Northwest Iowa - Despite the dire news about the rest of the country, Northwest Iowa communities continue to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit with several area businesses opening their doors. Some are endeavors by brave people who have a vision of owning their own business. Others are larger stores opening branch operations throughout the area. Below is a brief description of these success stories.
Sunrise Homes to Open in Hospers
Sheldon Airport Receives Grant Funds
Orange City, IA - Orange City Physical Therapy opened its doors in early February 2009. It is owned by Monica Aalbers fo Orange City. She says the new office will give Orange City residents a choice in the PT needs. The Orange City Area Health System also offers physical therapy services. "It's always nice to have a choice," said Aalbers.
One area of service that the new physical therapy clinic will provide is intensive pediatric therapy. Orange City Physical Therapy will be one of the only two practices in Iowa that will spend intense hours with accident-recovering children over a three-week period to help them return to heatlth.
Rock Valley, Iowa - Rock Valley, Iowa welcomed its newest retail store, Bomgaars. The store opened on Friday, January 16, 2009 and received an excited welcome by area residents. Construction on the new store begain in Febuary 2008, and was slated to open in October 2008. however, due to weather-related delays, construction was not completed until much later than anticipated.
Ron Thompson, manager of the Rock Valley Bomgaars, is excited about this edeavor. He thinks the store is what Rock Valley needed. Of the 18 new employees, 15 were hired from the local community and surrounding area. Response to the store has been very positive. Customers are impressed with the attractiveness of the store and are satisfied with its retail offerings and customer service.
Hospers, IA - The Hospers Area Development Corporation, along with the City of Hospers, has developed Sunrise Homes Cooperative. This 10-unit housing complex will allow residents all the comforts of home without the stress of maintenance. Chuck Mulder, president of the HADC said the idea came about mainly because the town does not have such a facility, but the need was there. Five units will be constructed by April 2009. Four of those units have already been purchased. The remaining five units will be built as needed.
The impact on the Hospers economy has many factors. As people retire and wish to move into these units, their homes will come up for sale, so younger families will move to town and buy the houses that will be on the market. The housing complex provides employment as well. A part-time manager will over-see the units and part-time janitors and groundskeepers will maintain the yards and snow removal. Not only does the local economy receive a "shot in the arm," but the quality of life is raised by having housing options for the retiring portion of the area's population.
Sheldon, IA - The Sheldon Regional Airport was awarded $238,827 in "entitlement funds" from the Federal Aviation Administration. The SRA will use the funds from the FAA's Airport Improvement Program to construct an 80-by-80-foot conventional hangar facility.
