Villisca Chamber Coffees

2nd Thursday of the month

2007

February 14th - Granny’s Auto Parts NAPA

Villisca's business community is a blend of retail, service, technical and agriculture related businesses. It is a supportive community where business owners work not only to see their own businesses grow but to see the same for others in the community. Because of changes in technology, businesses that at one time needed to be located in urban centers can operate from rural areas giving new possibilities to businesses in Villisca. There are certainly some types of businesses which still would not find it easy to do business from Villisca but we encourage business owners, would-be business owners and people at the corporate level of large businesses to take a look at locating a business in Villisca. Contact Roxanna Sieber, Villisca Economic Development Director at rtsieber@netins.net for more information.

On this page, we expect to provide information that business owners can use and to highlight business life in Villisca.

It doesn't need to be this way. An Industrial Study of Southwest Iowa by ISU is being released and the story for southwest Iowa is not a good one when looked at through the lens of this study. What it does tell us is we have a job to do to communicate the assets of the area and to aggressively work to bring population back. From my point of view, the case is not difficult to make. But, we do need to make the case. We need to highlight the wonderful lifestyle we live here. And we need to tell the story of why we are a great place to own a business and a great place to work. It is the responsibility of each of us to help get the word out. To read the industry study, click here for Part A, here for Part B and here for Part C. They are in PDF format. Representatives from ISU will go through the information in more detail at a meeting April 17 from 12-2 at the Pizza Ranch in Atlantic, IA. Bankers, business and community leaders are encouraged to attend.

on this page:

SBA program for surety bonds for small business

Villisca Economic Development Initiative - 2006-07 Reports

SURETY BONDS for Small Businesses

The U.S. Small Business Administration is making it easier for small businesses to obtain surety bonds by offering a new, fast and easy online electronic application process on the agency's popular Web site.

Small construction, service and supply companies that need bonding can now apply for SBA surety bond guarantee assistance online on the SBA Web site 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Surety Bond Guarantee (SBG) Program may help you obtain the bonds you need to bid or perform public and private contracts.

Under the program, the SBA works with participating surety companies to provide bid, payment, and performance bonds on contracts up to $2 million in value for small contractors by guaranteeing a percentage of losses sustained in the event of a default. Corporate surety bonds protect the project owner against financial loss, and in the case of public construction projects, protect taxpayer dollars if the contractor defaults.

The new Surety Bond Guarantee E-application System, or E-app system, allows small businesses to quickly and easily submit their application for bonding assistance with surety companies that are registered to use the process. To learn more about the Surety Bond Guarantee (SBG) program and to access the E-app system click on http://www.sba.gov/eapplication.

column 2 - Surety Bonds

Small businesses and surety companies participating in the SBA prior approval program will be able to transmit application forms electronically to help expedite review and approval processes. The new online e- application capability, coupled with recent rule changes, is combining to make bonding more available to small and emerging businesses, and enabling them to access these necessary bonds more quickly.

"Streamlined rules for small businesses and for surety companies alike, along with quick and easy online access, will make it easier for small and emerging contractors to gain access to surety bonds so they can bid on public construction projects," said SBA Administrator Steve Preston. "These changes will support small businesses nationwide, particularly construction contractors in the devastated Gulf Coast region and other disaster stricken areas around the U.S."

SBA assistance in locating a participating surety company or agent and completing application forms is available online. For more information on SBA's Surety Bond Guarantee Program, go online to http://www.sba.gov/osg/ for a list of area office contacts and SBA offices near your business or call 1-800-U ASK SBA.

Are your potential customers
looking for you?

Can your potential customers find you in the yellow pages? - in the "yellow pages" on the Internet that is.

More and more people use the Internet to find information so you need to make sure your business is listed on the Internet as well in the more traditional yellow pages of the telephone book. You need to check for correct category listing and for accuracy of information as well as just to make sure you are listed.

There are "Yellow Pages" on several web sites. These are where people can find businesses based on the category of the business and/or the actual business name. The information on these yellow pages come from a couple different databases. Each site that has a yellow pages link does not necessarily maintain the database that the information comes from. The main sources of the information are: Superpages.com; Yellowpages.com; and InfoUSA.com. As a business owner, you need to check on your listing in each of these services to check for accuracy and to assure that you are in the right categories so people and other businesses can find you.

There are also a couple websites that people go directly to for "yellow page" information that are used specifically here in the heartland. They are: Switchboard.com; QuestDex.com. You need to check these for accuracy as well.

