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How did it take us so long to have Shalimar Mazetis on Local Routes? That oversight is fixed today! #southwestiowa #YourVoiceAmplified #LocalRoutes #advancesouthwestiowa #smallbusinesssupportingsmallbusiness

Another Backroads Business Connectors event was help Wednesday in Avoca at Brewed Awakening. Thanks to Stacie Kinney of WIDA for your hard work putting it together. Todd caught up with Kim Canada of Frosting Inc after the event and brings you that converation on this episode of Local Routes! #frostinginc #BrewedAwakening #LocalRoutes #YourVoiceAmplified

On this episode of Local Routes, Todd takes a deeper look at why doing business in your hometown matters and how intentional local spending strengthens rural communities across Southwest Iowa. Building on last week’s Shop Local conversation, this discussion expands into the economic mechanics behind hometown commerce, the personal relationships that make small towns resilient, and the long term impact of keeping even a portion of your yearly spending close to home. With new examples, fresh data, and practical steps listeners can take, Todd highlights how local service providers, neighborhood shops, and community based businesses anchor the identity and future of the region. Featuring sponsor spotlights from across Southwest Iowa, this episode reinforces how everyday choices support the people who support you. #localroutes #yourvoiceamplified #southwestiowa #shoplocal #shopsmall #ruraleconomy #communitystrong #supportlocalbusiness

On this episode of Local Routes, Todd visits with Rachel Hamilton, CEO and General Manager of Marne Elkhorn Communications, to talk about 123 years of serving rural communities, bringing big city broadband to small towns, and why locally owned providers matter for the future of Southwest Iowa. They cover the history from party lines to fiber, the importance of community investment, and how connecting Crescent and other small towns keeps rural life strong. #yourvoiceamplified #localroutes #ruralbroadband #marneelkhorncommunications #smalltownstrong #southwestiowa #shoplocal #localmedia

Let's give you a more detailed look inside The Park Building in downtown Council Bluffs, the home of The Studios on Willow! #YourVoiceAmplified #LocalRoutes #theparkbuildingcouncilbluffs #taleslateagency #podcasting

On this Thanksgiving weekend edition of Local Routes, we take a meaningful journey across Southwest Iowa to talk about why shopping small, shopping local, and shopping in person matters more than ever during the Christmas season. From Council Bluffs to Glenwood to Red Oak and every rural community in between, we explore how healthy small businesses build healthy towns, strengthen connection, preserve culture, and keep Southwest Iowa thriving. A timely conversation as we head into Small Business Saturday. #yourvoiceamplified #localroutes #shopsmall #shoplocal #smallbusinesssaturday #southwestiowa

On this episode of Local Routes, Stacey Kinney from the Western Iowa Development Association joins us to talk about the impact of Small Business Saturday and why supporting rural shops strengthens entire communities across Pottawattamie County. We explore the heartbeat of small towns, the families behind local stores, the specialty shops that give each community its identity, and the year round work WIDA does to help these businesses grow and thrive. From Neola to Avoca to Walnut and beyond, this episode celebrates the people who keep our rural main streets alive and reminds listeners to shop small, shop local, and shop in person as we head into December. #localroutes #yourvoiceamplified #shoplocal #shopsmall #pottcounty #southwestiowa #councilbluffs #smallbusinesssaturday #ruraliowa #communitystrong #supportlocal #loesshillsmedia

Last Friday in Treynor, Travis Castle delivered a detailed presentation on the Vision Treynor Group and the years of work behind one of Southwest Iowa’s strongest community development efforts. He outlined how the organization began in 2010, the challenges the town faced with the loss of key gathering spaces, and how local residents organized to build a long term plan for growth. Travis walked the audience through the early surveys, the mission created by local citizens, the support from TS Bank, the development of Treynor Fit, new ballfields, the family pavilion, and the partnerships that helped turn 63 acres in the heart of town into a multi phase community project. #LocalRoutes #YourVoiceAmplified #TreynorIowa #SouthwestIowa #PottawattamieCounty #CommunityDevelopment #RuralIowa #VisionTreynor

On this episode of Local Routes, we travel from Council Bluffs to Red Oak to visit with Joey Norris, the founder of Dream Forge. Joey shares how he helps early stage entrepreneurs turn ideas into real world products through 3D printing, CNC machining, prototypes, and feasibility studies. We talk about market fit, why failing fast matters, the rise of the Silicon Prairie, and how rural communities like Red Oak are becoming engines for innovation. Joey explains why great ideas often start in small towns and how Dream Forge guides creators through the process from concept to reality. A fascinating look into the world of product development and the entrepreneurial spirit across Southwest Iowa. #localroutes #yourvoiceamplified #loesshillsmedia #southwestiowa #pottcounty #entrepreneurlife #madeiniowa #dreamforge #iowabusiness #ruralinnovation