Business : Vinton Unlimited 2021 Annual Report

This annual report will give members a recap of activities and events for the year ending December 31, 2021. Representing our membership was an 11-member executive board consisting of Andrew Elwick, Emily Henkle, Ashley Hesson, Marcy Horst, Tony Islas, Bob Koenigsfeld, Robin Martin, Teresa Meyer, Molly Noren, Karilea Ries, and Raymond Siddell. These board members served on one or more of the six committees.

Business Promotions Committee: This committee worked on the annual Holiday Open House, the 0% Holiday Loan Program, and the Holiday Lights Punch Card promotion. There were over 2,483 Holiday Punch Cards turned in this year each representing $100 spent. That means $248,300 spent in Vinton at participating businesses! We had 20 participating businesses, which is more that we have had in prior years.

Industrial and Business Development: New business's that came to Vinton in 2021 were The Old Hospital Pub, Kendrick Forest Products, Viking Plaza, Blessed Duo, and Brickside Brew and Chew.

Membership, Maintenance, and Finance: Vinton Unlimited membership for 2021 was 137. We had 12 new members join in 2021: Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #8884, Horst Physical Therapy, North Star Community Services, Kwik Star, Kendrick Forest Products, Pourville Art Studio & Gallery, All-American Handyman, Old Hospital Pub, NuCara-Home Care Assistance, Dollar Fresh, Cyanna Boggess, and Viking Plaza. One notable highlight is that Vinton Unlimited issued $13,640 in Value Dollars last year. This is money that will stay in Vinton and be spent in our local businesses.

Executive Committee: Board members attended monthly board meetings held on the second Tuesday of each month. Our executive director, Melody Snow, completed her first year as director in December 2021. Melody brings her enthusiasm for Vinton to work every day. We appreciate all she does of VU!

Community Affairs/Public Relations: This committee hosted the annual VU golf tournament in July and Boom-Fest all with the help of our summer intern, Cameron Dawson Fink. This year we not only had Boom-Fest downtown, but also helped with the Boomtown at the fairgrounds. We did five ribbon cuttings in 2021: Horst Physical

Therapy, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #8884, Kiwanis Park Splashpad, Nathan's Miles Glow Trail, and NuCara-Home Care Assistance.

Tourism/Destination Vinton: The Destination Vinton committee continues to welcome visitors to Vinton whenever the need arises. This committee is involved with the HOT (Hotel Occupancy Tax) grants. The HOT recipients for 2021 were Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #8884 who received $2,500 for post improvements; the Vinton Parks & Recreation Department (VPRD) received $2,471.18 for a climbing wall and $2,000 for the Kiwanis Park Splashpad Grand Opening Blowout; the Vinton Public Library and the VPRD each received $2,000 for the 2021 Glow Run 5K; Vinton Unlimited received $2,500 for a Community Christmas Lighting incentive and $2,500 for the Serving Vinton sign repairs from the derecho.

I would like to thank the Vinton Unlimited board and all the members for making 2021 a great year. As you can see, we had lots of activity and many of you were involved. It is this kind of dedication to our community that makes Vinton a great place to live, shop, work, and play. May 2022 be another exciting year for our community!

Teresa Meyer, President Vinton Unlimited

(If you or your business would like to join Vinton Unlimited, check out the VU website here!)