Greetings, Growth Alliance Members,

There’s an exciting energy in Fort Dodge as we prepare to welcome athletes, coaches, families, and fans from across Iowa for the 56th Iowa Girls High School State Softball Tournament.

Last night’s ribbon cutting at the newly enhanced Harlan & Hazel Rogers Sports Complex was the perfect way to kick off tournament week. The fields are looking fantastic, and our community is ready to welcome thousands of visitors.

This year is especially exciting as the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union anticipates welcoming the one-millionth fan through the gates during the tournament. With the new double-elimination format, visitors will be spending even more time in Fort Dodge—creating a tremendous opportunity for our local businesses. Every hotel stay, restaurant visit, shopping trip, and stop at a local attraction contributes to our local economy and showcases everything our community has to offer.

I encourage all of our businesses to help welcome our guests by displaying a message on your marquee or digital sign, decorating your storefront windows, or simply greeting visitors with a smile. Small gestures go a long way in showing why we're proud to call ourselves Friendly Fort Dodge.

You’ll likely notice a little more traffic and busier restaurants this week—and that’s a great thing. It means our community is thriving, our businesses are benefiting, and Fort Dodge continues to shine on a statewide stage.

Thank you for helping make this another memorable tournament week. Let’s show Iowa what Friendly Fort Dodge is all about!

Downtown Building Rehabilitation Workshop

Learn about new local incentives, state matching grants and other resources for rehab projects in the Main Street district, with a focus on local and state matching grants, Fort Dodge Downtown Design Guidelines, and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards.

✨Thursday, July 16th

Register Here

Webster County Fair Open Quilt Show Entries Wanted

Again at the Webster County Fair, is the Open Quilt Show! Judging will be done prior to the fair and ribbons will be awarded. All entries will be on display during the fair July 15th – July 19th.

More Info

🎒📚 BACK-TO-SCHOOL SAVINGS ARE HERE! 👟

This weekend only July 17–19, get everyone ready for the new school year and save BIG at Shoe Sensation!



🔥 BUY ONE, GET ONE ½ OFF the whole store!

(Exclusions apply.)

From classroom classics to playground favorites, we’ve got the brands they want and the styles they’ll love:

👟 Nike

👟 adidas

👟 Skechers

👟 New Balance

👟 Brooks

…and so much more!

Don’t wait until the last minute—stock up, save more, and send them back in style.

📍 Stop by your local Shoe Sensation July 17–19 before these savings are gone!

#BackToSchool #ShoeSensation #BOGOHalfOff #FreshKicks #SchoolReady #WeekendDeals

Veterans Hiring Event

Iowa Workforce Development will host a Career Fair at the Fort Dodge Armory on July 23, 2026, in recognition of National Hire a Veteran Day. The event runs from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, with the first hour reserved exclusively for veterans. From 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, the career fair will be open to the general public. Job seekers and employers are invited to attend and connect with local opportunities.

Help Iowa Families Build Stronger Futures Through Co-Parenting Education

The program provides a structured educational experience for parents who are divorcing or separating, as well as individuals seeking custody, visitation or paternity arrangements. Co-Parenting for Resilience satisfies divorce education requirements in many Iowa judicial districts and is recognized as an important step in helping families prioritize children's well-being during legal proceedings. The next Co-Parenting for Resilience online class is set for Wednesday, July 29, 5:30-9:30 p.m.Registration deadline for virtual class is 10 business days prior.

Register Here

Childcare Discovery Center's Annual Kids Fest

Join us for our annual kids fest with games and activities that are free for all families! Petting zoo, foam party, bouncy houses, dunk tank and so much more.

✨Saturday, August 1st

4:00PM-6:00PM

📍1405 N 32nd Street

The Community Orchard

The Community Orchard is opening August 1st for the season! Mark your calendar to eat, shop and play at the orchard!



More Info

Full Throttle For Lotus

Saturday August 1st will be a motorcycle ride beginning at 11 AM!

We will start @ Rides Bar and Grill in Fort Dodge with stops @ Stumpy's Bar and Grill in Duncombe, Rails in Eagle Grove, Nut's Landing in Rutland, The Junkyard Bar & Grill in Barnum and ending at Fort The Fort Museum and Frontier Village with a dart tournament from 6 PM- 9 PM.

Pets Rock Event and Yard Sale

Paint a Rock - kids event.

For just a $10 donation, we will have rocks available to paint, along with all the supplies and stencils to create pet themed rocks to take home. We will also have a yard sale that day. If you have items to donate for the sale, they can be dropped off at the shelter August 3-August 7

from 9a-4p. Garage sale will be free will donation unless marked. Please no clothes. All donations go to support the pets at Almost Home.

