CHAMBER NEWSLife With a River View

Volume 30+June 2018+Number 6

A Message from your President

2

Maureen MillerPresident & CEO

Our Chamber year is coming to an end and plans are well underway for our 146th Annual Meeting. Come join us for our awards presentation and casino night on June 6th at the Moose. Reservations can be made by calling our office at 563-242-5702 or visiting our website at www.clintonia.com. It promises to be a fun event with great networking and the chance to honor our friends who have gone above and beyond this year.

We hosted Leadership Iowa in Clinton in May. Forty people from around the state come together once a month for a year to learn leadership skills and also to learn about different parts of the state. This is the third time Clinton has been one of the host communities – and LI loved it here! One of the women told me it was nothing like she had expected. I said, “You expected a dirty old river town with nothing to see or do, right?” She said that was true, but she found a beautiful, friendly community that she intends to visit again. Many of the other students felt the same: they loved Eagle Point Park; the lock & dam tour; the city tour; a presentation by the Young Professionals group and a tour of Lyon-dellBasell; dinner at the Candlelight and a catered dinner from Rastrelli’s; breakfast and lunch from Hy-Vee, Sweetheart Bakery and Homer’s Deli, and Corner Deli; after-hours fun with classmates at some of the local watering holes; and the hospitality shown to them by people from around the community. Sometimes you have to look at what you already have through the eyes of an outsider to really appreciate it. It was two full days of knowing we have thousands of reasons to Celebrate Clinton!

The warm summer days bring music. Market Music at the Farmers’ Market in the Lyons neighborhood on select Wednesday evenings; Music on the Avenue on 5th Ave. So. every Thursday in June and July; and Fi-nally Fridays at the River on June 1st, July 6th and August 3rd. Don’t miss these opportunities to kick back and relax with friends during a lazy summer evening. And, June 14th and July 12th are Biz After 5 events at 5th Ave. businesses. You’ll get 2-for-1 fun when you come for the Biz and stay for the music!

July 27th is our annual Golf PlayDay out at Valley Oaks. It will be here before you know it, so start getting your team together for this fun annual event!

We’re going to try something “old that’s new again” this fall with a 2018 Business Expo. If you’re a Cham-ber member and would like to showcase your business and products to the public, give us a call! More information will be coming as the summer continues.

And, though summer is just getting started, we are already thinking about our Fall Tailgate party. We’d like to get some TVs set up out at the airport and tailgate during the game – just as though we were right there with the team! There will be bags games, Frisbee, and tailgate food and beverages. Again, more informa-tion coming…

The trolley will have begun its free trips around town on Saturday by the time you read this. Every Saturday from Memorial Day to Labor Day you can hop on – hop off the trolley to visit the attractions around town. If a trolley is too confining, the bike share program is up and running. You can rent a bike for an hour or the whole day and take your own tour around town. It’s just over 10 miles from the bike path in Camanche up to Eagle Point Park!

The bass fishermen will be returning to Clinton in June, and our mural painters from the University of Iowa will be painting the side of the former Lyons Post Office building. There’s marathons, races, activities on the river and at the Arboretum. Make a plan to try something you haven’t done before and discover the many ways – and reasons – to Celebrate Clinton.

Maureen

CHAMBER STAFFMaureen MillerPresident & CEO

Karen FriisAdministrative Services Coordinator

Stacy KelleyMember Engagement Coordinator

Mary SeelyCVB Director

Ari LewerenzCVB Marketing Coordinator

Timiri DethmannAccountant & Business Manager

A Message from your President...

2

60+ years Alliant Energy 67 30+ years Ameriprise Financial 33 Clinton Family Dental 33 Employer’s Service Bureau 33 American Family Insurance - Jim Voss Agency 31 Fulton Meat Market 31 20+ years TEMP Associates 28 B&E Machine Company, Inc. 27 Camanche Community School District 27 First Wealth Financial Group 27 Mike May Electric 27 Edward Jones - Tom Timion, Investment Representative 24 Pape Funeral Home, Inc. 24 American Family Insurance - Joe Leonard Agency 20 Casey’s General Stores - all locations 20 Clinton Decoy Co., Ltd. 20 Clinton Veterinary Clinic 20 Eastern Iowa Light & Power Cooperative 20 Eastern Iowa Propane & Petro, Ltd. 20 Taco Johns 20 The Carpet Cleaner 20 Ultimate Practice Solutions 20 10+ years Clinton Builders Club 19 Jacobs Field Services 19 Walgreens North 19 Walgreens Sough 19 Wendling Quarries, Inc. 19 Wolfe Beverage Company, Inc. 19

