August 2, 2019
Friday Focus
Events Next Week
Tuesday, August 6th - Downtown Council
Held at Iowa Events Center, 730 Third St., 8:00 AM

Friday, August 9th - LEAP "Personal Branding"
Held at the Renaissance Des Moines Savery, 401 Locust St., 8:00 AM


Listen, Share, and Subscribe
The Downtown Chamber Marketing Committee has launched a new podcast. We are asking you to please listen (it's less than 15 minutes!) and subscribe, and share with your network to help grow the audience. Listen Here

Name This Podcast
It is currently called "Formerly Chamber Chat" since we referred to Chamber Chat during the first episodes, but quickly found out that name is not available. We are asking your help in naming the official Downtown Chamber Podcast: Submit Your Ideas here .

In subscribing to our podcasts, you'll learn tips and advice from Downtown Chamber member businesses. In the first episode, " Keeping it Green ," Andrea Metzler, owner of Art Terrarium , shares her knowledge of office and household plants and tips for keeping them alive and healthy, despite your level of plant care abilities. 

This episode includes:
  1. How to be a better plant owner, or "Plant Parent."
  2. Finding the plant that fits you and your style - are you an over-waterer or do you forget to water?
  3. Discovering the therapeutic effects of plants and how the can improve your environment and health.
  4. Avoiding non-toxic plants if you're a pet-owner.
  5. Why Andrea named her store, "Art Terrarium," her favorite plant, and what makes this business successful.

The podcast "Formerly Known as Chamber Chat" is recorded and edited at the  Des Moines Radio Group  studios. Visit  https://dsmradio.com/  to learn more about their podcasting services, or contact Michael Hope at  mhope@dsmradio.com  or call  515-309-4313
Be Sure To...
This survey will be used in helping to improve and provide the best services, programs, and resources for the Downtown Chamber membership. Answers are anonymous, and most people will be able to complete it in less than 2 minutes. At the end of the survey, you'll be provided with a special gift as our thank you for your time! Deadline is extended to August 9th


Nominations are now open for the 3 rd Annual LEAP Awards! LEAP, a nationally recognized program of the Downtown Chamber, has a mission to empower and motivate women to help them reach their fullest potential. There are many women and men our community who exemplify this, and to continue recognition of these efforts, LEAP and the Downtown Chamber are excited to present three prestigious awards in 2019:
  • Pipeline Award – recognizes an emerging female professional who demonstrates a clear momentum to initiate change.
  • Community Achievement - recognizes the accomplishments of a female professional who maintains an unwavering passion and commitment to advancing women and examples of her work have been seen throughout the community.
  • Champion of Equality – a gender neutral category that recognizes an individual or organization that upholds the LEAP mission by empowering and supporting the advancement of women.

Winners will be awarded on October 3rd at the LEAP Summit.
Golf
Inaugural Downtown Chamber Golf Tournament
Monday, September 16th
Hosted at Wakonda Club, 10:00 AM - 6:30 PM


Member Business Opportunities
BIG Dream Gathering (Includes Teacher Appreciation program)

Monday, August 12 • 4:30pm - 6:00pm

This summer, the Downtown Chamber, along with FUSEdsm and the Des Moines West Side Chamber are working together to recognize and thank Des Moines' teachers. Please join us on August 12th for the BIG Dream Gathering, which will include a mix of teachers, students, and businesses for an afternoon of inspiration, recognition, and socializing. In addition, businesses can also engage in the event in the following ways:

  1. Have a business booth at the event (Limited space, issued on a first come, first serve basis)
  2. Provide a door prize (seeking "post-secondary" items. This can include "dorm room" items, other college or career related items, or gift cards.) 
  3. Simply attend and enjoy the connections

Attending and having a business booth are FREE!


Questions? Contact Nathan Svare or Amber Miller for more details
Attention University of Iowa Alumni-Owned Businesses

The University of Iowa Center for Advancement Alumni Engagement team recently updated the “Iowa Alumni/Alumni-Owned Business” decal. They are excited to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit of Hawkeyes across the state by sending these decals to alumni by sending out free “Iowa Alumni, Alumni-Owned Business” decals. If you are interested in receiving a decal to display in your business, please complete the following survey: https://bit.ly/2Ku1YcE 
Partnership Perk
As a Member of the Downtown Chamber, you are automatically a Member of Greater Des Moines Partnership.
Human Capital Survey
 
Does Greater Des Moines (DSM) have what you need to thrive personally and professionally? Are there ways we can improve your quality of life and sense of purpose? To help us determine how connected our residents are to the community at large, the Greater Des Moines Partnership is conducting a survey. Please consider taking 10 minutes to give feedback to improve our region. Make your voice heard! Please take the survey and share it with your personal and professional contacts.
 