Color for a Cause: Color Analysis Benefiting The Cat Hut

Join House of Colour Fort Dodge Heartland at Wildcat Distilling Co. for a special Color Analysis event benefiting The Cat Hut & Hamilton County Animal AdvoCATes. Through a personalized Color Analysis, you'll discover the colors that make you look brighter, healthier, and more confident. Each participant will receive a custom seasonal fan deck, an introduction to seasonal makeup, and guidance on how to build outfits using their best colors. House of Colour Fort Dodge Heartland will donate $100 from every appointment booked to support local cats in need.

Date: Monday, August 10, 2026 Location: Wildcat Distilling Co., 713 2nd Street, Webster City Appointment Times: 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 1:30 PM, and 3:30 PM Only 8 appointments are available. Advance registration is required.

More Info

Steve Ott: The Five Stages of Leadership

Join us as we welcome Steve Ott on Wednesday, August 12 at 9 a.m. via Zoom. For more information please contact Sue Golwitzer at sueghrc@gmail.com

This opportunity will be through Zoom. A great opprotunity to learn from the comfort of your office space!

10th Annual Tee'd Off Against Violence Golf Outing

I know that it says two weeks prior but we are getting registered for our gold outing now and want to get everyones shirt sizes by the first week in July so two weeks before doesnt work for that but I understand if that still isnt possible just let me know.

✨August 15th

Register by July 1st for a T-Shirt



For a list of all events,

click here.

Welcome To Fort Dodge Regional Airport Your Gateway To The Sky

Now Live! Spin Markket is proud to announce the launch of the new Fort Dodge Regional Airport website at FlyFortDodge.com. Designed to showcase the convenience of flying local, the new site makes it easier than ever to explore destinations, book your next trip, and discover the benefits of choosing FOD. Check it out today.

Angel Ride- Thank You

I want to thank everyone that attended the Angel Ride 20th event on Saturday, July 11th 2026, we can't do this without you!!

Want give Mark Campbell a great big Thank You for helping us have another great event! You have been a part of our crazy all these years & even without a building you still made it work. We love you for that!! Thank you Party Productions for several tents. Woodruff Construction for the tent usage. Jensen builders for the light towers. The Salty Suz staff. Smokin' Grumps food truck for breakfast. Decker Truck for many years of the use of a trailer. Advanced Waste Solutions & Portable Pro for amenities. Stump's Snow & Mow for spraying for insect control. The many volunteers, several local businesses who donated generously for auction items as well as many many local business owners who attended & participated in the live auction. THANK YOU ALL!

Heartland of Iowa SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management)

Looking to connect with other HR professionals? Join the Heartland of Iowa SHRM Chapter! Whether you're an experienced HR leader, a department of one, support a small business, or are just beginning your HR career, you'll find valuable networking, professional development, and practical resources to support your success. Come connect with great HR professionals who understand the unique challenges and opportunities of our region. We'd love to welcome you to an upcoming meeting!

More Info

Term 1 begins August 31!

Start your journey with Buena Vista University Online Programs — Term 1 begins August 31!

Marketing With Intent

Stop marketing on autopilot. This no cost, hands-on class is about marketing with purpose: knowing exactly who you’re trying to reach, choosing the channels that actually work for your business, and spending your time and budget where it counts. Define your ideal customer and what they actually care about Build a simple marketing plan you’ll actually use Choose the right channels instead of trying to be everywhere Measure what’s working so you can do more of it Spin Markket + Digital is a Fort Dodge-based digital marketing agency helping businesses of all sizes stand out and grow. From social media strategy and local SEO to website design and branding, they build practical marketing rooted in real data. We’re thrilled to partner with them and bring small business coaching fundamentals to Fort Dodge! Held at the GFDGA Community Room.

Children's Forest- StoryWalk

A new book is featured in our Children's Forest! Walk along the gravel trail, discover a new book, page by page, and connect with nature.

Why Businesses Everywhere Are Launching Podcasts (And You Can Too!)

This week's episode of the Spin Markket Report is a replay of episode #42 with Cheryl O'Hern. Spin Markket CEO Cheryl O'Hern and Spin Markket Report host Peter Stockdale discuss various podcast topics, including why businesses should consider starting a podcast, why podcasting helps to humanize the individuals on each episode, why consistency is tantamount, why having guests on your podcast can be beneficial, the importance of good content and a strong message, and more!