Citizens First Bank 18 Pallet Recovery Inc. 18 Ruden-Forrest Chiropractic PC 18 Wal-Mart SuperCenter 18 Clinton Jaycees 17 Victory Center Ministries 16 Build to Suit, Inc. 15 Jacqueline A. Rutledge, CPA 15 Cardiovascular Medicine, P.C. 14 Awesome Car and Truck Wash 13 Medical Equipment Services Inc. 13 Wide River Winery 11 McClure Engineering Associates, Inc. 10 Pro-Tech Lawn Care LLC 10 1+ years Slumberland 9 Candlelight Inn 8 Tri-City Building & Construction Trades Council 8 Rep. Mary Wolfe 7 The Arch 7 Village Cooperative 7 Virdi Eye Clinic 7 Hampton Inn 6 Paper Designs 6 River Bluff Community Foundation 6 The Old Crow 5 Country Financial 4 Rejuvenation Station Day Spa 4 Clinton 4th of July Festival 3 Mary’s Alterations and Repair 2 Rock Valley Physical Therapy - all locations 2 Shoe Sensation #632 2 Pix Along the Way 1 RHA Service Inc. 1

The Chamber would like to thank the following members for renewing their Chamber memberships in May 2018.

Thank you for renewing your membership!

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS - May

Phoenix Gifts and Tobacco Company, Inc.We are more than just a smoke shop, we have everything from color-ing books to lava lamps to dresses and tons more gifts and novelties. Phoenix is more like a gift shop of the new age, with wicca, games, adult novelties, you name it – we have it! Visit us at 238 6th Avenue South (back side of the Tucker Building) or give us a call at 563-242-2371

Ray’s Carpet InstallationWe provide installation of all flooring products, carpet, carpet tiles, laminate, hardwood, LVT, vinyl, plank and ceramic. We commercial and residential installations. Commercial carpet tiles and LVT available from Shaw and Mohawk. We are located at 2215 Manufacturing Drive. Give us a call at 563-559-2096. We have been in business for 20 years.

Welcome... NEW MEMBERS!

3

2JR Pizza Enterprises, LLC Aaron’s Sales & Lease Adcraft Printwear Co. ADM Corn Processing Aegis Credit Union Agri-King Inc. Air Control, Inc. Albert’s Jewelers Allstate Insurance Alter Trading Corporation Alverno Health Care Facility American Electric Inc. American Family Insurance - Joe Leonard Agency, Inc. American Heart Association Area Business Women’s Connection Ashford University- Clinton Campus B & E Machine Company, Inc. Barnes and Noble at Clinton Community College Beckwith Commercial Roofing, Inc. Bent Business Marketing Best Lifestyle - Shaklee Bickford Cottage Big Brothers Big Sisters of Clinton Big River Packaging Billion Auto Bodine Services of Clinton LLC Brad Florence Brand Energy Solutions Brand Safway LLC Brinkman Building Center Brocolo Design & Advertising Brown’s Shoe Fit Buffalo Wild Wings Build to Suit, Inc. Bunge North America Burger King Burger King (West) Candlelight Inn Carpetland USA of Clinton, Inc. Charles L. Duax Insurance & Financial Services Child Care Resource and Referral of Southeast Iowa City of Camanche Classic Bodyworks, Inc. Clausen Supply Trucking & Warehousing Clinton Area Showboat Theatre Clinton Art Association/River Arts Center Clinton Auto Group Clinton Back and Neck Family Wellness Clinton Builders Club Clinton Catalyst, LLC Clinton Council PTA Clinton County Area Solid Waste Agency Clinton Engineering Co., Inc. Clinton Family Dental Clinton Floral Shop Clinton Herald Clinton Humane Society Clinton Jaycees Clinton Landlords Association, Inc. Clinton Moose 363/474 Clinton MS Support Group Clinton Mutual Plate Glass Clinton Occupational Health & Midwest Therapy Centers Clinton Rotary Club Clinton Symphony Orchestra Clover Hills Appliance Center Clysar, LLC

