News and Events

Friday, September 13, 2019

Hans Madsen Members of the Leadership Fort Dodge 2019-20 Class got a look at some of Fort Dodge’s rich history and a preserved historic home Thursday during the first of their nine monthly sessions. The series of daylong learning sessions, sponsored by the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, will each focus on a different aspect of the community. Jill Nelson, community development director for the Growth Alliance, said the program has several goals. “We’re hoping that throughout the program they find an area that they’re really into that they can get involved and get engaged with,” Nelson said. “We hope they take on leadershi...

Motocross and tiny houses

Friday, September 13, 2019

Hans Madsen The Webster County Conservation open house at the Gypsum City OHV Park had a most unwelcome visitor Thursday afternoon that was most certainly not on the guest list — several waves of torrential rain. While the rain might have soaked the ground and caused the cancellation of the hay ride tours, it did nothing to dampen the spirit of Webster County Conservation Director Matt Cosgrove. One of the first improvements at the park that greets visitors is a overhaul of the original motocross track. “We hired Cody Rodenborn,” Cosgrove said. “He took a week of vacation time and freshened it up.” The work...

How Community Giving is Making a Difference in Fort Dodge

Monday, September 09, 2019

Fort Dodge residents and businesses are incredibly generous with their time and money. The Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance exists because our investors believe that everyone benefits from a strong local economy. We are not the only organization who benefits from the generous support of the community. The Fort Dodge Community Foundation,United Way of Greater Fort Dodge, Fort Dodge Community Schools Foundation and so many others are able to fulfil their mission because of community giving. In turn, these organizations are actively working to make Fort Dodge the best place to live and raise a family. Reasons to Support Local Charities Charitie...

ShinyTop is thriving

Sunday, September 08, 2019

Chad Thompson Three years ago when brothers Todd and Nate McCubbin looked out the front window of their newly opened brewery on Central Avenue near City Square Park, they saw a very different picture of main street in Fort Dodge. “We have been looking out this window for over three years,” said Todd McCubbin, co-owner of ShinyTop Brewing, 520 Central Ave. “And when we opened, there was Lily Grace (antique store) and an open warehouse, and Dave Madsen’s Lifestyles Furnishings was an older building with an ’80s front on it. Since then Lifestyles Furnishings has been updated, Troy Schroeder (Memories in Focu...

Manson Makes Improvements

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Kelby Wingert The city of Manson recently completed a year-long streetscape project in its downtown area. The streetscape project, which was announced in January 2018 and broke ground in June 2018, was a much-needed update to the downtown business district, said Manson Mayor Dave George. “There were several things that came into play,” George said. “No. 1 was the condition of the street, condition of the sidewalks. The city and businesses, after the tornado in 1979, put up a wood facade or overhang on top of the sidewalks and a lot of that was deteriorating to the point where it was becoming unsafe...

Developer makes offer for Crossroads Mall

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Bill Shea A developer has made an offer to buy Crossroads Mall in Fort Dodge, according to two city officials. Mayor Matt Bemrich and City Manager David Fierke declined to name the company. But both of them said Tuesday that the prospective buyer has made a written offer. Bemrich said the company is now in a 120-day due diligence period during which its representatives will do things like inspecting the building and reviewing the leases. That 120-day period will end Dec. 4. ”The city is very excited to work with anyone who wants to add value to our retail economy,” Bemrich said. The mall, he added...

Optic Ink finds home on Central

Sunday, August 11, 2019

Chad Thompson Chris Staley, of Webster City, has always had a love for design. “I have been doing something in the art field my whole life,” Staley said. “I have been drawing since I could pick up a pencil.” He added, “I literally took every art class available through school.” And through Optic Ink, a screen printing business located in downtown Fort Dodge, Staley has been able to put his artistic skills to work. Whether Staley creates a design for customers or if they already have one in mind they want to use, his goal is to help provide them with apparel that satisfies. “Sometimes th...

The Messenger donates to Growth Alliance

Sunday, August 11, 2019

The Messenger has donated $5,000 to the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance. The money came from proceeds of the All About Greater Fort Dodge publication sales. All About Greater Fort Dodge features information on businesses, industry, housing, schools, health care and other elements of the community. It is produced via a partnership between The Messenger and the Growth Alliance. ”The Messenger appreciates the opportunity to partner with the great people at the Growth Alliance on this annual publication,” said Terry Christensen, publisher of The Messenger. ”This partnership is especially important as we all work together to promote the positives that are takin...

