Osceola Chamber Main Street: Celebrating 25 Years as a Main Street Community

Last Updated 4/25/2022

On the front page of the Main Street Messenger, Winter 1997 edition, representatives from Osceola stand with Steering Committee Chairperson, Ginny Caligiuri, as she accepts the Certificate of Recognition from Governor Branstad, after Osceola was announced as the newest Main Street community. The application was submitted September 3, 1997, with Co-Applicants the City of Osceola and Osceola Chamber of Commerce.

According to the article, Osceola met the qualifications as a Main Street community because of its demonstrated commitment to the Main Street Philosophy, historic building fabric, potential for success, demographics, previous commercial endeavors, and readiness for the program.

Ginny Caligiuri, who had lived in the Main Street town of Iowa Falls, Chaired the steering committee. This group was responsible for the extensive application process, “This is a very exciting time for Osceola... Osceola had considered applying for the Main Street program for several years, so we gathered information from Iowa Falls and received overwhelming support from our local residents.”

The late U.S. Representative, Leonard Boswell, wrote a letter of support for Osceola, “I have seen first-hand in the Third Congressional District, the rewards of Main Street…Osceola is on the rise with a great core of community leaders and volunteers, but the Main Street program will bring a new sense of excitement and continuity and instill a sense of community pride.”

Chamber of Commerce President, Kevin Klemsrud, was pleased with the selection, “We are ecstatic about becoming part of Main Street; the time has come…the merchants are looking for new business improvement ideas and direction in bringing our downtown buildings back to their historic value. We also want to make better use of downtown in terms of housing in terms of upper stories and to look at several renovation projects including our theater.”

Pictured Above: 1997 Main Street Steering Committee; Back Row L-R: Beverly Dixon, Dan White, Gerald Edwards, Kevin Klemesrud, Duayne Fletcher, Kim Reynolds, Bill Bloom; Front Row L-R: Becky Persels, Todd Thompson, Governor Branstad, Ginny Caligiuri, Vicky Halvorsen

The Function of a Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber of Commerce is a business network and designed to promote and protect business owners while advancing their community, region, state or nation. Local members elect a board of directors or executive council to set policy and typically, only members of the Chamber of Commerce received benefits.

Becky Persel was the Chamber of Commerce Director when the idea of becoming a Main Street town began to form. Although she was very dedicated and energetic, she was only paid a small stipend, and often used her own money to buy supplies or anything needed for an event. Many of the events OCMS hosts, today, were implemented by Becky.

Becky saw the need for Main Street and as Chamber and Main Street began to merge, she was there to help with the process; she supported the partnership as what was best for the future of the community

The Main Street Purpose

The National Trust for Historic Preservation developed the Main Street Program in response to continued threats to historic commercial architecture and economic activity in small-city downtowns and promotes economic development within the context of historic preservation. Main Street is a division of the Iowa Economic Development Authority.

Osceola Chamber Main Street utilizes the Main Street Four Point Approach® to create a vital and energetic downtown district:

  • Economic Vitality: Strengthen and broaden the economic base of downtown and the community by identifying potential markets, finding new uses for underused spaces, and improving business practices.
  • Design: Encourage visual improvement of the downtown district.
  • Promotion: Promoting the downtown district as a source of community pride, social activity, and economic potential.
  • Organization: Establishing a strong Main Street program that brings together the public sector, private groups and individual citizens to work more effectively in the commercial district and the community.

Main Street Merged with Chamber in 2006

Merging the Chamber of Commerce with Main Street doubled the impact of the organizations. OCMS has the position of supporting all businesses either through event sponsorship exposure, grants for façade work and signage, and/or general tourism advertising.

As Kevin’s quote illustrates, the work is never done. There will always be buildings to rehabilitate, and small businesses continually need support to thrive. This organization must have a wide volunteer base to successfully host events and complete the program goals.

