Pictured (L-R): Shelly Greving, Kristina Grossman-Willis, Katie Lange, Jessie Shiels, Claire Zaiger, Annie Greve, Dawn Meyer, Lindsey Funk, Cory Arp, and Andrea Rohe.
The City of Manning has earned statewide recognition with the 2025 Iowa Tourism Outstanding Marketing Campaign Award for communities with marketing budgets under $50,000. The award was presented to Manning at the Iowa Tourism Conference on March 13, honoring the city’s creative and collaborative marketing efforts that have elevated the city’s tourism profile and spurred economic growth. City Administrator Dawn Meyer says, “This award is a reflection of the passion and teamwork that make Manning such a special place. We may be a small town, but we think big—and this recognition validates the impact of our collaborative efforts.” Meyer was joined by members of the Manning Hotel/Motel Committee, including Andrea Rohe, Cory Arp, Kristina Grossman-Willis, and marketing partner, Shelly Greving of Emerge Marketing Solutions, to receive the award. Since 2017, Manning’s “It’s Refreshing” campaign has helped triple hotel/motel tax revenue, attract global visitors, and encourage population growth. Notable initiatives include the Manning Minute newsletter, Google Localhood reels, a refreshed website, and co-op digital advertising. The award acknowledged the community’s efforts, but they aren’t stopping there. Future plans include expanding marketing efforts and promoting community events like Kinderfest and Oktoberfest. For more information, visit www.manningia.com.
