As Fall brings crisp air and colorful landscapes, Carroll County becomes a treasure of outdoor activities. Whether you are a hunter, hiker or biker, Carroll County has outdoor recreation everyone can enjoy!
Centered around the intersection of US Highways 30 and 71, Carroll County is the regional hub for west-central Iowa economic activity. It ranks as one of the highest livestock-producing counties in Iowa and employs over 2,000 manufacturing-segment workers. Yet, the county’s best kept secrets may be its many opportunities for outdoor adventure or relaxation. The Carroll County Conservation Board manages 27 areas totaling over 2,700 acres for public use, wildlife habitat, and natural areas. Major recreation areas within the Carroll County Conservation system include Great Western Park, the Sauk Rail Trail and Swan Lake State Park.

Hunting

One of the most valued treasures for Carroll County residents is fall hunting. Deer and pheasant hunting dominate the scene, with waterfowl hunting available as well. While hunting season generally opens in October, specific seasons and regulations can be found at the Iowa DNR website.

The jewel of Carroll County public hunting areas is Manning’s Great Western Park. It consists of a seasonal campground, lake and 30 acres of public upland hunting land. It also includes a rifle range, which is available year-round, except during the pheasant hunting season. Deer hunting is popular around Glidden, with over 150 acres of public hunting land at Dickson Timber Park and 100 acres at Bennett Access Park. Daniel Davis Timer Park in Dedham has 70 acres of prime first hunting land. Hazel Brush Wildlife Area, near Carroll, consists of nearly 120 acres of land suitable for both deer and pheasant hunting.

For those seeking a waterfowl hunting experience, the Iowa DNR does have a WIldlife Management Area at Carroll County’s Artesian Lake. The 95-acre plot is two-thirds marshland and one-third timber, making it an ideal location.

Several local businesses are actively involved in the fall outdoors opportunities in Carroll. Volquartsen Firearms, Inc. is a firearms manufacturer specializing in rimfire rifles, pistols and aftermarket parts. Its products are designed for shooters ranging from small game hunters to world champion competitive shooters.

“Shooting, in particular rimfire shooting, is something the entire family can enjoy,” said president Scott Volquartsen. “Rimfire calibers offer less recoil, less noise, and ammunition is typically less expensive, so for those reasons, rimfire shooting is a great way to introduce new people to the sport.”

While they do offer direct-to-consumer sales, the company has built a network of worldwide dealers for their products to all 50 states and  internationally. That success is largely due to the local workforce, said Volquartsen.

“The work ethic, loyalty, and willingness of our employees  to learn is not found everywhere but something we have found commonplace in Carroll County,” he said. “That gives us an  advantage over many other businesses similar to ours throughout the country in not only being  able to find employees as we grow but allowing our business to thrive because of them.”

Another local business is Wendl's Weapons, a popular gun shop and indoor rifle range in Carroll that can assist those participating in hunting activities. The indoor range has six 25-yard lanes along with two similar planes for archery. Classes led by certified trainers are available for all levels of experience.

Hiking, Biking and Camping

Fall is also the perfect time to enjoy biking, hiking and other general activities in Carroll County. The Sauk Rail Trail is a 33-mile multi-use recreational trail running from Swan Lake State Park to Blackhawk State Park. The entirety of the trail surface is either concrete or asphalt and is commonly used for walking, biking and running. One greatly appreciated feature of the trail is the location of seven Fix-It Stations, which include pumps and tools that are quite handy for bicyclists in need! Segments of the trail are also open to hunting, so it is always important to be knowledgeable of the hunting seasons.

Swan Lake State Park is also managed by the Carroll County Conservation board and encompasses 510 acres, including the 110-acre Swan Lake. The park is popular for wildlife viewing, as the wooded area surrounding the lake provides protection for deer, wild turkey, small mammals and a variety of birds. The park has the largest campground in Carroll County, with 44 full-hook up sites including 20 long term sites, many electric and water sites and a large area for tent camping. It has its own biking and hiking rails, along with two shower houses, dump station and boat rentals.

