The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by Bloom Behavioral Health on Thursday, September 25^th, 2025, to celebrate the opening of the new practice located in Downtown Atlantic. The Ambassadors welcomed the business as a new Chamber member and learned more about the services Bloom provides to the community.

Bloom Behavioral Health, founded by Jenny Jessen, LISW NPT-C, was created with the mission of providing compassionate and comprehensive mental health care for individuals and families. With a strong belief in meeting clients where they are, Bloom emphasizes creating a safe, supportive environment where every person feels valued, respected, and understood.

The practice offers a wide range of services including individual therapy, family and couples counseling, play therapy, and behavioral support for children and adolescents. Bloom Behavioral Health specializes in helping clients navigate challenges such as anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, and behavioral concerns. Bloom Behavioral Health is committed to evidence-based practices while tailoring care to meet the unique needs of each client.

“I have a real love for adolescent behavioral health,” said owner Jenny Jessen. “I enjoy having conversations with young adults because they often look at the world differently. Many times, they see things in black and white, and I love challenging that mindset to help them see things from a new perspective.”

Bloom Behavioral Health is located at 319 Chestnut Street, Atlantic.

To learn more about services or to schedule an appointment, visit https://www.bloombehavioralhealth.net/ or call 712-304-8603

The Atlantic Area Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by Cass County Farm Bureau Board Members and Farm Bureau Financial Services on Thursday, June 12th. The Ambassadors were on hand to cut the ribbon for a new location in Downtown Atlantic.

Iowa Farm Bureau is a grassroots agricultural organization dedicated to creating a vibrant future for agriculture, farm families, and communities across the state. With 100 offices serving all 99 counties, the organization is able to reach, respond to, and advocate for families wherever they live. Cass County Farm Bureau serves its 540 members and the local community through food pantries, scholarships, 4-H and FFA programs, county fairs, Ag Days, and meetings with legislators. With a core focus on community and partnerships, it was a natural fit for the organization to expand into Downtown Atlantic, occupying the former Fischer Photography building.

Joining Cass County Farm Bureau at the new location is Farm Bureau Financial Services, which has served the Atlantic area for over 80 years and continues to grow. The Atlantic office is led by Dalton Franken, who has been an investment representative for more than seven years. Dalton and his team offer a full range of financial services and are ready to serve individuals, families, and businesses.

Cass County Farm Bureau and Farm Bureau Financial Services are located at 302 Chestnut Street in Atlantic. For more information on programs and services, visit http://www.iowafarmbureau.com or http://www.fbfs.com, or call 712-243-2263.

The Atlantic Area Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by Touchdown Beer and Grill on Thursday, June 26^th. The Ambassadors were excited to be a part of the ribbon cutting for a restaurant that has been in the works for a long time.

Touchdown Bar & Grill is a family-owned restaurant serving up everything from tacos to gameday favorites. Along with their wide variety of food they also have a very popular drink menu including beer flights and specialty martinis. The Ramos family had a very humble beginning, taking them three years to finally open Touchdown, due to many issues with construction and supply chain issues. Throughout this they kept in mind their mission of creating a welcoming environment where anyone can come to get a high-quality meal in a laid-back atmosphere.

They offer great outdoor patio seating, as well as plenty of indoor seating for you and your friends when your favorite teams are playing. Since their official opening in early spring of this year, they have been a huge hit amongst the people of Atlantic, and they hope to continue bringing in new customers.

Touchdown is located at 1105 W 7^th Street, Atlantic, IA, 50022. They are open from 11 am-10 pm, Monday-Sunday. For more information you can visit their website https://touchdownbeerngrill.com/ or their Facebook page, @TouchdownBeer&Grill.

On Wednesday, July 2^nd, 2025, the Atlantic Area Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by students from Iowa State University as they unveiled their mural, which is part of a pilot program between ISU and the City of Atlantic. Students have been working day and night, making sure the mural is as beautiful as possible.

Iowa State University College of Design students have spent time in Atlantic for the past four weeks as a part of their “Murals in Community” summer course that they are all taking. This mural takes up two sides of the building and highlights integral parts of Atlantic’s environment. The mural is colorful and gives a new look to a building that others would normally not pay too much attention to.

Another integral part to this mural is community involvement. If you visit, you will see handprints on both walls. Those handprints are from the Nishna Valley YMCA summer camp kids. The kids were invited out to put their own touch on the mural. This gave the students another chance to connect with the Atlantic community. They have been welcomed with open arms by the people of Atlantic. Many residents that live next to the mural brought the students snacks and water on those hot Iowa days. All to say, that the people of Atlantic can really come together to support a new addition to the community.

