Subscribe to Loess Hills YouTube Channel

Jayme Busch from Unique Boutique Iowa joins Local Routes in the Studios on Willow to share everything happening this Saturday in Neola for Old-Fashioned Christmas. From Breakfast with the Grinch, cookie kits, craft stations, open houses, a community choir, and 18 different businesses hosting special events, Neola is the place to be. Jayme also talks about keeping Small Business Saturday sales going and the growing momentum behind local shops. Get the full rundown and plan your visit for a festive, small-town Christmas experience. #LocalRoutes #yourvoiceamplified #NeolaIowa #OldFashionedChristmas #UniqueBoutiqueIowa #ShopLocal #SupportSmallBusiness #SouthwestIowa #HolidayEvents #CommunityStrong

Taylor Stanton of the CB Captains and Josh Jerkovich of Capital City Roots join Local Routes to unveil C2, a new regional alliance built to develop players, coaches, and clubs from Council Bluffs and Des Moines to the professional ranks. They share how their friendship, semi-pro clubs, and overseas opportunities are creating a true path to pro soccer while keeping the game community driven and accessible. #LocalRoutes #yourvoiceamplified #CBCaptains #CapitalCityRoots #C2Soccer #CouncilBluffs #DesMoines #MidwestSoccer #PathtoPro #CommunityDriven

Highlights from Small Business Saturday part 2 on this episode of Local Routes! #LoessHillsMedia #YourVoiceAmplified #PottawattamieCounty #LocalRoutes #uniqueboutiqueiowa #occasionalcollective

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