GCED Blogs

by Ben Butzke, 2020 Grimes Chamber & Economic Development Board Chair, Inspiring Dance & Butzke Burch Construction March Newsletter Article   Hello Grimes! My name is Ben Butzke and I am the 2020 Board Chair for Grimes Chamber and Economic Development. I am proud to be a dual Chamber member through my wife’s dance studio,…

by Brian Buethe, President | CEO, Grimes Chamber & Economic Development February Newsletter Article I’m trying to break what I believe to be a very bad habit. As you might imagine, when you work for an organization like Grimes Chamber & Economic Development, you meet a lot of people representing a great variety of interests.  …

by Brian Buethe, President | CEO, Grimes Chamber & Economic Development January Newsletter Article As a transplant to the state, I don’t consider myself to me a great student of Iowa history. However, in the time I have spent here, I’ve always been curious to learn about how communities were established and how they came to…

by Brian Buethe, President | CEO, Grimes Chamber & Economic Development 12 Days of Christmas in Grimes – Brian Buethe On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me a snowblower from Kempker True Value Hardware. On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me two handmade earrings from…

DES MOINES:  The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University will recognize 12 Iowa individuals and groups with awards for exceptional character this month. The 2019 Iowa Character Awards ceremony will be held Friday, July 26, at The Meadows Events and Conference Center in Altoona, Iowa. The Ray Center’s top award, the Robert…

We are almost there! We have been waiting for it. Summer! Schedules fill up fast with graduations, weddings, vacations and kids sports! Kids get a break from homework and school activities and we as parents try to fill their schedules with other activities to avoid the words ‘I’m bored!’ I myself look forward to summer break. We don’t have…

I read recently that the color orange “radiates warmth and happiness, combining the physical energy and stimulation of red with the cheerfulness of yellow”. It was suggested that orange is associated with gut instincts, as opposed to the physical reactions associated with the color red or the mental reactions associated with the color yellow. Supposedly, orange brings…

Hi my name is Andrea Sabus, I own the local State Farm Agency and I am thrilled to be the 2019 Chair for Grimes Chamber and Economic Development! I have been reflecting on my growing involvement in the chamber over the past five years and realized it might benefit others that have recently joined GCED…

In roughly one year (February 3rd, 2020) the Iowa Caucus will take place. In the coming months, Iowans will be afforded a rare opportunity to observe candidates running for the highest political office in the land first hand. Most serious candidates will visit Iowa in hopes of securing support here, because Iowa holds the designation of “first…

In late January members of Grimes Chamber & Economic Development will gather at their Annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony. As a growing organization in a community that is flourishing, it is an opportunity to reflect on recent successes and honor businesses, organizations, and individuals who represent some of the best among us. At the event, attendees…