State of Iowa Vendor and Bid Opportunities

Requests for Proposals, Bids, Contracts and Services.

Small and microenterprise businesses can do business with the State of Iowa.

Listed below is a central e-location where state agencies can publish, post and advertise vendor and bid opportunites for procurement of goods or services. A great place to start to find opportunities to contract with the State of Iowa.

http://eservices.iowa.gov/rfp/

Demographic Information
Getting to know more information
about your target market

Do you need demographic information in planning your business expansion or in writing an original business plan - you'll find much of what you'll need on ISU Extension's website www.seta.iastate.edu

 

Checklist for business preparedness for pandemic flu or bioterriorism
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/
businesschecklist.html

The time to prepare is when the sun is shining Disaster Recovery Tips for Small Businesses

 

A Web site is not a magic bullet for business success but ...

A recent look at the Web sites of a couple local businesses has caused me on to make a couple comments.

First, the myth that a Web site can bring on business profits has long been dispelled. At the same time, the time when it was believed that microenterprise and small businesses don't need a Web site has passed as well. This article is not meant to be a primer on small business Web sites. It is just meant as a caution sign - pay attention to how your Web site reflects your business to the consumer so pay attention to what it looks like, what is on it, and how easy it is for your customer to navigate.

Small business owners wear a lot of hats and developing your Web site may be one of them. The decision should depend on how tech savvy you are, how willing you are to educate yourself on some Web basics and how much of an eye you have for design. When you hire someone to create your Web site, you need to ask the same questions. Just because someone is in business as a Web site developer does not mean they are good at it.

Tech: Just because you can - you don't need to. There are a lot of things that can jazz up a Web site but it they take a lot of time to load and have no value to the visitor - leave them out.

Design: A Web site is a visual tool - you need to know the value of color or the lack thereof. Color can be a distraction. Color can make text difficult to read. Certain colors can bring on emotional responses. Speaking of reading text, while TimesRoman is recommended for ease in reading printed text, it is not so for reading on a computer screen. Balance and white space is as important on a Web site as in an advertisement. Your Web site needs to be easy on the eye and appealing.

Web basics: what do your customers expect from a Web site; how long do you have to attract the visitor to keep them on the Web site; how many times is a visitor willing to click to get the information they want; what are the greatest irritations to surfers; how do you get visitors to your Web site to start with?

Villisca Business Directory
(businesses in bold are members of the Villisca Chamber of Commerce)

Find below a list of Villisca businesses. We are pleased to include businesses outside Villisca who consider themselves a part of the business community by participating in the Villisca Chamber of Commerce. We've tried to include all Villisca businesses and welcome corrections. The one exception is that we have included only the farm operations which belong to the Villisca Chamber of Commerce.

Ag and Related Businesses
D & J Farms, Inc.
Villisca, IA 50864

Frey Enterprises
1071 120th Street
Villisca, IA 50864
785-3701

Hilltop Greenhouse & Gardens
1059 - 240th Street
Nodaway, IA 50857
712-542-8852

Kernen Farms, Inc.
708 E. 3rd Street
Villisca, IA 50864
826-8434

Nodaway Valley Equipment
306 S. U Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-2300

Penwell Grain Company
3107-155th Street
Villisca IA 50864
826-4682

Pioneer Hi-Bred Intl
306 S. U Avenue
Villisca IA 50864
826-2300

Shapcott Implement Co.
2653 S. U Avenue
Villisca IA 50864
826-5932


Southern Hills Vet. Service

101 N. U Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-5522

Sunbest Papetti Farms
2975- 265th St.
Villisca, IA 50864
826-2688

Tyson Fresh Meats Inc
3106-130th Lane
Villisca IA 50864
826-2312

United Farmers Merc Co-op
401 N. U Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-2172

Villisca Elevator
P.O. Box 38
Villisca, IA 50864
826-2232

Bruce and Donna Williams
1051 Sycamore Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864

David & Corrine Williams
2873 102nd Street
Villisca, IA 50864

Antiques
Country Lane
320 South Third Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-3139

Villisca Furniture & Antiques
402 S. 3rd Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-2281

Westside Treasures
Villisca IA 50864

Automotive Repair & Maintenance
Body by Freshour
309 S. 4th Avenue
Villisca IA 50864
826-3636

