Main Street Elkader off to promising start under Holst’s leadership

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By Willis Patenaude | Times-Register

 

While Amy Holst has been the Main Street Elkader (MSE) Director for just a few months, a recent update given to the Elkader City Council provided a few insights into the early months of her tenure, successes so far and the direction she is forging, not only for herself, but the community.

 

For starters, Holst has seemingly given the position the stability it has been searching for, as well as brought a spark of ideas that underscore a deep-rooted commitment to Elkader’s success. But ideas require effort to transition from an abstraction to something tangible. With that in mind, Holst set an early goal in July and hit the pavement, looking to connect with every business owner by mid-September, something she posed as “vital” because building relationships with the local business community is one of the main functions of the MSE Director.

 

Those meetings have multiple purposes, such as building trust between Holst and the business owner, and gaining an understanding of each business’s specific needs and challenges, so she can “offer tailored support.” 

 

Holst is looking to create a more cohesive business community, to drive local growth and enhance resiliency, while also identifying opportunities for collaboration. This includes seeking grant funding for Elkader’s upper-story housing, façade improvements and other projects that will support buildings that are still suffering from long-lasting effects of the 2008 flood.

 

This will give Holst information on gaps that need to be addressed, help facilitate further connections and strengthen Elkader’s business landscape. Holst was straight to the point about a key goal: to “boost tourism” in the city.

 

“The more visitors we attract, the more economic activity we generate. Main Street and the city of Elkader are committed to showcasing our local businesses to ensure our community knows about all the great shopping options available right here,” she said.

 

One specific area is dining options, which Holst stated is something community members have been asking about, like bringing a Mexican or Chinese restaurant to town. Holst is “actively reaching out” to restaurant owners in the area to gauge their interest in opening a second location in Elkader.

 

Another example is attracting new businesses to downtown, which has seen a few storefronts change or shutter in the last few weeks. Varied as the reasons may be for the cause, it’s still occurring. 

 

In addressing this issue, Holst expressed the crucial nature of communication and awareness since offering support from MSE is difficult if there is a lack of both. She also noted “empty storefronts are a common issue everywhere,” with surveys revealing people are prioritizing essentials over non-essentials.

 

“Understanding the specific challenges each business faces will allow us to develop solutions that not only help retain these storefronts but also strengthen our entire community,” Holst said.

 

Undeterred, Holst has endeavored to attract new businesses, hinting that three businesses from other communities have shown interest in opening a location in Elkader. Conversations remain ongoing.

 

“Elkader is known for its open-minded, welcoming and fun atmosphere, making it a great place for new businesses,” Holst said.

 

There’s even been some recent successes in this area, with the opening of Old Crow Mercantile earlier this month and with the announcement that Finery, a women’s apparel store in Manchester, is opening a second location in Elkader.

 

“The more businesses we attract to Elkader—even those similar to existing storefronts—the more likely we are to become a destination for travelers. A vibrant business scene not only enhances our community but also draws more visitors, benefiting everyone involved,” Holst explained.

 

Coupled with this are the numerous opportunities Elkader provides for local businesses, such as the Revolving Loan Fund (RLF), a program administered by the Economic Vitality Committee under MSE. It offers small business loans, designed for private, for-profit businesses involved in retail, small-scale industry or service sectors. The money can be used for property acquisition, improvements and equipment or inventory purchases. According to Holst, the fund currently supports six businesses, with a few more on a wait list.

 

Holst also pointed toward the Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant, which is available for brick-and-mortar building projects that contribute to the development of designated Main Street Iowa districts. The grant is a highly competitive application and focuses on comprehensive building rehabilitation projects that provide increased business, housing or job opportunities. Over the summer, Holst noted that four local applications were received, though only one application can be selected for further consideration.

 

“The state will announce nine winners in early November. The Challenge Grant offers a match of up to $100,000. If chosen at the state level, the selected local applicant plans to use the grant to rehabilitate part of their building for a new business lease and to renovate a second-story housing project,” Holst said. She declined to state what the specific project is, preferring to hold off until the winner is announced.

 

One thing Holst announced was a brand new initiative called Light Up the Night. The event is a collaboration between MSE and the Elkader Area Chamber of Commerce to create a holiday light display through the Elkader City Campground between Nov. 22 and Dec. 31. Special events on the weekends will include hay rides, carriage rides, a photo op with Santa, snow shoeing and an ugly sweater run, among many others.

 

Furthermore, Holst mentioned launching a TikTok account called ElkaderIowa “to further boost awareness of the fantastic businesses, museums and recreational opportunities in Elkader and highlight the exciting adventures awaiting visitors.”

 

This year also marked the 10th anniversary of Art in the Park, which the MSE Director has always played a part in, whether it’s being on the festival committee to help track financials or with budgeting ideas, or during the festival weekend, when “they have been go-to core volunteers,” said one of the event coordinators, Ashley Althoff.

 

“Being part of Main Street Elkader has also helped the festival acquire recognition from the state level and the Iowa Arts Council,” Althoff added.

 

The success of this festival is evidenced by the fact that, when it began, there were just 25—mostly local—artists, while this year there were 50 artists coming from Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota, with some applying from as far away as Omaha, Neb., to bring their artistry to Elkader.

 

Althoff noted growth has likely had a positive economic impact on Elkader, estimating that the festival garnered over $50,000 in sales based on vendor feedback in the park alone and attracts roughly 2,000 people every year.  

 

“While we don’t know specific numbers of how that affects downtown, we do know that many festival-goers do also explore Elkader and surrounding towns, shopping, dining, using local gas stations and even staying overnight,” Althoff explained.

 

It’s just one of many collaborations MSE has, and one of the many reasons Holst has “thoroughly enjoyed” the role as MSE Director.

 

“Being out in the streets, working with local businesses and engaging with our community has been incredibly fulfilling, [and] the most rewarding part is uncovering the numerous opportunities and innovative ideas that can significantly enhance our community,” Holst said.

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