Ernst Meets with Local Iowa Leaders

RED OAK, Iowa – Over the past few weeks, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) has met with local leaders representing cities and chambers of commerce across Iowa to discuss their top priorities.

Ernst’s discussions included the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Des Moines Partnership, the Ames Regional Economic Alliance, the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce, the Quad Cities Chamber, and the City of Cedar Rapids.

“Whether traveling River to River or in meetings with constituents, hearing directly from folks at home about the issues that matter most to them is essential to my efforts to bring Iowa common sense and values to Washington,” said Senator Ernst. “From my work to resolve Urbandale’s ZIP code boundary dispute and standing up for the National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City to unleashing small business innovation as Chair of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, I will always bring Iowans’ concerns to the highest levels.”

Ernst meets with leaders from the City of Bondurant.

Download photos from more of her meetings here.

See what local leaders are saying about Ernst’s work for Iowans:

“For 70 years, the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce has descended upon our nation’s capital to share our primary concerns, priorities, and political positions,” said Chris McGowan, President of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce. “With this in mind, we are here this week, with over 40 Siouxland business leaders, to advocate for our tri-state community with our federal elected officials, including United States Senator Joni Ernst.”

“Strong businesses create strong communities. The Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce met with the Iowa delegation to underscore the importance of certainty to guarantee investment in our communities,”said Molly Grover, President of the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce. “We’re here with our community leaders from the public and private sector to advocate for a robust business climate conducive to economic job growth and development as well as a more vibrant and prosperous Dubuque."

“We are incredibly grateful for Senator Ernst’s support for Iowa, including to create high-quality jobs and a stable tax base,” said Hollie Zajicek, Director of the Economic Development Director for the City of Norwalk and Commissioner of the Greater Des Moines Sister Cities Commission. “I remember working with Senator Ernst years ago when she was the auditor for Montgomery County. I’m proud to say she’s the same person now that she was then; genuine, kind, hardworking, brave, and always doing the right thing for taxpayers, the great state of Iowa, and our amazing United States of America. We look forward to her continuous work to put Iowans first for many years to come.” 

“We greatly appreciate discussing the issues that are most important to our community with Senator Ernst and her staff while in Washington, D.C.,” said Bob Andeweg, Mayor of the City of Urbandale.“The Senator has a proven track record of not only listening to our needs and concerns but taking action to address them and serve Iowans. Look no further than her work to resolve the ongoing ZIP code boundary dispute in Urbandale. She has been a leader in resolving this issue to get our residents the timely and efficient mail service they need.”

"It was an honor to join Senator Ernst in Washington, D.C., and advocate alongside fellow Chamber leaders and city officials on key issues impacting the Des Moines region,” said Tiffany Menke, President of the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce. “For Urbandale, one of the most pressing concerns is the ZIP code boundary challenge, which affects everything from business perception to service delivery. We’re grateful for Senator Ernst’s openness to hearing our concerns and her ongoing commitment to supporting Iowa’s local economies through responsive, informed policymaking."

“The Partnership trip provides an opportunity for us to come together and advocate for the issues we see as most impactful to Central Iowa,” said Doug Elrod, Mayor of the City of Bondurant. “Senator Ernst takes the time to dig in and understand these, along with the specific issues which are important for Bondurant.  We feel she knows our community and has been with us along our journey. We are thankful to the Senator and her team for their service to Central Iowa and Bondurant!”

“Meeting with Senator Ernst and her staff in Washington, DC is a critical opportunity for our members and community stakeholders to ensure their voices are heard at the highest levels,” said Dan Culhane, President and CEO of the Ames Regional Economic Alliance. “These visits strengthen our advocacy efforts and reinforce our shared priorities, which is why we place such a strong emphasis on being present and engaged in our nation’s capital.”

“We were proud to represent Cedar Rapids in Washington, D.C. this week, meeting with members of our federal delegation and key administration officials to advocate for critical infrastructure and economic development projects,” said Tiffany O’Donnell, Mayor of the City of Cedar Rapids. “We explored targeted grant opportunities and strengthened federal partnerships to help turn today’s conversations into tomorrow’s benefits for our community. We also expressed our appreciation for Senator Ernst’s continued support in advancing important projects like our Flood Control System and 8th Avenue Bridge replacement.”

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