A sign marking Swisher city limits on 120th Street NW greets visitors. CREDIT ANNIE SMITH BARKALOW
Businesses in Swisher have banded together to form an Economic Alliance to serve as a resource for local establishments and attract new businesses and consumers to the town. Sonya LaGrange, owner of Black Squirrel Tap and Vault Boutique at 72 and 76 2nd St. SE and vice president of the Swisher Economic Alliance, said the […]
Businesses in Swisher have banded together to form an Economic Alliance to serve as a resource for local establishments and attract new businesses and consumers to the town.
Sonya LaGrange, owner of Black Squirrel Tap and Vault Boutique at 72 and 76 2nd St. SE and vice president of the Swisher Economic Alliance, said the organization started five months ago as a response to a desire to revitalize the town while keeping it small.
Describing Swisher as a “hidden gem,” Ms. LaGrange said their location between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City off Interstate 380 makes them a prime stopping point.
Sonya LaGrange, vice president of the Swisher Economic Alliance, poses behind the counter at her store, Vault Boutique, at 76 2nd St. SE. CREDIT ANNIE SMITH BARKALOW
“We'd like to make it more of a stop where people can spend the day and have multiple places to shop,” she said.
The town of approximately 900 people is home to the historic Dance-Mor dance hall, wedding venue Midnight Gem and the popular Cedar Ridge Distillery, and Ms. LaGrange would like to see Swisher fill some empty retail spaces. Part of that is spotlighting Swisher by advertising for different events, such as Swisher Fun Days.
“Everyone knows we need foot traffic and stuff in town to survive. So part of it is just helping with advertising for the different events,” she said.
Ms. LaGrange said 7-8 businesses have joined so far, and the organization plans to have a social media class to help area businesses increase their social media presence. The Economic Alliance also works as a liaison between local government and Swisher businesses to make sure zoning ordinances are up to date, examining current zoning laws to see if they still make sense for the area, but no new developments are in the works.
“Our main thing is to keep the downtown small. We want to grow what was originally here,” said Ms. LaGrange.
A blackboard sign outside Vault Boutique invites customers to "buy clothes today or be naked tomorrow." CREDIT ANNIE SMITH BARKALOW
Prior to their launch in October, the Swisher Economic Alliance met with Greater Iowa City, Inc. to better understand how to organize their operation and plan for fundraisers.
The organization’s first fundraiser was a watch party at Cedar Ridge Distillery for country musician Hailey Whitters, a Shueyville native who presented at the 2023 CMAs and was nominated for New Artist of the Year. Approximately 100 people attended, said Ms. LaGrange.
Their latest fundraiser seeks to match grants for Swisher businesses, one of which applied for Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Creative Catalyst Project grant, which requires a 50% cash match.
The Swisher Economic Alliance is still in the infant stage, but Ms. LaGrange has high hopes that its purpose will aid local businesses in flourishing, in turn revitalizing and beautifying the town.
“I want to see it be a tool for the current businesses and the incoming businesses as a place that they know they can go to to receive information about what's going on in town,” said Ms. LaGrange, “how to help keep their business profiting and growing, and (let) the new businesses know that they're welcomed in a small town.”
You can find out more information about the Swisher Economic Alliance by visiting its Facebook page.