Brown’s Shoe Fit adds options

Sunday, August 04, 2019

Terrence Dwyer Helping customers find shoes that fit perfectly and meet their unique requirements has been the mission of Brown’s Shoe Fit, 210 S. 25th St, since the enterprise opened for business locally in July 1996. Craig Jarrard, the Fort Dodge store’s owner-manager, said being focused relentlessly on what patrons need and desire is the key to success in the highly competitive retail world. “We try to find the product that works best for the customer,” he said. “We want to sell them what’s going to work for them. I still think retail is more of a people business than a product business...

Merger on the horizon

Monday, July 29, 2019

Chad Thompson -Messenger file photo by Hans Madsen UnityPoint Health, which operates UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge, may become partners with Sanford Health, the two companies announced Friday. UnityPoint Health, the Des Moines-based health care organization which operates UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge, is anticipated to merge with Sanford Health, headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the two companies announced Friday. The transaction between the two health care giants is subject to various regulatory reviews, but could be finalized by the end of 2019. Once finalized, the partnership will result in the formation of ...

Preserving history

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Chad Thompson The revitalization of historic downtown buildings in Fort Dodge has continued along Central Avenue, near City Square Park. Lifestyles Furnishings, owned by Dave Madsen and managed by Aaron Tighe, has undergone extensive renovations to its arched facade on the north side of the structure, and now has a redesigned storefront on the west side. The renovations of the spacious furniture store is an example of efforts by business owners, city officials, and Main Street Fort Dodge to maintain historic integrity, while creating a modern look for some of Fort Dodge’s aging structures. The store, located at 611 Central Ave., has been owne...

Downtown buildings to get face lift

Thursday, July 18, 2019

Chad Thompson A dozen facades on downtown buildings in Fort Dodge will be the target of rehabilitation efforts by the city thanks to $500,000 worth of funding through the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Fort Dodge was one of 29 communities in the state that were awarded Community Development Block Grant funds for community development and housing rehabilitation projects. The city, in partnership with Main Street Fort Dodge, applied for the federally funded grants in May. Officials were notified Tuesday of the results. “Strategic investments in Iowa’s smaller communities via these federal funds ensure all areas of our state are developing and advancing,” said Deb...

Second chances

Tuesday, July 02, 2019

Chad Thompson A pilot program being administered by Iowa Central Community College, which allows inmates to earn a college education, could be one solution to Iowa’s workforce challenges, according to Gov. Kim Reynolds. “That’s the number one concern I hear when I talk to business and industry — that they need people,” Reynolds said Monday during a tour of the North Central Correctional Facility in Rockwell City. “So this is an opportunity to address that.” But the impact of the program, called Second Chance Pell, won’t be known until inmates who used it re-enter the workforce. “We will be collecting data,” Beth Skinner, directo...

CFR builds for the future; expansive new building for all services should be open in May

Sunday, June 23, 2019

Chad Thompson When Edward Jones financial advisor Gabe Pettit was looking for a place for his Fort Dodge office, he saw great potential in a historic downtown building on the west end of Central Avenue that overlooks City Square Park. The first thing he noticed when he looked at the building, located at 517 Central Ave., was workers tuckpointing the exterior. “If you want a building to be around for a long time those are the improvements you make,” Pettit, of Humboldt, said. “It’s a beautiful spot on the corner.” The inside of the 2-story structure left something to be desired. But Pettit sa...

Educational Opportunities in Fort Dodge Take Students from Pre-K through College

Friday, June 21, 2019

Families seeking the best possible education for their children should consider moving to Fort Dodge, Iowa. The community places a great emphasis on a quality education, beginning in preschool. In fact, Fort Dodge is one of the few communities in the country offering free preschool to every four-year-old. With research demonstrating that children enrolled in preschool fare better throughout their educational career, Fort Dodge's youngest citizens are being set up for success. Fort Dodge Community School District The Fort Dodge Community School District (FDCSD) provides warm, caring and comprehensive education for local children. The school district serves over 3,600 students in on...

Governor Kim Reynolds Visits Spin Markket On Condition Of The State Tour

Sunday, February 03, 2019

Iowa Workforce Development recommended Spin Markket as a business that the Governor should visit. The discussion focused on how Spin Markket works with businesses around the state to tell their story about their business for customers and use that same strategy for recruiting new employees. https://www.prweb.com/releases/governor_kim_reynolds_visits_spin_markket_on_condition_of_the_state_tour/prweb16077253.htm

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