Fall is always a perfect time to experience the wonders of nature, but never has this been more fitting in this year of COVID-19 crisis restrictions. Whether your preference is for chasing that elusive deer or pheasant, or meandering through the rolling local hillsides, Carroll County has something for everyone!

According to the most recent Iowa Laborshed Study, Carroll County presents a strong base for businesses seeking to strengthen or establish operations there. Estimates by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) indicate over 9,000 individuals are likely to accept or change employment for opportunities within Carroll County. The full Laborshed Study can be viewed at www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov/laborshed-studies.

“Since 2000, Iowa Workforce Development’s Laborshed Study has been a unique and effective economic development, workforce recruitment tool,” said Ryan Murphy, Bureau Chief in the Labor Market Information Division of Iowa Workforce Development. “Communities and employers throughout Iowa use it to expand their existing businesses, attract prospective employees, retain a high quality workforce and make data-driven decisions.”  

Unlike typical labor market data, a Laborshed Study analyzes a community’s labor supply based upon employment commuting patterns regardless of jurisdictional boundaries. These commuting patterns are determined through ZIP code data provided by community employers which allows IWD to identify a community’s true labor market area, in terms of distance, labor force size and characteristics. The workforce characteristics of this commuting area, or Laborshed area, are then gathered through a phone and online survey covering numerous workforce topics such as employment status, likeliness to change or accept employment, industries, occupations, wages, benefits, job search resources, education, commuting and many others. The results of this survey allow employers to better understand their community’s labor force including where and how to attract area residents who are not currently employed or are likely to change their current employment situation.

Workforce Size & Commuting Pattern

Data for this Laborshed Study came from the last half of 2019 and early 2020. The total population within the 18-64 age group in the Carroll Laborshed Area is 52,081, with an estimated total labor force of 46,570. Of that workforce, 59.5% live and work in Carroll, 40.5% live outside of Carroll and commute in, while 84.6% of the workforce live within 24 miles of Carroll. The geographic reach of the area is 67 miles North-to-South and 81 miles West-to-East, with the furthest distance commuters would travel being 53 miles, with the commuter concentration illustrated in the map below.

On average, employed individuals currently travel 11 miles and 14 minutes one-way daily. Of that group, those employed but likely to change currently travel 10 miles and 14 minutes but are willing to travel 26 miles and 32 minutes. Those unemployed and likely to accept employment are willing to commute up to 24 miles and 32 minutes.

Outcommuting is an estimate of the percent of residents living in Carroll but commute to employment located in other communities. The estimate for Carroll is 13.7% or approximately 748 people, with the largest percentage heading to Coon Rapids. About 50 of these workers are likely to change their employment. Hourly workers make up 50% of the outcommuters group, earn a median hourly wage of $18/hr, while 42.9% are salaried, earning a yearly median salary of $52,000.

Workforce Demographics

Characteristics of the workforce include age, gender and education. Employed and unemployed respondents for the Carroll area are illustrated in the tables below. Of the employed workers, 80% have some sort of education beyond high school, with a similar percentage in those employed and likely to change. That number drops to 63% for those unemployed but likely to accept employment.

Likeliness to Change Employment

Data provided by local employers to define the Carroll Laborshed area is also used to inform a statistical model which provides an estimate of the number of individuals, per community within the Laborshed area, who would consider changing their current employment situation or re-entering the workforce for a job opportunity in Carroll. The communities with the highest estimated number of individuals likely to consider working in the area are Carroll with 2,832 persons, Denison with 1,636 and Jefferson with 956.