Collis Inc. Collis Toolholder Corporation Colony Brands, Inc. and SC Data Center, Inc. Community Health Care, Inc. Comprehensive Rehab Inc. Core-Vens & Co., Inc. Corner Deli & Ice Cream Shoppe Cornerstone Wellness Center Country Financial Culver’s of Clinton Cutting Edge Lawn & Landscape Maintenance D and S Moving DaBo, LLC Dan Srp Danisco - DuPont Nutrition & Health Darling Ingredients Inc. David Rose Deanna’s Java Station Deb Wiese’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service Deja Vu Furniture & Accessories Dental Offices, LLC Dependable Drain & Plumbing Determann Asphalt Paving, LLC Downtown Clinton Alliance DuTrac Community Credit Union Eagle Point Health Care Center Eagle River Liquor East Central Intergovernmental Association Eastern Iowa Light & Power Cooperative Eastern Iowa Propane & Petro, Ltd. Eastern Iowa Tire Economic Growth Corporation Employer’s Council of Iowa (ECI) Employer’s Service Bureau, Inc. Essentials4u Estes Construction Family Resources, Inc. Fareway Stores Inc. Farm Bureau Financial Services Farwell & Bruhn Finally Friday at the River First Baptist Church First Wealth Financial Group Fisher House Bed & Breakfast Focus Services Frey, Haufe & Current, P.L.C. Fulton Meat Market Gabel Chiropractic Gil’s Bar & Grill Grand Mound Cooperative Telephone Association Great River Threshers H&R Block Habitat for Humanity of Clinton County, Inc. Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream Parlor Hinkle Surveying, LLC Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. HomeGrown Graphics Honkamp Krueger & Co., PC Howes & Jefferies Realtors, LLP Independent Energy Systems Inc. Independent Investment Services Indiana, Illinois and Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting Infinity Medical Group Iowa-American Water Co. J.T. Cullen Co., Inc. Jacobs Field Services Jacqueline A. Rutledge, CPA JEG Enterprise LLC, dba Imperial Lanes

Johnson Oil Company Julie Allesee K&R Public Scale Inc Kaplan University Keeping You Sewing Kelley Girls Woodfire Pizza Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning Ken Kroemer Insurance Kiwanis Club of Clinton Kohl’s Department Stores Inc.#565 Lectronics Inc. Legend’s Sports Bar & Grill Lemke Funeral Homes Leslie Electric Services, Inc. Lloyd’s Plan Inc. Lockhart & Law Insurance Agency Manny’s Too Manpower Inc. Mary Kaster Independent Beauty Consultant - Mary Kay McClure Engineering Associates, Inc. McDonalds - Lincolnway McDonalds - N 2nd St McGraw Accounting & Tax Service Mediacom Communications Medical Equipment Services Inc. Mercy Medical Center - Clinton Midwest Business Products Midwest Pets For Life Midwest Vision Clinic Miner Gilroy & Meade CPAs, PC Morrison Institute of Technology NAPA Premier Parts, Inc. Necker’s Jewelers NelsonCorp Wealth Management Nestle Purina PetCare Company New Choices, Inc. New Directions Nutrition Plus Octographics Old Town Family Restaurant Padgett Business Services Pallett Recovery Inc. Pape Funeral Home, Inc. Park Vista Senior Housing Management Peaceful River Creations Pelham, Inc., d/b/a Plaza Bowl Petersen Hagge Furniture Petersen Sanitary Cleaning Phelan - Management Consulting Planet Auto Prairie Hills at Clinton, LLC Prince of Peace Catholic School Property Development Assoc. Quad City Area Realtor Association Quality Concrete Co. Rail.One Ray’s Time Out Sports Bar & Grill Regency Retirement Residence Rejuvenation Station Day Spa Rep. Mary Wolfe Republic Services Rittmer, Inc. River Bluff Community Foundation River Cities Tennis Association River City Fencing Co. RK Dixon RK Graphics Rock Valley Physical Therapy Rockin Rhoni’s Unique Boutique Ruden-Forrest Chiropractic PC Russ & Karen Wiersema Scrap Iron & Metal

Russell Construction Company Sarah Harding SATO Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a Domino’s Sauk Valley Media Sedona Staffing Service Service Oil Company ServiceMaster of Clinton Sethness Products Company Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa Sloan Implement Slop’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes and Crematory Snyder & Associates, Inc. Soderstrom Skin Institute Steines Construction LLC Sterling Federal Bank -- Clinton Sue Raaymakers Sukar & Sons of Iowa, Inc. d/b/a Cricket Wireless Summit Lake Coffee Co. Susan P. Tugana Sweet Woodruff Taco John’s Tegeler Music TEMP Associates The A.C. Root Agency, Inc. The Arch The Carpet Cleaner The Healing Place The Insurance Group The Landing The Salvation Army The Sherwin-Williams Company Timber Lake Playhouse Tom Determann Tom McManus Backhoe & Truck Service, Inc. Tri-City Building & Construction Trades Council Triple Play Tupperware Turner Electric Co. TYCOGA Vineyard & Winery UFP Technologies Ultimate Practice Solutions Union Pacific Railroad Unity Christian School US Cellular/Clinton Vibrant Credit Union Victory Center Ministries Village Cooperative Vista Grande Visual Imaging, Inc. Voss Brothers Plumbing and Heating, Inc. Wagner Pharmacy Walgreens Walgreens Wal-Mart SuperCenter Wendling Quarries, Inc. WestRock Wide River Winery Wild Rose Casino & Resort Windmill Realty Winkel, Parker & Foster, CPA PC Wolfe Beverage Company, Inc. Women’s Health Services YWCA Clinton Zirkelbach Home Appliances

Member PLUSThis is a list of the Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce members who have attained Member PLUS status during May 2018!

