested into the Chamber’s events and programs.
Peterson said Main Street America visited the community in September and is using a new online accreditation platform; the Chamber will distribute the final accreditation report when it is available. She also reported the Chamber sought a $30,000 Rural Iowa Initiative grant but was not selected and will continue pursuing other funding opportunities.
The meeting reflected a major downtown win: Peterson said representatives traveled to Des Moines on Nov. 6 to accept a $100,000 challenge grant to support work at 123 East Bremer. She credited the city’s prior support for helping secure diversified funding for the project and said Tim Locke and Downtown Dreamers plan to convert space above the Mercantile Market into two two‑bedroom apartments. The project is scheduled to begin in November 2025 with a two‑year timeline and a developer goal of completing the work in about one year.
Looking ahead, Peterson said the Chamber will launch a new website to promote member businesses and roll out a paid marketing initiative in 2026 — including TV, streaming and social media — aimed at drawing customers back to downtown following changes in traffic patterns related to the Bremer Avenue bridge.
Peterson also highlighted community events the Chamber supports, including a historic stroll on East Bremer Avenue, a holiday ribbon‑cutting and the Bremer Avenue Bridge grand reopening on Dec. 11. She encouraged council members to help promote downtown activity during the winter months.
The council did not take formal action on Chamber items during the study session. The Chamber’s update and the city’s support for downtown redevelopment will return to council or staff for future budget and grant planning.
