Mills County Chamber Advances Tourism,Entrepreneurship, and Regional Collaboration

The Mills County Chamber of Commerce is entering a new phase of growth and momentum,

marked by expanded tourism efforts, support for entrepreneurs, and partnerships that extend

beyond county lines. Executive Director Gitzy Loder outlined how the chamber is building

connections and shaping opportunities for both residents and visitors.

One of the chamber’s most significant projects this year has been the work of its newly energized

tourism committee. Chaired by Lou Peverell of Hillsdale Lily Garden in Glenwood, the committee

has focused on outreach and awareness through the updated website visitmillscounty.com.

"You know what I’m really excited about? Our tourism committee has really kicked off and just

made so many connections, improvements, is really getting the ball rolling when it comes to our

website," said Loder. "They’ve created a kind of a little cheat sheet of things that happen in Mills

County. We’re putting these in Airbnbs, VRBOs, anywhere that we’re going to have people coming

in from out of the area. And even for our local residents, some people don’t even know some of

these events happen."

The chamber’s reach is also extending well beyond Glenwood, with new members joining from Red

Oak, Council Bluffs, and Bellevue, Nebraska. According to Loder, this is part of a broader vision of

regional collaboration.

"We aren’t Glenwood Chamber, we are Mills County and we’re really trying to create that message

that we want to be unified," Loder said. "We’re looking for those businesses, we’re looking for those

partnerships and those collaborations that are going to help us grow and get to that next level."

While the chamber continues to support established businesses, a growing emphasis is being

placed on entrepreneurs and small business owners. Many individuals in Mills County are

balancing traditional employment with entrepreneurial side ventures.

"It’s a beautiful thing for somebody to make that move and maybe not go in 100 percent but still just

take that first step," said Loder. "We’re seeing a lot of seeds planted, other entrepreneurs taking a

risk on themselves. Those people that have that inkling, that kind of whisper to move in a different

way that is fulfilling to them, they’re being inspired and empowered by those in the business

community to start to do that as well."

Programs such as the chamber’s Business Connectors group, the ambassador committee, and

small business roundtables provide platforms for new business owners to gain visibility and connect

with others. These options are designed to be flexible, reflecting the varying needs of members.

"Never a one size fits all," said Loder. "Everybody that joins has an objective or a goal and their

goal might be different. We try to provide a couple options for them so that they can really see

where they need. And maybe in January it shifts for them. Maybe they revamp their business.

Maybe they need to start going to networking events. So we do get very granular and very specific

and keep those communication lines open."

The chamber is also seeing continued success with its networking events. Attendance may

fluctuate, but Loder stresses that the true value comes from the quality of conversations and

relationships formed.

"The networking events here are very authentic," Loder said. "Sometimes we’ll get large groups.

Sometimes we’ll have 15 people. But I say quality over quantity always, because that one

conversation could be that shift, could be that lead into an opportunity that they didn’t even think

was possible."

The upcoming Small Business Mastermind Forum, set to be held at the Glenwood Historical

Museum, is one example of these efforts. According to Loder, such events provide practical value

by shortening the path to success for entrepreneurs through shared knowledge and collaboration.

"You never know where that conversation is going to come from," Loder explained. "If you can

connect with a lot of these people that can be your centers of influence, then you’re not

overwhelmed, burned out, exhausted by trying to figure it out all yourself. That is why people invest

in the chamber."

As she approaches her one-year anniversary as executive director, Loder is already planning

programming through 2026. She envisions the chamber as a place that holds space for growth,

rather than one that simply hosts events.

"I’m not going to say this is about the chamber," Loder said. "This is about holding space for people

to think bigger, grow, and give them the tools and resources to do that. So the programming for

2026 is really all about that."

At the same time, Mills County is moving forward with revitalization projects in downtown

Glenwood, bringing improvements to storefronts and public areas. Combined with the county’s

well-known outdoor assets such as the Loess Hills, the area is positioning itself as both a vibrant

community for residents and an appealing destination for visitors.

"We have so much live music, karaoke, great restaurants," Loder said. "If you wanted to hang out in

Mills County, you could have a great one night, two night stay and catch some live music, beer,

wine, food, and just hang out with some really good people."

With an emphasis on collaboration, tourism, and entrepreneur support, the Mills County Chamber

of Commerce is building momentum that extends beyond county borders and sets the stage for

continued growth in Southwest Iowa.