4

Meetings are subject to change. Watch your mail for details or check with Karen at (563) 242-5702 before attending any regularly scheduled Chamber event.

Reservations are required for most noon meetings held at the Chamber office.

5

1 Nestle Purina Meeting, 8:00 a.m., Chamber of Commerce. 5 Clinton Progress Coalition, 7:30 a.m., Chamber of Commerce. Ribbon Cutting, 1:30 p.m., Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream Parlor, 408 So. 1st Street

6 Annual Meeting Planning Meeting, 12:00 Noon, Chamber of Commerce.

7 Leadership Committee, 12:00 Noon, Chamber of Commerce. ABC’s of Essential Oils, 6:00 p.m., Chamber of Commerce.

8 146th Annual Meeting, Awards Dinner and Casino Night, 5:30 p.m., Moose Lodge. (reservations required)

11 Quad City Area Realtors Association, 1:00 p.m., Chamber of Commerce. Miss Clinton County Scholarship Program Board, 6:00 p.m., Chamber of Commerce.

12 Riverview Young Professionals Association Board, 4:00 p.m., Chamber of Commerce.

13 CVB Marketing Committee, 12:00 Noon, Clinton National Bank.

14 Business Park Corporation, 10:00 a.m., Chamber of Commerce. Local & Government Affairs, 12:00 Noon, Rastrelli’s. Events Committee, 12:00 Noon, Chamber of Commerce. Biz After 5, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., Peaceful River Creations, 243 5th Avenue South. Vision 8 Committee, 7:00 p.m., Chamber of Commerce.

19 Tri-City Building & Construction Trades Council, 9:30 a.m, Chamber of Commerce. Executive Committee, 12:00 Noon, Chamber of Commerce. Young Living Essential Oils, 6:30 p.m., Chamber of Commerce. 20 Clinton County Development Association, 7:30 a.m., Wild Rose Casino. Gateway Area Foundation, 12:00 Noon, Chamber of Commerce. 21 CVB Board, 12:00 Noon, Chamber of Commerce. American Queen Guide Presentation, 5:00 p.m., Chamber of Commerce.

22 Budget & Finance Committee, 12:00 Noon, Chamber of Commerce. 26 Essentials4U, 6:00 p.m., Chamber of Commerce.

27 CRDC Board of Directors, 11:30 a.m., Rastrelli’s Avanti Room. 28 Board of Directors, 7:30 a.m., Chamber of Commerce. Ambassadors, 12:00 Noon, Location to be determined. Ron Lott’s Pastor Group, 12:00 Noon, Chamber of Commerce. Clinton Landlord’s Association, 6:00 p.m., Chamber of Commerce.

CHAMBER CALENDAR - June

Meetings are subject to change. Watch your mail for details or check with Karen at (563) 242-5702 before attending any regularly scheduled Chamber event.

Reservations are required for most noon meetings held at the Chamber office.

55

News from the CVB

6

Clinton Convention & Visitors Bureau721 South 2nd Street, Clinton, Iowa 52733 : 563.242.5702

www.clintoniowatourism.com

News from the CVB

6

Mary SeelyCVB Director

IOWA BASS NATION TOURNAMENT Returns to Clinton.

Iowa B.A.S.S NationIowa Bass Nation State Tournament

Clinton, June 21, 22, 23rd 2018Bass Tournament to return to Clinton after a successful 2017 tournament year.

Bass Nation had over 90 anglers last year, and will exceed that number this year in Clinton Iowa.

This created an economic impact of $246,696. The average Trip is valued at $456.85, that includes a breakout of transportation,

lodging, food, entertainment, most coming in one to two days prior to the tournament to scope out there spots.

The Tournament will be held at the 9th Ave Boat Ramp and Dock. Boaters will leave the dock at 6AM, and return with their catch around 2PM each day.

The boat ramp and dock will still be open for public use.

Please join us on June 21-23 and welcome these visitors to our community, this is a catch and release tournament. Children and Adults may come and watch

the release of the Bass back into the Mississippi at the Clinton Marina.