The number of employed and likely to change is approximately 10,000 workers and their top reasons for making that change were 40.9% for better wages, 27.3% better benefits and 22.7% for better hours. Of the 10.1% who identify as unemployed, two-thirds, or about 3,500 workers responded they are likely to accept an employment offer. Reasons for being unemployed but likely to accept employment include health or disability issues (40%), furthering education (18%) and employer layoff (13%).
The Laborshed Study program is managed by the Labor Market Information Division at Iowa Workforce Development in partnership with the Iowa Economic Development Authority. To learn more about Iowa’s Laborshed Study program, please visit www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov/laborshed-studies, or call Ryan Murphy (515-281-7505)/Katie Lippold (515-281-3035).

The U.S. Census is conducted in the United States every 10 years. The Census aims to count the entire population of the United States. The Census asks American households certain questions such as sex, age, and race of each person in the household. These demographics help determine congressional representation and how much funding each state, county, and community received of the $675 billion per year in federal funding. These funds are spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works, and other essential programs.

The U.S. Census data is also very helpful for businesses and developers. Businesses can use Census data to decide the best place for them to locate their business. This data allows business owners to pinpoint the very best area for their business to be as successful as possible. Developers can use this data to help revitalize areas of the country.

The Census data is usually collected via in-person house calls by Census workers. However, since the outbreak and spread of the Covid-19 virus, the U.S. Census Bureau has had to stop all door-to-door transactions. The Census Bureau has also halted all in-person activities for their staff. This includes all office work and processing activities. They have increased their call center capacity with employees working from home to gather the Census data.

So, what does this mean for the 2020 U.S. Census? It means that Americans will have to use other means of getting their household data. People can fill out their Census information online, via phone, or by mail self-responses throughout the collection process.

The collection process was originally scheduled to from March 12, 2020, to July 31, 2020. Due to the Covid-19 crisis, the U.S. Census Bureau has extended the deadline to October 31, 2020. In-person house calls are postponed until July 1, 2020. The Census data is now rescheduled to be completed and delivered to the President of the United States by April 30, 2021.

Most households received an invitation to respond to the 2020 Census between March 12-20, 2020. Each household is also given a Census ID that will need to be input when completing the online Census. For households who want to fill out the Census online visit my2020Census.gov to complete your Census information. Households can also mail in their responses or call 844-330-2020 to complete the Census via phone.

The U.S. Census Bureau is doing its best to ensure that the Census continues while also protecting the health of its employees and fellow Americans. The Bureau is dedicated to gathering the most accurate information from each household to ensure that communities are receiving the funding they deserve. The Bureau urges people to continue to participate in the Census via online, phone, or mail-in responses. Check 2020Census.gov for updates on the Covid-19 crisis and updates on the 2020 Census.

We here at Carroll Area Development Corporation hope our residents are staying safe during this time. Please continue to check back for more information regarding the Covid-19 crisis and how this will continue to affect the 2020 U.S. Census.

There is never a good time for a pandemic to invade a community. But for Templeton Rye Spirits, the timing of the COVID-19 crisis could not have been worse.

“We had to temporarily close our Visitor Center, as we were just getting ready to ramp up for our busy season where we host up to 400 visitors in a week,” said Chase Prebeck, Templeton’s Hospitality Manager. “Not only did this impact our general weekly and monthly business, but it affected our part time employees that worked in the Visitor Center.”

But over the past weeks, the producer of high-caliber rye whiskey in Templeton, Iowa has learned to continue production while, at the same time, turning a focus to helping others.

Adapting to the crisis

Standard production for Templeton Rye includes a full distillery with distilling, barreling and bottling whiskey operations. With the Visitor Center closed, the only people coming and going from the facility are workers as that production has continued. Therefore, the company has had to take steps to maintain a safe work environment while keeping production online.

“We have taken a number of different steps across the business to ensure the safety of our employees, their families and everyone in the community,” said Prebeck. “We are following CDC guidelines, like cleaning work surfaces daily, providing hand sanitizer across all facilities for employees to use throughout the day and keeping proper social distancing in the workplace.”