Accomplishments and Community Partnerships Go Together

Executive Director, Ashleigh Eckels combed through the archives to discover how OCMS has supported the community since the designation of becoming a Main Street community in 1997:  Volunteer hours total nearly 50,000; over $7,700,000.00 invested in downtown building projects; over $60,000 granted to any qualified small business through the Building Improvement and Backdoor Grants in partnership with CCDC; and over $23,000 granted for the OCMS Sign and Awning Grant for over 35 businesses. 

Partnering with the Clarke County Development Corporation, the Building Improvement Façade Grant provided 1:1 matching funds up to $15,000 to help small business owners around Osceola improve building exteriors including tuck-pointing/masonry repair, window and door replacement and framing, and paint. Our newest grant, The Backdoor Grant provides 1:1 matching funds to cover anything needed at the back of the building to help with accessibility, safety and aesthetics. 

The OCMS Sign and Awning Grant also covers half of the funds needed for a project and awarded as funds are available.

From the initiation of Osceola's Chamber of Commerce and the 1997 designation of becoming a Main Street Community below are several projects and achievements we have accomplished: 

·         Osceola Chamber and Osceola Rotary Club initiated the Community Service Award in 1950 and continue to co-sponsor 

·         1999 – 2010: Partnered with local banks to organize a “Design & Low Interest Loan Program” for building façade projects

·         2003- Organized the 31st RAGRBRAI through Osceola

·         2004- Awarded the Keep Iowa Beautiful Grant to bring awareness to and help control liter in the downtown

·         2010-2012-Masonic Lodge Turned Cornerstone Suite Apartments (Hazard Property turned into 6 luxury apartments downtown.)

·         2013 - Awarded the IEDA Challenge Grant for Howe-Garner Hotel Remodel – 130 South Fillmore (tuckpointing, repair/restoration of windows, roof repair).

·         2013-2014-Partnered with City of Osceola and was awarded the Community Development Block Grant – Rehabilitated 14 Downtown Property Facades

·         2016-2018-Partnership with the City of Osceola, CCDC and OCMS for Wayfinding Signage

·         2018- Accepted responsibility for 4th of July Celebration

·         2018- Osceola Commercial Historic District is listed on National Register of Historic Places

·         2020 – Awarded a Grant to Host ‘Museums on Main, traveling Smithsonian Exhibit, Voices and Votes. Partnered with City of Osceola, Clarke Area Arts Council, Clarke County Historical Society and other community groups.

·         2021- Restarted the partnership with CCDC for façade improvement (Building Improvement Grant), matching grants which had previously run from 2009-2010. 

·         2022- Partnered with City of Osceola for the CDBG-Covid Façade Grant to rehabilitate 8 downtown building facades

·         Ongoing: Partnering with Clarke County Publishing to create Osceola Living and the Entertainment Guide to promote businesses and tourism activities in Clarke County.

·         Ongoing: Widening tourism outreach through Southern Iowa Tourism publication

·         Ongoing: Organizing Community Events: Snowflake Ball (10+ Years), Easter Egg Hunt(35+Years), Latino Festival (15+Years), Trunk or Treat (15+Years), Wine Walk (15+Years), Holiday Brilliance (15+Years)

·         Ongoing: Upkeep of courtyard landscape beds and plantings


Looking Forward Through the Eye of a Veteran OCMS Board Member

Dave Bemis, Marketing Director for American State Bank, has been the treasurer for over a decade and is also on the Total Resource Campaign Team, “I feel like this organization is a good fit for me to help the community grow and prosper.”  Dave is very proud of numerous projects but especially the Fourth of July events,” …We were handed the Fourth of July festivities with little time to prepare. We came through it successfully and have not looked back since. It is still the most impactful event in Osceola.”

With all the accomplishments, Dave sees the next big challenge to keep the organization moving forward is to acquire more volunteers. “[We need] younger individuals and more business involvement at the board level… Just try it one time, you will be hooked- volunteering is good for the body, mind and soul! Our city and county will continue to thrive; therefore, your business will thrive if you encourage employees to volunteer.”

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