Here’s where I am going to disagree. People are pretty disgusted with always hearing the bad news. We can pick up those stories on Facebook, or in the rags while standing in line at the grocery store. What if you actually just told the truth? Why not share some facts, and then find the stories behind the facts? Here, I’ll get you started.
Unemployment rates in Hamilton County (we are the county seat) are 3.8% as of November 2015. That is the same as the state of Iowa. New York’s is 5.7%. We’ve also got jobs here. Good paying jobs at that – visit Van Diest Supply and find multiple listings, with starting pay in the $17+ an hour range. Vantec, Inc. is hiring. So is Webster City Custom Meats. The list goes on. There is work here.
There is also opportunity here. We have room for entrepreneurs as well. We host events like EntreBash where we partner with groups like Wright Hamilton Entrepreneurial Network and find ways for people to start their own businesses. Small Business Development Centers are part of the SBA and they assist, at no charge, and help entrepreneurs as well. There are building owners that have put their buildings into the Incubator Project and are willing to rent their buildings at reduced rates to help people get started.
New businesses in town:
Prime Life LLC bought an empty building and specializes in total hormone balancing, stress management, preventive medicine, and the management of chronic medical conditions.
Mind and Body Clinic utilizes both traditional and complimentary therapies, with a focus on psychiatric medicine and osteopathic manipulation. They use space in the Prime Life facility.
Neighbors Heating and Cooling bought the Chalfant Plumbing building and business.
Victoria’s Bubble Tea was open for a year and rented space from Al the barber. She is no longer in business.
Iglesia Del Dios Pentecostal bought an empty building that was once rented by Public Health. They are a Hispanic church and active in the chamber as well.
Crispy Eggroll is renting an empty building and serves Asian, Vietnamese and Thai food.
VeroBlue Farms is capturing the opportunity to become the largest onshore, indoor facility of its kind in North America. Through its Iowa’s First Hub located in Webster City Iowa, VBF is expanding its production of the Barramundi fish species through a new urban farm with approximately 7.2 million pounds of production. They have already purchased one of the old Electrolux buildings and are converting it to grow fish.
La Perla Jarocha Restaurant is an offshoot of their grocery store and serves traditional Mexican food. They rent an empty building until their restaurant facility will be ready in the next year or so.
InTANDEM Workspace is a community of like-minded professionals who want a different kind of place to work. Located in one building, coworking is becoming the norm for many people.
Chicago Styles is a clothing store for hip, young people owned by a local Hispanic family. The Laotian Grocery Store is new to the community and features Laotian food stuffs.
El Benedicion Mexican Grocery Store is right next door and offers food and other services like phone cards as well.
The Webster Movie Theater reopened under HERO ownership. HERO is a nonprofit organization (Help Entertain and Restore Organization) that raised over $200,000 in a years’ time to save the movie theater and install new digital equipment.
SOS Vintage came to town to look at the Incubator Project and ended up buying their own building and opening up a store where people come from all over to shop.
Relax the Bath and TiDe Creations are two entrepreneurs who sell their products in SOS Vintage and bring originality to our community in a unique way. Soaps made for the gods and hand crafted leather items you can’t find anymore – niche markets that people are looking for.
Stein Heating and Cooling moved from the country into town and we’re happy to have them here.
Shopko Hometown found us because we are ideally located along Highway 20, and we’re their market.
Marlies Garage is a local young man and his wife who branched out on their own and fixes cars and does alignments and believes in working in their own hometown.
Maid-Rite serves the traditional sandwiches and other sandwiches, breakfasts and goodies as well. Also located along Highway 20 and locally owned.
Interior Spaces bought Classic Carpet and Interiors – they are full service interior decorator business.
Thrifty White moved to 2nd Street and Broadway.
Maharry Dental is scheduled to open this spring in a larger, new building.
Webster City Community Theatre has completed their expansion.
Van Diest Supply Company continues to expand.
WCF Financial Bank has moved to a new building in a new location.
Splash Graphics expanded their business to Webster City.
Future of Health Massage moved to a new location.
Lucinda Stone started Therapeutic Life Center of Massage College.
Leah Feltz Fitness and Magers Martial Arts now have classes here in town.
New Horizons Travel and The Computer Guy, two new businesses in town, are in the coworking space.
P and P Electric has expanded.
Storm Flying Service has new owners.
I’m sure I’ve missed some too – and to those people I apologize. It’s exciting to see all this growth!
Brendan did say “The town has not shriveled up, which is amazing.” I just wonder why he thinks that is so amazing. We are not quitters. One factory leaving doesn’t stop a town like Webster City.