In addition to standard operations, the company decided to send reverse osmosis water to Mitchellville to make hand sanitizer as part of a state of Iowa program. Templeton Rye is providing the water free of charge for sanitizer to be distributed to Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management and county Emergency Medical Services throughout the state.

Carroll helps businesses

Prebeck said the Carroll County area has been a great resource, supporting responsible practices to allow local companies to keep production moving forward. And the company is thankful to be in an area where people take the crisis very seriously, following all of the different measures to keep everyone safe.  

“The Carroll Chamber of Commerce has reached out to let us know about a number of different resources but we have not needed to utilize them just yet, as we have been pretty self-sufficient at our facility so far,” said Prebeck. “Being in a community like Carroll ensures we don’t have to skip a beat in production and bottling while working in a safe and clean environment.”

Ready for visitors

Templeton Rye knows things will not go completely back to normal in the near future, adapting with the new conditions and guidelines required. The company believes operations will resume close to pre-crisis status at some point in the next year. It now plans to reopen the Visitor Center on June 24 and will be open Wednesdays through Saturdays, from 8:30a.m. to 5:00p.m. and is committed to doing so with a safe environment for all visitors. Tours will be available at 9:00a.m., 11:00a.m., 1:00p.m. and 3:00p.m. Prebeck said there are some new whiskeys they had planned to release this year. They are especially excited to introduce a 10-year Corn Whiskey when they reopen their doors. The small amount of the unique one-time release will only be available in the Visitor Center.

“We can’t wait to reopen our doors to the public and hope to see everyone soon,” said Prebeck. “In the meantime, stay safe and stay healthy!”

The Carroll Area Development Corporation (CADC) is guided by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of individuals from the public and private sector with relevant business experience. They provide strategic leadership, operational oversight, representing public and private economic development interests throughout Carroll County, Iowa.

Why do you believe in the Carroll Area Development Corporation?

I believe in the Carroll Area Development Corporation because it’s forward thinking, as stated in its mission statement that it has a “future-oriented and politically astute commitment to economic and community development in Carroll County.” CADC is relentlessly trying to collaborate with other entities, energize our local economy and recruit business to the area.

Why did you want to serve on the Board of Directors for CADC?

Being asked to serve as a Board of Director was a wonderful opportunity for me to be more actively involved in the positive change CADC has on our community.

Why do you love to live and work in Carroll County?

I’ve lived in the Carroll area all my life.  I am the third generation in my family company and am excited for my two sons who are starting to make it the fourth generation. Carroll County has many opportunities for people to work, live and succeed.

The Carroll Area Development Corporation (CADC) is guided by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of individuals from the public and private sector with relevant business experience. They provide strategic leadership, operational oversight, representing public and private economic development interests throughout Carroll County, Iowa.

Why do you believe in the Carroll Area Development Corporation?

CADC as an organization is important to the stability and growth of business and industry in Carroll County.

Why did you want to serve on the Board of Directors for CADC?

First, I believe people should serve their communities.  Second, I want to see that Carroll County continues to grow as a regional business center and I feel that I can assist with that growth.

Why do you love to live and work in Carroll County?

From a business standpoint, I like that Carroll County has a progressive business culture.  Carroll County offers many amenities, shopping, entertainment, education, health and safety, it’s a great place to work and live.

As local businesses struggle to stay afloat during the COVID-19 crisis, communities within Carroll County have actively sought options to provide them relief. Several cities have provided grants and emergency loans to small businesses within their jurisdiction as a means to get funding to the businesses, knowing competition for state and federal funding may be very high.

“Communities that are able to realize their need and find creative, local solutions are communities that are strong for the long term,” said Shannon Landauer, Carroll Area Development Corporation Executive Director. “When faced with adversity, several Carroll County communities looked within to find the support mechanisms needed to provide support to local businesses, organizations and residents.”