RIBBON CUTTINGS

Prairie Hills

The Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the expansion of the Memory Care Program at Prairie Hills of Clinton. Prairie Hills is located at 1701 13th Avenue North and provides innovative, compassionate, resident-focused health care and manage-

ment services for Retirement, Assisted Living and Memory Care commu-nities. They now have a total of 20 studio-style apartments in the Gardens

Memory Care Program. Give them a call at 563-243-6870 or check out their website at www.prairiehillsliving.com

DuTrac Community Credit Union

The Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors held a Ribbon Cutting to celebrate the brand-new location of DuTrac Community Credit Union. Having relocated from the LyondellBasell plant grounds to a new full-service branch office conveniently located just off Lincoln Way and Manufacturing Drive, DuTrac Community Credit Union looks forward to

serving the residents in the greater Clinton area and surrounding commu-nities with affordable and competitive financial services. Call or visit with

the team at the new branch office, 2900 So. 25th Street, Suite A, and see how DuTrac can best serve your financial needs! For office hours and

contact information, please visit www.dutrac.org

7

Skyline Center’s “Earthy Treasures” Greenhouse Project

The Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the Skyline Center’s “Earthy Treasures” Greenhouse Project. The greenhouse will allow their individuals to have another work opportunity to learn to grow plants and to also work in a retail environ-

ment. Sales of the grown items will take place in May. Plans are already in place to expand the greenhouse in 2019 to include more varieties of plants. The greenhouse project is located at the Skyline Center, 2600

North 4th Street in Clinton. Call them at 563-243-4065 or visit the website at www.skylinecenter.com.

Free Spirit Yoga Fitness

The Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors recently held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the Grand Opening of Free Spirit Yoga Fitness, located at 127 6th Avenue South in Clinton. Free Spirit is a non-traditional yoga studio that focuses on fusing yoga and innovative fitness practices. Their mission is to help women, children and men heal from the inside out in order to reach their goals. They provide a variety of classes that help connect the mind and body for mental clarity, increased strength,

increased endurance, flexibility and weight-loss. Give them a call at 563-570-3120 or visit their website at www.fsyogafitness.com

RIBBON CUTTINGS

8

Beckwith Commercial Roofing, Inc.

The Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors recently held a Ribbon Cutting to celebrate the new location of Beckwith Commercial

Roofing, Inc. The new location is 1801 So. 21st Street off of Manufactur-ing Drive and has been remodeled to suit their needs. Beckwith Com-mercial Roofing has been serving Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois for over 35 years and had consistently receive excellent rating and awards

from manufacturers and suppliers for its quality of service and installation. Give them a call at 563-242-6939 or visit their website at

www.beckwithcommercialroofing.com

Clinton Parks & Recreation Department’s Community Garden

The Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors recently held a ribbon cutting for the Clinton Parks & Recreation Department’s Communi-ty Garden. The project was initiated by the Sisters of St. Francis in 2012. Other community supporters include the Clinton City Council, Bickelhaupt

Arboretum, Master Gardeners and the Let’s Live Healthy Clinton Area Initiative. The garden can host 54 10x10 plots with 5 accessible raised plots. Each plot is $15. The storage shed is a shared space that holds

hand tools and buckets for the gardeners. In 2018, running water will be installed. To reserve a spot, stop by the Ericksen Center. The Community Garden is located at 13th Avenue North and North 14th Street. Call the

Ericksen Center for more details, 563-243-1260.

TEMP Associates

The Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors recently held a Ribbon Cutting to celebrate the new location of TEMP Associates. The business moved to 1801 So. 21st Street, Suite B, and are in the same

building with Beckwith Commercial Roofing. TEMP Associates now has seven offices in Iowa. They specialize in temporary staffing, “use” assign-ments, “choose” assignments and “use and choose” staffing opportuni-

ties. Call the Clinton office at 563-242-1078 or visit their website at www.tempassociates.com

Fulton Street Work

The Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors were on hand for a Ribbon Cutting to celebrate the completion of some street work in Fulton. The celebration took place at the intersection of 12th Street and 3rd Avenue. Fulton Mayor, Mike Ottens and City Administrator, Randy

Boonstra were on hand to accept the Progress Award.

PROGRESS AWARD

9

LyondellBasell

Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce President, Maureen Miller, recently presented LyondellBasell with a Progress Award during their 50th Anniversary celebration, in conjunction with the grand opening of their new office building . Plant Manager, James Hillier, accepted the award while Iowa Governor, Kim Reynolds; Lt. Governor, Adam Gregg; and Clinton Mayor, Mark Vulich and other dignitaries looked on. LyondellBasell is located at 3400 Anamosa

Road. Visit their website at www.lyondellbasell.com

Paying it Forward, Ascentra Style

Ascentra Credit Union is known for paying it forward in the region, and wants to celebrate the upcoming International Pay it Forward Day on April 28 in a way that inspires others to pay it forward themselves.