Clark's Garage
137 W. 8th Street
Villisca IA 50864
826-3352

Kasha's Garage
615 S. 4th Avenue
Villisca IA 50864
826-5642


Marsh and Sons Automotive Repair

208 E. 6th Street
Villisca, IA 50864
826-2166

McAlpin Corner Service
205 S. U Avenue
Villisca IA 50864
826-4167

Myers Auto Repair & Auto Body
409 E. 8th Street
Villisca IA 50864
826-3090

Precision Auto & Truck
601 S. 2nd Avenue
Villisca IA 50864
826-2280

Schafer Automotive Service

310 E. 3rd Street
Villisca, IA 50864
826-2892


Villisca Detail Center & Car Wash
109 N. U Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-2865

Banking and Financial
Bank Iowa
300 S. 3rd Ave.
P.O. Box 46
Villisca, IA 50864
826-2562

Great Western Bank
2100 Commerce Drive
Red Oak, IA 51566
623-9809

Houghton State Bank
116 Coolbaugh
Red Oak, IA 51566
623-4823

Page County State Bank
120 E. Washington
Clarinda, IA 51632
542-5661

Beauticians
Curling Post
202 S. 4th Avenue
Villisca IA 50864
826-3062

Hair Connection, The
303 S. U Avenue
Villisca IA 50864
826-2252

Hair Kut Korner
208 S. 3rd Avenue
Villisca IA 50864
826-2062

Studio Central Salon
Tina Means - Owner/Stylist

118 Central Avenue
Villisca IA 50864
826-2472

Child Care
Cozy Cottage Child Care
201 E. 3rd Street
Villisca IA 50864
826-3167

Churches
Advent Christian Church
300 South 2nd Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-4662

Mount Calvary Lutheran Church
107 S. 5th Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-7202

Presbyterian Church
109 S. 3rd Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-3372

St. Joseph's Catholic Church
131 W. High Street
Villisca, IA 50864
826-8841

Strand Evangelical Lutheran Church
1127-160th Street
Villisca, IA 50864
826-8117

United Methodist Church
203 S. 3rd Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-3132

Communications
Johnston Communications
320 East 3rd Street
Villisca, IA 50864
826-4022
tjohnston2@netins.net

KCSI-KOAK Radio
1991 Ironwood Avenue
Red Oak, IA 51566
623-2584

Mediacom Communications Corp.
310 Commerce Drive
Red Oak, IA 51566
623-4816

Red Oak Express
2012 Commerce Drive
Red Oak, IA 51566
623-2566

SWIE Digital
103 S. U Avenue
Villisca IA 50864
826-3360

Villisca Review Stanton Viking
Peggy Vermillion, Editor
P.O. Box 7
113 North 5th Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864

826-2142
newspapr@netins.net


Villisca Farmers Telephone Co.

205 E. 4th Street
Villisca, IA 50864
826-2812

Construction
Berning Construction
110 N. 2nd Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-3888

Clark Plumbing & Construction
3094-265th St.
Villisca IA 50864
826-5132

Gay Brian Construction Co.
601 S. 2nd Avenue
Villisca IA 50864
826-2280

J & J Construction & Lawn Service
104 West. 4th Street
Villisca, IA 50864
826-4406

Jim Parker Construction
3210 110th Street
Villisca, IA 50864
763-4380
cell 621-4380
homebuilder1949@netins.net

Kammerer Shawn Carpentry & Roofing
114 West 6th Street
Villisca IA 50864
826-3919

Leichty Construction
2007 T. Avenue
Villisca IA 50864
826-8426

Nishna Valley Builders
Jeff Fulton 785-3449
Chuck Fast 826-8736
Scott Fast 785-3517
Villisca,IA

Scott Foundation Replacement
123 E. 4th St., Ste A
Villisca IA 50864
826-2525

Winther Construction
1552 V Avenue
Villisca IA 50864
826-2000

Wright Construction
Villisca, IA

303-7006

Entertainment and Cultural Affairs

Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center
2910 Aldersgate Drive
Villisca, IA 50864-7033
www.aldersgateiowa.org
aldersgate.camp@iaumc.org
712.826.8121 (phone & fax)


Olson Linn Museum
323 E. 4th Street
Villisca IA 50864
826-2756

Rialto Theatre
422 S. 3rd Avenue
Villisca IA 50864
826-2122

Villisca Country Club
2500 US Hwy 71
Villisca IA 50864
826-5322

Food and Drink
Breadeaux Pizza Inc.
412 S. 3rd Avenue
Villisca IA 50864
826-9272

Casey's General Store
309 N. U Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-9962

D&D Bar and Grill
307 E. 4th Street
Villisca, IA 50864
826-9342

The Bank
400 S. 3rd Avenue
Villisca IA 50864
826-3344

V-Bar, American Legion
321 E. 4th Street
Villisca, IA 50864
826-2702


Villisca Foods

509 S. 3rd Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-2412

Insurance and Law Firms
Kline Insurance
406 S. 3rd Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-5192