City Funding

The city of Carroll recently chose to provide $100,000 in grants to local small businesses experiencing economic hardship due to the COVID-19 crisis. Knowing of coming state and federal assistance programs, the city determined that funding at the local level was important to deploy resources to local businesses quickly to serve as a bridge until other funding mechanisms became available. Eligibility for the grants, funded from the Local Option Sales Tax, included a business must be located in Carroll and have 25 or fewer employees. Applications were taken for one week before an independent committee reviewed all applications to determine which ones would receive funding. Out of 120 applications received, 74 businesses were awarded grants.

The city of Manning acted quickly to make their city-administered revolving loan funds available to the current hurdles facing local businesses.

“Not only did we offer a three-month deferment for existing loan holders, we also shifted some funds to an emergency loan program that had a simplified application period and a quick turn-around,” said Dawn Meyer, Manning City Clerk. “The emergency loans range from $2,000 to $10,000 with no interest or payments for the first year and a four-year repayment after that.”

State Funding

States across the nation are trying to provide relief to small businesses as well. As part of the Iowa Small Business Relief Program, 31 Carroll County businesses were awarded grants ranging in value from $5,000 to $25,000. County businesses received grants totaling $571,000 as of May 4, part of over $56 million awarded to businesses throughout the state. The review and approval of these applications is ongoing with additional recipients to be listed at https://www.iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/businessrecovery.

The grants were intended to maintain businesses or allow them to reopen following the pandemic, but not to pay debts prior to March 17. Priority was given to applications projecting income losses of at least 75 percent and first to possibly close and only businesses with between 2 and 25 employees were eligible.

Federal Funding

Federal funding has recently been in flux due to high demand for projects like the Paycheck Protection Plan and the Economic Injury Disaster Loans. As of April 16, the Paycheck Protection Program accepted 29,424 loans totaling over $4.3 million. The U.S. Small Business Administration has stopped accepting applications for many of the COVID-19 response programs. But the U.S. Congress appears to have come to agreement on providing additional funding.

There are other federal programs small business owners can turn to. One example is the Express Bridge Loan Pilot Program, which allows those with an existing relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly.

Whether seeking grants as federal, state or local levels, businesses should keep in touch with their local economic business development experts to be kept abreast of current financing conditions.

“Consulting with individuals like Kimberly Tiefenthaler, the North Central Iowa Regional Director of the Small Business Development Center is recommended to determine which program is right for businesses for the long term,” said Landauer. “Available programs from the CARES Act, such as Economic Injury Disaster Loans, Paycheck Protection Plan, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and others yet to be announced can put the right tools to work for each business.”

The Carroll Area Development Corporation (CADC) is guided by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of individuals from the public and private sector with relevant business experience. They provide strategic leadership, operational oversight, representing public and private economic development interests throughout Carroll County, Iowa.

Why do you believe in the Carroll Area Development Corporation?

I believe that spending time focusing on the economic climate in our area is very important. This focus will ensure the stability of our region for many years to come.

Why did you want to serve on the Board of Directors for CADC?

We are all better when we work together towards a common goal. Volunteerism is the best work of life.

Why do you love to live and work in Carroll County?

The Carroll area is a very special place where you can work, play and live a comfortable lifestyle while making an impact on the success of the area.

The Carroll Area Development Corporation (CADC) is guided by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of individuals from the public and private sector with relevant business experience. They provide strategic leadership, operational oversight, representing public and private economic development interests throughout Carroll County, Iowa.

Why do you believe in the Carroll Area Development Corporation? 

As a member from a smaller community, I recognize the importance of a regional approach.  There are things that Carroll can offer that we can’t.  Likewise, there are things that the small communities thrive at.  As the region grows, it helps all of us.  And CADC is uniquely qualified to be able to represent the region and offer expertise to the whole county.

Why did you want to serve on the Board of Directors for CADC? 