Throughout April, the Ascentra team has been busy surprising shoppers, teachers, students, and organizations from Clinton to the Quad Cities and down to Muscatine. These special moments were captured in a video set to release on April 28 on Ascentra’s social media platforms including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

It all began in Davenport, Iowa at Project Renewal, a small non-profit after-school program that provides a positive presence for children and families. The students that attend this program were treated to a few surprises including a pizza party and a visit from Ascentra’s mascot Jumpin’ George. Jumpin’ George was also on hand to surprise Ms. Toledo and her first graders with much needed supplies at Lincoln-Irving Elementary School in Moline, Illinois. In Bettendorf, Iowa, customers at a local coffee shop felt a little jolt when the Ascentra team paid for their orders, and unsuspecting shoppers at a grocery store in neighboring Davenport, Iowa received a helping hand when the team paid for their groceries.

“For us, it’s not just about writing a check,” said Alvaro Macias, Ascentra AVP of Community Development. “It is about engaging everyone in our community; it’s about uplifting others.”

Inspiration for these altruistic gestures came from the popular music video “God’s Plan” from Grammy award-winning artist Drake, in which he gives away all of the money that was budgeted for his video.

“While we had a modest budget for the project, we made the most of it and had a positive impact on the organizations and people we encountered,” said Jennifer Naeve, Ascentra Chief Marketing Officer. “We hope that others are inspired as well and will pay it forward themselves.”

In addition to releasing the video on April 28, Ascentra is encouraging people to share how they are paying it forward by using the hashtags #Ascentra and #PayItForward.

Citizens First Bank Makes Donation to Gateway After Prom

Citizens First Bank employees recently presented a donation to represen-tatives of the Gateway After Prom committee.

Citizens First Bank donates to the Gateway After Prom event each time the Clinton High School River Kings make a first down during the regular football season. The program is under the direction of KROS Radio and is called “Citizens First First Down.” This year, Citizens First Bank provided a total of $640 to the group to help support this safe after prom event. The Gateway After Prom aims to provide a fun filled safe evening of entertain-ment for the prom attendees from Clinton High School, Camanche High School, Fulton High School, and Prince of Peace.

Organizer Joan Current stated, “With the help of many businesses and individuals in the area, this event has continued and prospered. The area parents really appreciate having a safe and fun place for their kids to go after prom.”

Gateway After Prom is a group effort, with parents from 4 schools (Caman-che, Clinton, Fulton and Prince of Peace) coming together to organize an event that offers area high school students a fun place to gather after prom.

This year, kids will enjoy laser tag, numerous blow ups - including the pop-ular one from 2017 called Last Man Standing, Bingo, a lip sync contest, the Dating Game, big tricycles, ping pong and bags tournaments and even

escape rooms. Refreshments and food will be available from many local establishments. The evening will conclude with hypnotist and mentalist Brian Imbus. Over 400 students are expected to attend this year’s event. Students will pay $5.00 to help cover some costs - but all entertainment and food is included. Prizes will be awarded at the end of the event includ-ing, cash, college dorm items and electronics.

CCC Alumni Association Bus Trip to TOOTSIE

The Clinton Community College Alumni Association will host a bus trip to see the play TOOTSIE on Saturday, September 29, 2018. Tickets are limited.

Originally starring Dustin Hoffman in the lead role, TOOTSIE tells the story of struggling actor Michael Dorsey who’s got a bad reputation and decides to take somewhat drastic action in order to change his fate. Featuring Clin-ton’s own Andy Grotelueschen, this play will head to New York’s Broadway in Spring of 2019.

TOOTSIE will star Tony Award® nominee Santino Fontana as struggling actor Michael Dorsey. Santino is well known to television audiences for his role as Greg on “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.” His many Broadway credits include his Tony®-nominated performance in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinder-ella, Billy Elliot, Sunday in the Park with George, and Brighton Beach Memoirs.

TOOTSIE features an original score by Tony Award® nominee David Yaz-bek (The Band’s Visit, The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), a book by Robert Horn (13; Dame Edna, Back with a Vengeance), choreography by Tony Award® nominee Denis Jones (Holiday Inn, Honeymoon in Vegas), and musical direction by Andrea Grody. TOOTSIE will be directed by eight-time Tony Award® nominee and Olivier Award winner Scott Ellis (She Loves Me, On the Twentieth Century).

The Tony Award®-winning design team for TOOTSIE includes scenic designer David Rockwell, costume designer William Ivey Long, lighting design by Donald Holder, and sound design by Brian Ronan. Based on the story by Don McGuire and Larry Gelbart and the Columbia Pictures Motion Picture.

Tootsie will be performed at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. The package includes a ticket to the musical and the bus transportation. Meals and other expenses are the responsibility of each individual. Bus loads at 7:30 a.m. at the Clinton Community College parking lot, 1000 Lincoln Blvd., Clinton, and departs at 7:45 a.m. with return at approximately 8:00 p.m.Cost is $95 per person. Payment must be made at the time of reservation. To reserve your seat, call 563-244-7001 or come to CCC and speak with the Information Desk. There are no refunds.

For more information, contact Ann Eisenman at 563-244-7040.

