Girls Gettin’ Out Returns to Atlantic April 10–11

Grab your girlfriends and mark your calendars! The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce is excited for the return of Girls Gettin’ Out, happening Friday and Saturday, April 10–11, in Atlantic.

This super fun shopping event invites women from across the region to spend a fun-filled day in Atlantic exploring local boutiques, specialty shops, and businesses offering unique promotions, giveaways, and in-store experiences.

To make the weekend even more exciting, Atlantic’s city-wide garage sales will also take place the same weekend, giving visitors even more opportunities to hunt for great finds throughout the community. While the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce does not organize the garage sales, pairing the two events again this year creates the perfect excuse for a Girls Day in Atlantic.

New this year, shoppers can also participate in the “Peace, Love & Shopping” Scavenger Hunt. Participating businesses will hide groovy peace signs throughout their stores during the event. Shoppers who find a peace sign can bring their Peace, Love & Shopping card to the counter to receive a signature.

Participants who collect as many as five signatures from participating businesses can turn their completed card into the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce lockbox for a chance to win a Girls Day Out Gift Basket. Each signature counts as an entry in the drawing, so the more peace signs shoppers find, the better their chances of winning.

The winner will be announced during a Facebook Live drawing on the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Facebook page on Monday, April 13.

“Girls Gettin’ Out has become a great tradition for Atlantic,” said Kelsey Beschorner, Executive Director of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. “With shopping, dining, garage sales, and now the Peace, Love & Shopping Scavenger Hunt all happening the same weekend, it’s the perfect opportunity to grab your friends, spend the day together, and experience everything Atlantic has to offer.”

Visitors are encouraged to make a full day of it. Start the morning browsing garage sales across town, enjoy lunch or coffee at one of Atlantic’s local restaurants, and spend the afternoon shopping, hunting for peace signs, and exploring participating businesses.

Whether you’re searching for fashion, home décor, handmade goods, or hidden garage sale treasures, Atlantic will be the place to be April 10–11.

For more information about Girls Gettin’ Out, the Peace, Love & Shopping Scavenger Hunt, or a list of participating businesses, follow the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce on social media or visit www.atlanticiowa.com.

Atlantic Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors Celebrate with Ridge Top Tree Services

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated Ridge Top Tree Service on Thursday, March 19th at the Rock Island Depot, recognizing the business as a new addition to the local community.

Ridge Top Tree Service is based out of Anita, Iowa and is owned and operated by Zack Wahlert and Blake Butcher. The business was established in October of 2025 and is fully licensed and insured, providing reliable and professional tree care services to the area.

Ridge Top Tree Service offers a variety of services including tree removal, tree trimming, stump grinding, storm cleanup, and land clearing. They also provide free estimates, making it easy for customers to plan and budget for their projects. Blake shared that winter and early spring are ideal times for tree work, as frozen ground conditions help minimize impact to lawns and surrounding property during service. Looking ahead, Zack and Blake plan to continue growing the business by working toward becoming certified arborists.

For more information about Ridge Top Tree Service or to request an estimate, contact 712-249-3273 or visit their Facebook page.

Atlantic Area Chamber Ambassadors Celebrate with NISHNANET

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors joined Scott Bennett and the NISHNANET team on Thursday, March 12th to celebrate the completion of the business’s new office with a ribbon cutting.

Scott shared that the new location, 205 State street, has been a long time coming. He had been searching for a space that would allow the business to store equipment, supplies, and vehicles in one central location. Scott thanked the many local businesses that helped make the renovations possible, noting that services and materials for the project were sourced locally whenever possible.

Scott and his family moved to Atlantic in 2012 to pursue the small-town dream and start a business focused on serving rural communities. NISHNANET has been in business since that time, providing reliable internet service to rural residents and business customers. The Ambassadors first visited the business about eight years ago when they celebrated NISHNANET connecting its very first customer.

Today, NISHNANET continues to grow while staying committed to its goal of providing consistent pricing, dependable service, and reliable internet. In addition to internet service, NISHNANET also provides a range of IT solutions, including copiers, televisions, door access systems, security cameras, audio/video installations, and more.

Scott also shared that supporting the community is an important part of NISHNANET’s mission. The business regularly provides technology and internet services to nonprofit organizations and community events. Examples include free Wi-Fi and technical support during the Cass County Fair, RAGBRAI events, and public Wi-Fi in downtown Atlantic, though these are just a few of the many ways the business works to give back to the community.

NISHNANET is located at 205 State Street in Atlantic. For more information call (712) 243-2497 or visit- https://www.nishnanet.com. Be sure to keep up with NISHNANET on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/nishnanet.