I enjoy being involved and I enjoy challenges.  Trying to help find solutions for things like housing and workforce is very rewarding.  And I enjoy the wide-range of experiences and expertise that the board members brings to the table.

Why do you love to live and work in Carroll County? 

Carroll County offers everything we need and the people are some of the best.

Trophies Plus, Inc., has historically made awards and signs for high schools and youth organizations around the Midwest. But as the COVID-19 crisis spread to rural Iowa, the company has learned to lean on the “Plus” side of its name.

“We’ve had to turn to markets we were not involved in prior to this crisis,” said Jim Jensen, owner of Trophies Plus. “None of them are very profitable right now, but it allows me to keep my people employed and busy until things start moving again.”

Trophies Plus, of Carroll County, specializes in creating custom branded awards and promotional products for over 400 high schools nationally, including 200 in Iowa alone. It also provides custom awards to national sporting and academic events and corporations, like the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, Iowa Games, the United States Academic Decathlon, WNIT Basketball and Volleyball, the United States Chess Federation and AAU Wrestling.

Reaction to COVID-19

But the demand for those products has dwindled as schools and organizations cancel their typical springtime activities. So Trophies Plus has turned to alternative products to keep their business active.

“To start, we changed our chenille department that makes letterman jackets over and started sewing masks and hospital gowns for local nursing homes and hospitals,” said Jensen. “And we put our lasers to use by cutting out plastic to help make face shields.”

The company also began making personalized signs for order to thank community essential workers or recognize graduating high school seniors. Trophies Plus charges $25 per sign but donates $15 per sign to a food bank or charity in the community the sign went to. So far they have over 100 signs in Carroll, Sac, Calhoun and Audubon Counties and have shipped signs to other communities all over the Midwest.

Original COVID-19 impact

The change in production was necessitated by the fact the company has experienced over $800,000 in cancellations so far, as schools and sporting events were cancelled, with no need for the event awards. And Jensen said this could impact Trophies Plus over more than just this year, with the possibility of an additional $350,000 loss.

“We expect track to be completely cancelled for most of the country, but we had already delivered the majority of Iowa track items in January, ” said Jensen. “If they don’t need them now, they will most likely use them next year, which means they won’t order next year.”

Another large source of their income is the senior awards, academic awards and those for clubs like speech and drama typically handed out at graduation ceremonies. But a few schools have called saying they plan to do a virtual graduation.

“We will roll with the punches, but either way, I have to assume there won’t be the volume we are used to,” said Jensen.

Help of a small community

The change in production would not have been possible alone. While the company did receive funding through the Payroll Protection Program (PPP), Jensen said he is not sure that would have been possible without the help of their local bank.

“I have to say one of the largest benefits was working with my local bank, because Ryan Milligan and his team at Commercial Savings Bank in Carroll were completely on the ball with all of the programs available to their partners,” he said. “They care about their customers and want us to survive, which is a lot different than national banks where you are just a number.”

Jensen said he is hearing horror stories from industry colleagues in larger cities where their banks have not submitted their applications for the stimulus package and are even having issues getting answers from their banks. In contrast, the Carroll Area Development Corporation, local bank and many local agencies and government offices have been emailing and updating information on options and availability of help since this began.

“Having that support group, along with other business leaders, has helped us realize that everyone is dealing with the same worries,” said Jensen

Uncertain future

Those worries are sure to extend into the summer months as areas attempt to move back to historical business and life patterns. But Jensen said he is not sure what that “normal” will look like. He is hopeful regular business will pick up but he also sees an opportunity to focus on the markets Trophies Plus has not generally been not involved in. The company has been working with an advertising firm to start to figure out what the new Trophies Plus will look like, and will be aggressively marketing starting in a couple weeks.

“I believe we have created some new customers within the healthcare industry, based on our help with gowns, masks and face shields,” said Jensen. “I don’t know exactly what the future holds for us at Trophies Plus, but I’m sure we will be here at the end of this.”