If you are looking to see the beautiful mural in person, it is located at 703 E 14^th Street (also known as the old YMCA building). You can take pictures or just enjoy the work of these very talented students.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors recently visited Allen Place Senior Living to celebrate its new management team and welcome new employees with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

During the visit, the Ambassadors met with Executive Director Danielle Staiert, who shared that Allen Place offers 51 apartments and has the capacity to serve up to 72 residents. The facility provides 24-hour care, eight different levels of care, and up to six activities per day. What sets Allen Place apart from other facilities in the area is its commitment to promoting “aging in place.” By partnering with home care and hospice agencies, Allen Place supports residents in continuing to live and thrive within the community.

Alicia Wilborn, Director of Sales and Marketing, introduced the Ambassadors to the dedicated staff who help the facility run smoothly. She emphasized that the team at Allen Place works hard to create a warm and welcoming environment that truly feels like home for its residents.

Earlier this year, Allen Place came under the ownership of Arvum Senior Living, LLC, a regional operating company under Discovery Senior Living. Arvum specializes in managing senior living communities across Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Wisconsin, with a focus on both high-quality care and vibrant lifestyle offerings. Staff at Allen Place noted that Arvum has already implemented several positive changes to enhance services for residents and strengthen ties with the community.

Allen Place is located at 1406 E. 19th Street in Atlantic. For more information, call 712-264-5584.

On Thursday, July 17^th the Atlantic Area Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by Odds ‘N Ends to celebrate the opening of their new retail location.

Jodi Ammon, owner, buys pallets of things from bigger chain stores (like Target) and resells them at half the price that they would be at these retail stores. None of the items in Odds ‘N Ends are returned, used items. Instead, the items on the pallets are products that are considered out of season, and bigger franchises simply need to get rid of product. The store is neaty organized into sections (ex. kids, funiture, clothes, kitchen, etc.) making it easy to parooze the shelves. Included in their store is also discounted big name items, like Stanley Tumbers and Lululemon Belt Bags.

Moving into this new location has been very good for Odds ‘N Ends. They have more space, and they are still in an accessible spot in downtown Atlantic. Since opening this storefront in April of this year, they have gained popularity and more foot traffic. A pallet store like Odds ‘N Ends adds a fun and affordable retail option in the community.

Odds N Ends is located at 315 Walnut Street, Atlantic, Iowa. Be sure to visit their facebook page @Odds’nEnds for a look at their newest items and store hours.  The business can also be found on Whatnot, at https://www.whatnot.com/user/jodisue13/shop, to buy/preview products online.

On Friday, July 18, 2025, the Atlantic Area Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by ZION Integrated Health Services to learn more about the valuable programs and services they provide to Atlantic and surrounding communities.

ZION Integrated Health Services is a non-profit organization founded in southwest Iowa to address chemical and drug dependency. At their Atlantic location, they offer outpatient substance abuse treatment as well as mental health services. ZION also operates seven satellite offices across Iowa, located in Perry, Adel, Greenfield, Creston, Red Oak, Shenandoah, and Clarinda; the latter of which is home to a men’s residential halfway program. In addition, ZION provides prevention programs in 13 counties throughout the state.

A key part of ZION’s mission is to raise awareness about substance abuse and educate the public on how to support those who may be struggling. One of the ways they do this is by teaching community members how to administer Narcan, an emergency nasal spray used to reverse opioid overdoses. Narcan is easy to use and available over the counter, but it can also be obtained at ZION’s office free of charge.

ZION is committed to reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and substance use disorders to better serve and uplift the communities they work in.

For more information, visit their office at 2307 S. Olive Street, Atlantic, Iowa 50022, or explore their website at http://www.zioniowa.org.

On Thursday, July 24, 2025, the Atlantic Area Chamber Ambassadors visited the Cass County Fair to celebrate the opening day. During their visit, they heard from several fair board members about all the exciting activities planned for this year’s event.

The annual Cass County Fair is a major draw for Atlantic and the surrounding communities, and it remains the only fully free county fair in Iowa; the only cost is for food. A highlight of this year’s schedule is the annual bull ride, which will be followed by an all-new fireworks show and a concert by Steven Bankey & the Flatland Band at the Grandstand.

Sunday will feature a full day of entertainment, including the Strong and Amazing Ariel Stunt Show, where performers will showcase their incredible skills. In addition to these headline events, fairgoers can enjoy daily attractions such as 4-H and FFA exhibits, livestock contests, tractor pulls, and much more.

The Cass County Fair runs from Thursday, July 24, through Tuesday, July 29, at the Cass County Fairgrounds (1000 Fair Ave., Atlantic, IA 50022). For daily food specials, event schedules, and updates, visit http://www.casscofairia.com or follow Cass County Fair – Iowa on Facebook.