Chamber asks Carroll City for $35,000 to bolster tourism marketing ahead of state baseball events

The Carroll Chamber of Commerce asked Carroll City for $35,000 to support a tourism marketing campaign that the chamber says has driven hotel stays, restaurant visits and other visitor spending.

Ashley, program director at the Carroll Chamber of Commerce, told the council the chamber’s campaigns — including digital ads, a cable commercial and promotion at statewide welcome centers — helped attract fans and teams for the state high school baseball tournament Carroll will host at Merchants Park for the next four years. “These dollars assist the chamber in marketing Carroll across the state … during the state baseball tournament,” Ashley said, noting the chamber also supports events such as a Color Fun Run, the Carroll Court Classic youth basketball tournament and monthly live-and-local concerts.

Council members and chamber representatives discussed ways to increase downtown business participation during tournaments, including moving the farmers market, establishing outside vendor or point-of-sale areas, and assembling “swag bags” for visiting teams. Chamber staff said they already coordinate closely with local hotels, the Iowa High School Athletic Association and volunteer committees to provide hotel lists, gift certificates and promotional materials to visiting teams.

The request was presented during the council’s consideration of outside-agency funding; the chamber did not receive an immediate funding decision at the meeting. City council members encouraged early planning with retailers and a January restaurant meeting the chamber has scheduled to coordinate outreach for upcoming tournaments. The chamber said the requested funds would build on recent digital campaigns and event promotion to maintain Carroll’s profile as a regional destination.