Swanson Law Firm
209 Coolbaugh
P.O.B. 78
Red Oak, IA 51566
623-2554

Medical
Alegent Health
Drs. Piller, Quinn and Wolff
1400 Senate Avenue
Red Oak, IA 51566
623-7280

Villisca Office:

301 E. 4th Street
826-2882

Clarinda Reg. Health Center
823 S. 17th, P.O. Box 217
Clarinda, IA 51632
542-2176
800-682-7920

Montgomery Co. Mem. Hospital
2301 Eastern Avenue
Red Oak, IA 51566
623-7000

Villisca Medical Clinic
301 E. 4th Street
Villisca, IA 50864
826-4422
bhutchinson@mcmh.org
www.mcmh.org

Stoner Drug
408 S. 3rd Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-4112


Villisca Family Health Center

(Clarinda Regional Health Center)
309 S. 5th Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-3003


Villisca Good Samaritan

202 Central Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-9592

Wyatt, James F. MD
1905 East Summit
Red Oak IA 51566
623-5416

Real Estate
Century 21, Bill Jacobs, Agent
2453 T. Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-8132

Crawford & Co. (formerly Kline Real Estate)
406 S. 3rd Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-5192

John Hausen/Jim Hughes Real Estate
410 So. Locust, Glenwood, IA 51534
712-826-7242 402-669-0637cell
hausens@netins.net jimhughesrealestate.com

Sun Valley Apartments
604 E. 6th Street
Villisca IA 50864
826-4149

Individuals
Walter & Ruth Eitzen
1111 US Hwy 71
Villisca, IA 50864
826-8208

Tom Focht
103 East 3rd Street
Villisca, IA 50864
826-9052

Mark & LaDonna Focht
Villisca, IA 50864

Clarence Peterson
208 West 1st Street
Villisca, IA 50864
826-7512

Jim & Diane Wallick
2374 Union Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-7292

Donna Williams
1051 Sycamore Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864

Retail
Casey's General Store
309 N. U Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-9962

Flower Basket
404 S. 3rd Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-2484

Granny's Auto Parts
NAPA Auto Parts
204 E. 4th Street
Villisca, IA 50864
826-2032

The Greenery
301 N. U Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-3505

Red Oak Chrysler
1907 Broadway
Red Oak, IA 51566
623-9310

Stoner Drug
408 S. 3rd Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-4112

United Farmers Merc Co-op
401 N. U Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-2172

Villisca Foods
509 S. 3rd Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-2412

Villisca Furniture & Antiques
402 S. 3rd Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-2281

Westside Treasures
Villisca IA 50864

Service Businesses
Brown Sanitation, Ron & Joan
109 W. High Street
Villisca, IA 50864
826-3402

Brown's Sales & Service
901 S. U Avenue
Villisca IA 50864
826-2482

Dance Unlimited
120 West 3rd Street
Villisca, IA 50864
Cindy Scott, Owner - 826-8222

Fish Appliance Svc, Htg & AC
2512 Union Avenue
Villisca IA 50864
826-3172


Kendrick & Heard Plumbing & Heating

601 S. 3rd Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-5222

Means Lawn Scape
2627-270th Street
Villisca IA 50864
826-2299

Methodist Church Conference/Camp Aldersgate
2910 Aldersgate Drive
Villisca, IA 50864
826-8121
info@aldersgateiowa.org

North Page Detailing LLC
2747 110th Street
Villisca, IA 50864

Service Clean
3265-260th Street
Villisca IA 50864
826-4277

Southwest Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative
415 Broad Avenue
Stanton, IA 51573
712-829-2211

Thompson Woodworking & Rock
303 E. 5th Street, Apt. 1
Villisca IA 50864
826-3933

U.S. Post Office
500 S. 3rd Avenue
Villisca IA 50864
826-2162

Villisca Community Schools
406 East 3rd Street
Villisca, IA 50864
826-2552

Villisca Detail Center & Car Wash
109 N. U Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-2865

Villisca Municipal Power Plant
318 S. 3rd Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-3192

Villisca Public Library
204 S. 3rd Avenue
Villisca IA 50864
826-2452

Villisca Small Engine
204 E. 4th Street
Villisca IA 50864
826-2032

Villisca Storage
Villisca IA 50864
641-322-3929

Wolfe Funeral Home
201 E. 4th Street
Villisca, IA 50864
826-4142