Click here to access the survey. (All responses are anonymous and confidential.)
 
Thank you for taking the time to help make our region a better place to live, work and thrive

Diversity Toolkit

As one of the nation's fastest growing centers for business, Greater Des Moines (DSM) understands and endorses the importance of maintaining a vibrant and diverse workplace.

Greater Des Moines Partnership acts as a catalyst to mobilize the business community toward a broad economic development vision that incorporates all people as valued contributors and valuable customers. Greater Des Moines Partnership offers a variety of programs to help you attract and retain diverse talent in your organizations, including:
 
The Inclusion Award honors employers who have championed diversity and inclusion at their businesses and organizations, and in the community. To see a list of past winners and to apply for the Inclusion Award, please go to https://www.dsmpartnership.com/about/award-applications--winners Application deadline has passed.

Multicultural Receptions
The Partnership's Multicultural Receptions offer a unique opportunity to connect with community leaders and organizations that have an inclusive focus, all with the hope that through an environment of connectivity and inclusion we can retain this very important workplace population in our community. The Multicultural Receptions take place every February, May, August and November. The next Multicultural Reception and Roundtable will be on August 22. Registration will open in July. More information can be found here .

Inclusion Webinars
In an effort to promote inclusion best practices in the community, The Partnership's Inclusion Council offers a Webinar Educational Series. To access past webinars and resources, visit https://www.dsmpartnership.com/growing-business-here/business-resources/talent-development-resources/inclusion .

INclusion Magazine
INclusion celebrates the rich cultural traditions of the region's African-American, African, Asian, European, Latino and Native American residents. The magazine also includes sections about Des Moines' diverse faith community, accessibility for the disabled, opportunities for those in the military, veterans, young and retired professionals and the region's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.



Data Hub

The Partnership’s DSM USA Research, Stats and Data Hub is a statistical dashboard filled with rich information within the region. Users will find leading indicators along with research and data trends needed to make strategic business decisions. The site offers current economic, demographic and workforce information sourced from official government data on the five-county Des Moines USA and six nearby counties.

All of the research is accessible free of charge, and is presented in an easy-to-use format. Charts and data can be captured and used in other presentations.

The Data Hub is another way that Chamber Members are able to tap into information and resources available through The Partnership’s regional network. 

Additional graphs and resources are available at www.datadsmusa.com
Thank You
Thank you to everyone who came out to support the Grand Opening for Gravitate Coworking! The Downtown Chamber is one of the member businesses located inside this new space, and the evening involved a first-time double ceremony to welcome guests to the new Downtown Chamber office, as well as to all of the businesses located at Gravitate.
Welcome

It's been an amazing year of programming for Downtown Chamber members, and we were fortunate to offer these events with the skills of Kelsey Clark, Vice President of Programs. Kelsey has left the Downtown Chamber to pursue her dream of being an entrepreneur.

We are pleased to welcome Sheila Mahan to our team as the new Vice President of Programs this week! Sheila will continue to carry forward the excellent programming of the Downtown Chamber. Sheila is new this month and can be reached at VPprograms@DTchamber.com and 515-297-6333. We are excited to introduce you to Sheila at events, and feel welcome to stop by the office anytime to meet her in person.

Volunteer Openings
It's ribbon-cutting season! The Ambassadors are seeking additional volunteers to help out and attend at ribbon cutting events.

If you're interested in being part of an energetic team that supports new and expanding businesses, let us know!

To inquire or participate on this committee, contact Melanie Suljic (Ambassadors Chair).
Downtown Chamber Office
Located inside Gravitate
500 Locust St.
Suite 101
Des Moines, IA 50309

515-297-6333

We invite you to stop by anytime to visit and share with us how the Downtown Chamber can help your business.

Thank you to the following Businesses who've helped us decorate and make our space more functional and inviting:

Plants from Art Terrarium
Wall Art arranged by Bottle & Bottega
Flat Screen TV donated by Principal
Parking provided by Cognizant
Furniture design from All Makes
Website
Be sure to check out your Member Directory listing.

Need it updated? Easy. Just login to your Member Portal. Contact Chamber staff if you need assistance.

Explore at www.DTchamber.com
Platinum Members
Mission:
The Des Moines Downtown Chamber of Commerce
is a provider of information and resources for the downtown community through knowledge sharing, the fostering of civility, and understanding of economic issues in the service of the betterment and sustained growth and success of
Downtown Des Moines.
Des Moines Downtown Chamber of Commerce | 515-297-6333 | director@dtchamber.com
www.DTchamber.com