Sell Now for the Best Price

After analyzing the data from the first quarter of 2018, and reviewing overall housing trends, there are several reasons why now is the best time to sell. 1. With mortgage rates climbing, it’s time for sellers to act. As average mortgage rates inch higher, house hunters lose purchasing power, mean-ing they can’t qualify for as much of a loan. The consequence? Higher rates mean a smaller pool of potential homebuyers. 2. Affordable homes are in particularly short supply.

“Affordable” varies by market. Below we show months of inventory for what is considered affordable, and inventory for more expensive homes.

continued....

Business BITS

10

3. Most of our markets are “Seller’s Markets.” Ask a Realtor if your home is in a buyer’s market or a seller’s market. We consider a buyer’s market to be more than six months of inventory and a seller’s market to be three months or less of inventory. Four to six months is a balanced market, favoring neither buyer nor seller. Location, price range and demand impact months of inventory.

4. Home prices have appreciated in our region. Home prices have appreci-ated from 9% - 17% in our region over the past 5 years, and from 2% - 5% over the past year, depending on your market and price range.

5. High buyer demand. Rising mortgage rates have pushed buyers into the market so they can lock in today’s still relatively low rates and afford more house. As of April 30, 2018, mortgage rates with no points were: 15-year Conventional Fixed......4.000% 30-year Conventional Fixed......4.500% FHA/VA 30-year Fixed..............4.500% 5/1 ARM (Adjust-able Rate Mortgage)..4.200%

2018 Forecast Our first quarter sales were relatively flat compared to last year, due to a long, cold winter and to a shortage of affordable inventory. We still expect sales volume to be up 1% - 2% for the year and for homes to continue to appreciate.

Junior College World Series Regionals Held in Clinton

The National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association (NJCAA) brought Regional XI Division II (DII) rounds for the Junior College World Series to Ashford University Field May 9th through May 16th. This marks the first time in the over 80-year history at Ashford University Field that the tourna-ment was held in Clinton.

Eight teams met at Ashford University Field for a double elimination tournament with the winner representing Region XI in the 18 team NJCAA World Series in Enid Oklahoma.

The Iowa Community College Athletic Conference is home to the Region XI DII participants and features Kirkwood Community College, Southeast-ern Community College, Northern Iowa Area Community College, Iowa Central Community College, Ellsworth Community College, Des Moines Area Community College, Iowa Lakes Community College, and Northeast Community College.

The tournament began with a play-in game on Wednesday, May 9th between the seven and eight seeded teams. Seeding for all eight teams was deter-mined following the conclusion of conference play on Tuesday, May 8th.

Following the play-in game, three games were played on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday running from May 10-13.

Surge Summit Spring 2018 Winners

The University of Iowa’s Venture School, a nationally recognized program for entrepreneurs developed by John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, held its closing workshop, Surge Summit, on Friday, April 27th. Twelve teams completed the intensive eight-week program with a streamlined curriculum developed by the National Science Foundation at Stanford University and the University of California, Berkley. A total of $14,000 was awarded to current and alumni venture school businesses during a final pitch competition at Surge Summit.

Venture School Spring 2018 Award Winning Teams First Place | $3,000 | Mo’ Goodness (Des Moines), creating a clean spicy food line for the specialty food market . Second Place | $2,000 | Trigger Engineering, LLC. (Le Claire), developing an attachable interactive modular shooting system. Third Place | $1,000 | Windsmart Systems (Des Moines), harnesses wind forces to build quantifiably superior commercial roofs. Fourth Place | $500 | Creative Habitat (Waukee), a workspace for parents, play space for kids, and creative co-working community. Judges Choice | $500 | Cohco Gear

(Sioux City), creating medical clothing that allows patients to mitigate infection risk, heal comfortably, and live fully. Venture School Alumni Awards First Place | $3,000| Insulights (Sioux City), an affordable agriculture electric fence insulator that helps live-stock and orchard managers protect their electric fences. Second Place | $2,000 | Citispoon (Davenport), a community-based restaurant app that personalizes dining recommendations. Third Place | $1,000 | FixxStick (Des Moines), a tool filled with cotton swabs pre-saturated with makeup remover to correct or touch up cosmetics. Fourth Place | $500 | Hungry Goat (Davenport), making organic produce more accessible by sustain-ably growing high quality vegetables and herbs indoors. Judges Choice | $500 | Via-Wise (Iowa City), provides truck drivers with an evidence-based weather assessment and routing recommendations to provide a safer driving environment

The University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center 108 Pap-pajohn Business Bldg. Ste. S160D Iowa City, IA 52242 | Office: 319-335-102 iowajpec@uiowa.edu | www.iowajpec.org

Other current Venture School cohort participants included: Artispreneur, Kessi Solutions, QC Open, VIVED, Road Jet, Applink.io, and Silver Spaces.

