Elkader leaders invited to governor's speech
Main Street Elkader Board President Kristin Fitzgerald (left), Economic Development Director Samantha Baumgartner and City Administrator Jennifer Cowsert stand in the state capitol building while attending Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Condition of the State Address. (Submitted photo)
By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register
“In Elkader, the small community of just 1,200 remade itself into a destination by creating one of Iowa’s first whitewater courses, by reviving landmarks like the Elkader Theater and the opera house, and by opening numerous restaurants, bars and coffee shops that have created a cultural hub,” said Gov. Kim Reynolds during her 2022 condition of the state address last week.
The mention was a momentous occasion for the city of Elkader and the lucky few residents who attended the speech, including economic development director Samantha Baumgartner, city administrator Jennifer Cowsert and Main Street Elkader Board President Kristin Fitzgerald.
They all said they felt “honored.” Honored to be part of the volunteers, business owners, community members and others dedicated to making Elkader what it is today.
“Without all of these dedicated individuals throughout the years, Elkader would not have received this invitation and would not be the ‘speech-worthy’ small town that we are today,” they said.
The Elkader group’s attendance at the speech was no small feat. According to the trio, the invite process began several months ago when a representative from Main Street Iowa and the Iowa Economic Development Authority contacted Main Street Elkader because Reynolds was looking to highlight communities and downtowns that actively demonstrate placemaking as part of their economic development strategies.
Of course, the very idea of placemaking featured prominently in Baumgartner’s approach after she took over as economic development director, and it was going to be a feature of the governor’s speech to discuss statewide success stories—of which Elkader was selected.
But that selection wasn’t known right away, as no one knew officially until about a week before the speech. The phone call confirming the invite was an “exhilarating moment,” the trio said.
“It meant the governor and her team saw Elkader as one of the places within the whole state of Iowa to be, [and] to have the governor of the state of Iowa and her team recognize that our community is a special place that is moving in the right direction was one of the highest compliments we could receive,” they explained.
Beyond that, the recognition brings opportunities and awareness to the success of not just Elkader but all of northeast Iowa. According to the group, the recognition also tells a small piece of Elkader’s story and positions the small city as a “model for success” to be emulated.
“This recognition aids in increasing our level of tourism, residency and potential community project partners. All of this results in a stronger economic base for Elkader and helps to ignite more community support to grow on the success we have already experienced,” they said.
But they were also quick to point out that such success is a long process that requires effective partnerships and an engaged community. These elements are evidenced by the fact Elkader is a Cultural Entertainment District, has a chamber of commerce and that it is a state and national level accredited Main Street community. Not to mention it has an “invested community” whose members donated roughly 1,160 documented hours of volunteering in 2021. The city also had $127,412 in private downtown building investment last year.
According to the trio that attended the speech, these aspects represent “the backbone of our stability and growth and are the reason we were able to be recognized at the condition of the state address.”
As for being in attendance, it was a moment the trio wishes they could have shared with the entire city, with everyone who has dedicated their time, talent and finances to improving the community.
“[We] would like to sincerely thank each person who has used their unique giftings to serve our community. The old adage of it taking a village to raise children also applies to the development and sustainability of a community. It takes a village to cultivate a community like Elkader and we are incredibly thankful for each person who has poured into our great town,” they said.
“There is value anytime anyone says something positive about our community. As we all know, ‘word of mouth’ marketing can be very effective. So when that ‘word of mouth’ comes from the governor, at a speech covered statewide, it has the potential to reach thousands of people. We hope, as a result, people come to visit and see our wonderful town,” Cowsert added.
