Western Iowa Development Association

10/16/2026

This is a great opportunity to help the City of Neola, Iowa update the new website!

📣 CALLING ALL NEOLA BUSINESS OWNERS! 📣

The City of Neola is excited to introduce our new NEOLA BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT! 🖤💛

This six-month pilot program was created to celebrate the businesses and people who help make our community what it is!

Twice each month, we'll feature a local business right here on the City of Neola page. We'll introduce the people behind the business, share what they offer, highlight what makes them special, and help our community discover more of what Neola has to offer.

Because this isn't just about promoting individual businesses — it's about telling Neola's story through the people who invest in our community.

📣 OWN A BUSINESS IN NEOLA? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Comment your business name below to be considered for an upcoming Business Spotlight!

To participate, businesses must be listed in the City of Neola's website Business Directory.

Not listed yet? No worries! Please comment below and someone will contact you about getting your business added! Home-based and independently operated businesses are welcome to express interest, too!

We'll feature approximately 12 businesses during our initial six-month pilot, and selected businesses will be contacted for photographs and additional information.

✨ There is no cost to participate!

Know a Neola business owner who deserves some recognition? Tag them below!

Let's celebrate the people who make Neola a wonderful place to live, work, and grow.

🖤💛 Historic Roots. Strong Community. Bright Future. 💛🖤

NEOLA, IOWA • EST. 1882

10/15/2026

Fantastic evening in the City of Avoca, Iowa - Government we celebrated with a Ribbon Cutting, Pasta Dinner, and First Impressions Community Forum !

It was wonderful seeing so many people come together for the celebration of the newly renovated Avoca Veterans Community Center and The Post You -could feel the small-town pride as everyone gathered to celebrate this special milestone.

A big thank you to the City of Avoca, American Legion Post #227, Avoca Main Street, Inc., and everyone who helped make this happen.

Enjoy these images from tonight’s ribbon-cutting celebration! 📸

WIDA is proud to celebrate the people and partnerships that make our rural communities such great places to live, work, and do business!


https://widaiowa.org/

10/13/2026

Congratulations!

10/09/2026

The City of Minden Iowa - McClure Recognized for Tornado Recovery Efforts

MINDEN, Iowa — The Iowa Chapter of the American Public Works Association has named the City of Minden and McClure recipients of its Disaster or Emergency Construction/Repair Project of the Year award. The honor recognizes a coordinated recovery effort launched after an April 2024 EF-3 tornado devastated approximately forty percent of Minden. The work restores essential services, stabilizes damaged properties, rebuilds public facilities and community assets, supports housing and economic recovery, and strengthens the community’s long-term resilience.

As the City’s lead recovery consultant and project integrator, McClure has supplemented limited municipal staff capacity while coordinating planning, funding, design, engineering, implementation, and community engagement across the interconnected recovery effort.

“This award is a testament to all who have been involved in rebuilding our community over the past two and a half years,” said Mayor Kevin Zimmerman. “This recognition is a nod to our community’s resilience and a push to continue what we’ve been doing alongside so many partners.”

The recovery has advanced infrastructure, housing, public spaces, municipal facilities, economic development, and long-range planning as one coordinated effort. Projects include a water distribution system and new well; a new water treatment plant; a new 40-acre housing development and new duplexes; a new urban renewal district; the revitalization of Kahler Park; the stabilization and revitalization of downtown business buildings; and an expanded community recreation hub that leverages the Great American Rail Trail.

As the Iowa Chapter award winner, the project will advance for consideration for an APWA national award in the spring.


# # #­
Nestled in southwest Iowa, the City of Minden is home to 600 people. Incorporated in 1880, this Pottawattamie County community is moving forward with strength after being struck by two tornadoes in spring 2024. The Iowa West Foundation, United Way of the Midlands Disaster Recovery Fund, and Pottawattamie County gaming funds are supporting its long-term recovery efforts.

10/08/2026

SAVE THE DATE!!
The City of Avoca, American Legion Post #227 and Avoca Main Street, Inc. , Inc. ., as we celebrate a major milestone in downtown Avoca—and YOU’RE INVITED to be part of what comes next!
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
📍 112 N. Elm Street | Downtown Avoca The Post
✂️ 5:00 PM – GRAND OPENING & RIBBON CUTTING!
Join us as we officially celebrate the beautifully renovated Avoca Veterans Community Center and The Post Legion Pub! This incredible investment was made possible through the generosity and collaboration of many local donors, the Iowa West Foundation, the Schultz Family, the American Legion, the City of Avoca and many dedicated partners.
5:30 PM – PASTA & DESSERT DINNER
Provided by Avoca Jr. Federated and the Masons. Dinner is reserved for registered First Impressions participants and limited to the first 80 registrants.
6:00 PM – FIRST IMPRESSIONS COMMUNITY FORUM
What did visitors REALLY think of Avoca?
Avoca was one of just FIVE Iowa communities selected for the 2026 First Impressions Program! Iowa State University will reveal what anonymous visitors discovered about our community—our strengths, opportunities and recommendations for the future.
But we don't just want you to hear the findings. We want YOUR voice at the table! Help us identify priorities, share ideas and turn opportunities into meaningful action.
✅ PLEASE REGISTER BY NOON, MONDAY, OCTOBER 12!
Registration helps us plan for dinner, seating and forum materials. You're welcome to register for any or all of the festivities!
👉 EVENT DETAILS & REGISTRATION:
https://www.cityofavoca.com/article/3179015

10/08/2026

Halloween is almost here! ✨
Our small towns have some fun things planned, so save the dates and get out to enjoy the festivities.

Have a Halloween event happening in your community?
Drop it in the comments so we can help spread the word!

Hope to see ya out and about! 🎃

10/08/2026

Hope to see ya there!! 👻 It’s getting spooky, and we’d love for you to join!
Come enjoy some fun, and a little Halloween magic!

10/07/2026

Absolute Dance Academy Neola this is adorable!

10/07/2026

Skating season is here!! See ya at UMBA HALL

2026-2027 skate session starts THIS FRIDAY! Who are we seeing there? 🛼🛼

10/06/2026

Let's treat your teacher!! Tweets Treynor

The power is in your hands Treynor…

Let’s make as many staff members as we can happy, happy, happy!

Orders due by 9:30 Tuesday. 😊😀🙂

The path to happiness: https://tweetstreynor.square.site/?utm_id=97759_v0_s00_e0_tv3&location_id=L1EVJB402MP1P&fulfillment=PICKUP&fbclid=IwVERDUAUxHflleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWZkaWQWUPzCPn_VBmKXseHeVoGh3wR29QahVHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR6_Eng3Q1u9R71sjpZC18C27YikZnknZYMkB0xN3x6QqMyQj4kkErtpPM8eCQ_aem_XkCP73zJ0sY3usguES6RNQ