Other Venture School alumni participants included: Agiloak, OVOLV3 Group, and Paradise Utopia. Venture School is now accepting applications for the statewide fall 2018 cohort. For more information about Venture School or to apply, visit: https://www.iowajpec.org/community/venture-school 2018 Iowa SBA Small Business Person of the Year - Bob Simpson

Bob Simpson, Big River Packaging - President, received recognition as the 2018 Iowa SBA Small Business Person of the Year on May 2nd during the SMART Economic Development Conference in Des Moines. It was announced last month that Simpson had been selected by the Iowa SBA as a leader in small business development following the continued growth of Big River Packaging (Clinton).

The wood carved eagle trophy was presented to Bob & Kip Simpson by Io-wa’s SBA Director, Jayne Armstrong and SBA Region VII Administrator, Tom Salisbury. Armstrong extended her appreciation to Bob as a leader, and as an entrepreneur demonstrating the successful use of four SBA loans.

The CRDC would like to congratulate the entire Big River Packaging Team.

CCC Art Gallery Exhibit Geoffrey Mikol

Clinton Community College will host the Geoffrey Mikol Art Exhibit at the CCC Library Art Gallery. The exhibit lasts through August 2018. The Artists Reception was held on Tuesday, May 29.

Geoffrey Mikol is a professional artist that owns River Bend Gallery with his family, in historic Galena, Illinois. As a person born with Down syndrome, Geoffrey has found a special connection with photography as a means of expressing himself. His artwork is stunning, catching elusive light that the eye sees but that cameras often miss. He has a talent for capturing moments in nature that still the soul and quiet your senses. Only 24 years old, Geoffrey has studied and practiced his photography now for nearly a decade, with spectacular results.

The community is welcome to visit the CCC Art Gallery during Library hours, 1000 Lincoln Blvd., Clinton. For more information, contact CCC at 563-244-7001.

Business BITS

11

Biz After 5Hosted by

Peaceful RiverCreations

Join us for fun and networking!Food & Drink - Fishbowl drawing

Free to all chamber members and their employees!

243 5th Ave S, Clinton, IAThursday, June 14th

5-7 pm

$1000 River City Gold Sponsors

Clinton Engineering Co. Inc.

12

2017 - 2018Executive CommitteeDaniel HousengaLyondellBasellChairmanLori SusieSedona Staffing Services1st Vice ChairShane BuerMercy Medical Center2nd Vice ChairJennifer BoysenClinton National BankTreasurerJennifer WeaverWild Rose Casino & ResortCVB Board ChairGerry FreudenbergAdvantage Point Group - 3M CordovaPast Chairman

Board of DirectorsDean BrainerdADM Corn ProcessingJon CapellaSkyline Center, Inc.Ron DlouhyClysar, LLCEddie DunhamCitizens First BankHeather EvansClinton Community CollegeAmy KerrNestlePurina PetCare CompanyCheryl McCullohUnited Way of Clinton County, Iowa Sara MisiewiczClinton National BankDavid PillersPillers and RichmondMike RastrelliRastrelli's RestaurantChad SeelyHy-Vee Food & PharmacyBecky TemperlyHowes & Jefferies Realtors

CHAMBERNews is published by the ClintonArea Chamber of Commerce, a not-for-profit

corporation, serving the business communitiesof Clinton and Camanche, IA and Fulton, IL.

Phone: 563-242-5702Fax: 563-242-5803

E-Mail: chamber@clintonia.com

www.clintonia.comwww.clintoniowatourism.com

15

Look forVisit Clinton, Iowa!& Clinton Chamber

on Facebook & Twitter

Scenes from Biz After 5

Mark your calendars for the Annual Golf Playday

on Friday, July 27th, 12:00 Noon at Valley Oaks Golf Course.

2018 - 2019Executive CommitteeLori SusieSedona Staffing ServicesChairShane BuerMercy Medical Center1st Vice Chair

Eddie DunhamCitizens First Bank2nd Vice ChairJennifer BoysenClinton National BankTreasurerJennifer WeaverWild Rose Casino & ResortCVB Board ChairDaniel HousengaLyondellBasellPast Chairman

Board of DirectorsDean BrainerdADM Corn ProcessingRoger BrechtNestle Purina PetCare Co.Aaron BubholtzBrown’s Shoe Fit

Heather EvansClinton Community CollegeSara MisiewiczClinton National BankWendy OttensSweet WoodruffKelly PenningClysar, LLCDavid PillersPillers and RichmondChad SeelyHy-Vee Food & PharmacyBecky TemperlyHowes & Jefferies RealtorsLindsay ThorntonHomer’s DeliHeather WuebbenTimken Drives

13