Sommers reflects on Elkader Main Street/Economic Development Director role

By Kaitlyn Kuehl-Berns | Times-Register

With the new year, Maggie Sommers, Elkader’s Main Street and Economic Development Director, reached six months in the role she took over in July.

Sommers, who is originally from Fort Dodge, moved to Edgewood after meeting her husband while attending college at Iowa State University. About a year before she applied for the position, her mom, Monica Rowden, opened Old Crow Mercantile in Elkader.

The change from a county-wide position to a more local role appealed to her.

“I really liked that this position was more focused on one specific community versus an entire county and I had always been drawn to Elkader for shopping, dining and other activities,” she shared.

While taking on the position made Sommers a new face in Elkader, she was not new to the area of community promotion and development. She previously worked as the tourism and economic development marketing coordinator in Delaware County for two years.

Explaining what the role entails for those who may not be familiar with it, Sommers said, “You wear a lot of hats in these types of roles in small communities. Sometimes people might not realize the overlap between the Main Street role and working closely with the city on economic development, which extends to the whole city of Elkader.”

“I get to work with the city not only on the Main Street District, but also on anything in the industrial park, housing opportunities and infrastructure projects,” she added.

Two main learning curves Sommers identified were learning the structure of the different committees within the Main Street and economic development groups, as well as familiarizing herself with reporting requirements specific to the Main Street program.

“Any challenges were easy to work through. Everyone has been helpful and there is an endless amount of people who are willing to provide knowledge or guidance,” she said.

Describing a typical week, Sommers explained her schedule varies depending on current priorities. “I have quite a few meetings with the different committees, depending on what we’re working on. I try to spend at least a third of my time out in the community—whether that’s visiting businesses, delivering things to people or working with partners.”

Reflecting on her day-to-day work, she added, “It’s kind of a go-with-the-flow job, because you might think your day is going one way and then something comes up and your focus has to shift.”

Outside committee work, Sommers spends time connecting directly with local businesses, helping them explore funding options and facilitating partnerships and collaboration.

Main Street Iowa is housed within the Iowa Economic Development Authority, an agency of the Iowa state government. Just over 50 communities in Iowa have received the Main Street designation. To earn the designation, communities must complete a competitive and extensive application process. Elkader received this honor in 1991 and will celebrate 35 years in 2026.

The mission of Main Street Elkader is to support the development of a vibrant downtown through economic development, historic preservation and educational programs, with benefits extending to the entire community. The program’s four focus areas are economic vitality, organization, promotion and design.

“Each committee plays a part in completing the projects and goals set by the board,” Sommers said. “My role is to keep them moving forward in the same direction.”

One key benefit of the Main Street program is its ability to connect communities with funding, resources, professional networks and support they may not otherwise have access to.

Two grants each Main Street district in Iowa can apply for include the Open 4 Business Grant and the Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant. Businesses must first apply through their local Main Street board, which selects one business to advance to competition at the state level. Sommers assists applicants in preparing materials that represent the community at the state level.

This year, two Elkader properties were awarded grants. Drone Xperts received a $20,000 Open 4 Business Grant for new equipment to expand hybrid instruction capabilities, enhance practical training and allow more rural residents and professionals to access drone education close to home. 

Frédérique Boudouani and Brian Bruening were awarded a $100,000 Challenge Grant. The matching grant will be used to rehabilitate the building next to Schera’s at 107 S. Main St., to create additional retail space.

Thinking back on her accomplishments so far, Sommers pointed to the Challenge Grant as a major milestone. “It was the first thing I was a part of from ground zero,” she said.

She also highlighted the growth of Elkader’s Holiday Light Show, which drew nearly 4,000 visitors in its second year. Attendance was tracked through a trail camera sensor borrowed from the Turkey River Recreation Corridor and a visitor survey. According to survey responses, many attendees also visited downtown shops and restaurants.

“It was rewarding to see that people were coming to the light show and then continuing to spend their time and money in town,” Sommers said.

Through the economic development portion of her role with the city, Sommers is also helping promote recently donated lots in the Breezy Summit subdivision for residential development.

She recently finalized an updated resource guide for new and existing businesses outlining available support and resources.

“Not everybody looks at our website, so being able to hand people something physical to promote our efforts is important to us,” she said.

One project Sommers is especially excited about is wayfinding signage in the downtown area.

“It has been talked about previously, but for one reason or another it hadn’t been seen through. I’ve been researching and connecting with partners to figure out how we can get it done,” she said.

The signage will focus on pedestrian navigation throughout the Main Street area and is intended to improve visitors’ ability to locate retailers and service businesses.

Reflecting on the support she has received, Sommers said local leaders and organizations have been consistently helpful.

“Nobody ever gets tired of my questions. If there’s ever a time someone doesn’t have the answer, they always know where to point me to who does.”

Sommers highlighted city administrator Jennifer Cowsert, saying, “She provided a lot of background and history early on. For city projects, I collaborate with her almost daily.”

Because historic preservation is a key focus of Main Street Iowa, grant applications often require historical background. “David Beck has been great in this area, helping locate photographs and produce historical information about the buildings,” she said.

“All the business owners have been friendly, the entire Main Street Board has been helpful, and during the transition, Amy Holst provided a lot of guidance to help me learn the ropes,” she said.

Sommers said she has been impressed by the number of educated, talented and motivated people in Elkader, as well as the community’s willingness to get involved.

Looking ahead to the coming year, she is excited to continue work on wayfinding signage, see progress on Keystone Park and attend additional training sessions.

“I am an extrovert, so I enjoy working with people every day,” Sommers said. “Being able to check things off the list, get projects done and see our work come to life keeps me motivated—and there’s never a shortage of projects here.”

She added that roles like hers play an important part in community growth, noting the value of having a dedicated individual focused on business, housing, development and long-term planning.