Pictured: Executive Director Kimberly Tiefenthaler presents CCGP’s FY24 funding request during Jan. 16 Carroll City Council meeting.
The Carroll Chamber of Commerce and Carroll County Growth Partnership (CCGP) are requesting over $100,000 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 funding from the City of Carroll. Representatives from the economic development groups made their requests Monday during one of the city council’s scheduled budget work sessions. Program Director Ashley Schable presented on behalf of the Chamber. The organization is seeking a $2,000 increase from its FY23 funding request to $30,000. Schable says those funds are used to promote Carroll throughout Iowa and the Midwest.
She adds funding would also support other popular chamber programs, such as the Live + Local summer concerts, the horse-drawn carriage rides on Small Business Saturday, and others. CCGP Executive Director Kimberly Tiefenthaler suggested the coming year will be pivotal for local economic growth. CCGP rebranded from the Carroll Area Development Corporation (CADC) last year, and she says that is a reflection of the evolving economic climate for rural communities.
She says FY24 will be a focus shift for the CCGP, as they plan to put additional resources into finalizing the organization’s 501(c)(3) classification, recruiting companies to fill the former JCPenney building, which has sat vacant since 2020, and expanding local small business resources. Tiefenthaler previewed a new program, Hub 712, that will assist in that effort.
CCGP is currently in the process of applying for a $200,000 state grant to kickstart Hub 712 alongside other funding resources. CCGP’s FY24 funding request totaled $82,400, which Tiefenthaler says will make the coming year a year of action. The city council did not vote on the funding request at Monday’s meeting. Additional budget work sessions are scheduled for tonight (Wednesday), Jan. 25, Jan. 30, and more if needed. Finalized budgets are due to the Iowa Department of Management no later than March 31.