Atlantic Prepares for Girls Gettin’ Out Weekend April 10–11

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the return of Girls Gettin’ Out, happening Friday and Saturday, April 10–11, in Atlantic.

This popular spring shopping event invites women from across the region to grab their friends and spend a day in Atlantic enjoying shopping, dining, and fun experiences at local businesses. Participating retailers and businesses will offer special promotions, giveaways, and in-store activities throughout the weekend.

Adding even more excitement, Atlantic’s city-wide garage sales will also take place the same weekend, creating the perfect opportunity for a full Girls Day in Atlantic. While the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce does not organize the garage sales, pairing the two events gives visitors even more reasons to explore the community and search for great deals.

“Girls Gettin’ Out has become a fun tradition for Atlantic and a great way to showcase our local businesses,” said Kelsey Beschorner, Executive Director of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. “It’s the perfect opportunity to shake off the winter blues, grab your girlfriends, and spend the day shopping, dining, and enjoying everything Atlantic has to offer.”

The Chamber is also planning a new interactive promotion for this year’s event that will encourage shoppers to visit multiple businesses throughout town while competing for a special Girls Day Out prize basket.

More details about the event, including participating businesses and special promotions, will be announced in the coming weeks.

For updates, follow the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce on social media or visit www.atlanticiowa.com.

Atlantic Area Chamber Ambassadors Learn About New Cass County Volunteerism Grant

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors visited with Grace McAfee, Cass County Wellness Coordinator, and Megan Roberts, Director of Public Health, on March 5th, 2026, to learn about a new opportunity designed to strengthen volunteerism and community engagement across Cass County.

During the visit, McAfee shared details about the Cass County Volunteerism Grant, a new program that will provide $4,000 in funding to selected nonprofits, schools, government agencies, and community groups. The program was developed after feedback from recent Community Health Needs Assessment surveys, where many local organizations repeatedly identified a shortage of volunteers as a major hurdle to expanding their impact and services.

In addition to funding, participating organizations will receive support through training sessions, staff assistance, and increased visibility for their volunteer efforts. The program includes 12 hours of required in-person training, with at least two team members from each participating organization attending the sessions. Organizations will also have access to optional one-on-one coaching through Volunteer Iowa and Healthy Cass County to help strengthen their volunteer programs.

A key component of the initiative will be a community Day of Service, planned for late summer. Participating organizations will host volunteer opportunities and track community participation, encouraging residents to work together in service to Cass County.

Applications for the Cass County Volunteerism Grant are due by noon on April 1, 2026. Grace emphasized that the goal of the program is to provide organizations with tools and resources that help turn funding into lasting community impact while strengthening the culture of volunteerism across Cass County.

Organizations interested in learning more about the grant opportunity are encouraged to contact Grace McAfee at 712-250-8170 or mcage@casshealth.org

Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Celebrates Community Leadership at Annual Dinner

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed members, community leaders, and partners to its Annual Dinner and Awards celebration, an evening dedicated to recognizing the people, partnerships, and progress shaping Atlantic’s future.

This year’s event was especially meaningful as the Chamber celebrated 85 years of serving the Atlantic business community.

Executive Director Kelsey Beschorner shared highlights from the past year, recognizing the continued support of Chamber members, sponsors, volunteers, and community partners. Over the past year, the Chamber organized and promoted 22 community events, celebrated 11 new business openings through ribbon cuttings, launched a new Chamber website, and continued successful programs such as AtlantiCash to support local businesses.

During the evening, Chamber Board President Anne Quist shared a high-level overview of the Chamber’s strategic planning process. The strategic plan focuses on four key priorities: strengthening the business community, elevating Atlantic’s signature events, building strong partnerships, and leading with focus and accountability to ensure the long-term sustainability of the organization.

“These priorities will guide our work as we continue building momentum and delivering meaningful value to our members and the broader Atlantic community,” said Quist.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Chamber’s Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor presented by the organization. The award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a career of outstanding service, leadership, and dedication to the Atlantic community.

Julie Waters was named the 2025 Distinguished Service Award recipient. Waters was recognized for her extraordinary volunteer spirit and consistent support of community events and initiatives. Known for her willingness to step in wherever help is needed, Waters regularly volunteers at community events, Chamber activities, and local service efforts while encouraging others to get involved as well.

Throughout the evening, attendees also celebrated the success of local businesses and the efforts of the Chamber’s Ambassador program, which supports member businesses through ribbon cuttings, milestone celebrations, and community engagement.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce expressed gratitude to the many volunteers, sponsors, and members whose support makes the organization’s work possible.

“As we celebrate 85 years of the Chamber, it’s clear that Atlantic’s strength comes from the people who continue to show up, support one another, and invest in our community,” said Beschorner.

For more information about the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce or upcoming events, visit www.atlanticiowa.com.