Mahaska Chamber and Development Group

09/01/2026

👀💲 Looking for local grant funds? Here is your opportunity! Applications are due October 1! Apply today!

https://www.mahaskachamber.org/files/mahaska_pitch_competition_35582.pdf

Questions: email [email protected] or call 641.672.2591

09/01/2026

🤔 WHO CAN JOIN THE CHAMBER? 🍁
Businesses. Organizations. Individuals.

❓WHY JOIN?
A Chamber membership is an investment in your business and your community. Your membership dollars help make possible the programs, events, resources, and opportunities that keep Mahaska County moving forward.

And this fall, there’s plenty to look forward to! 🍁
✨ Power Lunch Speaker Series
💰 Mahaska Pitch Competition — grant dollars for new and existing small businesses
🎄 Holiday events and community celebrations
…and so much more!

🍂 Harvest the benefits. Discover your potential.
Join the Chamber today and see what your membership can do for you, your business, and Mahaska County! 🌾

Contact Michelle Kent at 641.672.2591 or email [email protected] to learn more.

08/31/2026

Get Outside in Mahaska County!

Adventure is waiting right in our own backyard! From biking the trails to fishing, disc golfing, camping, and exploring our beautiful parks, there are so many ways to enjoy the great outdoors in Mahaska County.

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing afternoon in nature or a little adventure with the family, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Get outside and explore Mahaska County! 🥾🚴‍♀️🛶🎣

08/30/2026

🍂 **Fall is arriving at Mahaska Drug!** 🍁

Join us for our **Fall Open House — September 3rd, 4th & 5th!**

Come wander through the store and see what’s new for the season — fall décor, cozy favorites, gifts, seasonal goodies, and plenty of inspiration to get you ready for autumn. 🎃🧡

Whether you’re ready to decorate, looking for a gift, or just want an excuse to come see all the new fall gifts, we’d love to have you stop in!

📅 **September 3, 4 & 5**
📍 **Mahaska Drug | Oskaloosa, Iowa**

Bring a friend and come kick off the fall season with us! 🍂

08/26/2026

🎓💙 WELCOME! 💛📚

On Monday, August 17, the Mahaska Diplomats had the pleasure of welcoming the newest faculty members to William Penn University! 🎉👏

We always enjoy this opportunity to introduce new faces to our community and deliver a few goodies to help give them a warm Mahaska County welcome. 🛍️🎁😊

To all of the new faculty — we are so glad you’re here! We hope you quickly discover what makes William Penn University, Oskaloosa, and the entire Mahaska County community such a special place to live, work, and call home. 🏡❤️

Best wishes for a wonderful 2026–2027 academic year! 📚✏️🎓

💙💛 Welcome to William Penn and welcome to Oskaloosa! 💛💙

New WPU Faculty pictured from left to right:

Destiny Kiddoo, Humanities Division, Instructor of English;
Patricia Babbitt, Applied Tech Division, Instructor of Mathematics; Kellen Gracey, Social & Behavioral Sciences Division, Assistant Professor of Political Science;
Holli Cushman, Nursing Division, Instructor of Nursing

Mahaska Diplomats helping to welcome the new faculty included:
Cassie Veldhuizen, Bank Iowa
Deb Bruxvoort, Associate Member
Michella Friesen, United Way of Mahaska County
Pam Newendorp, TDT CPAs and Advisors, P.C.
Angie Foster, Oskaloosa Main Street

08/26/2026

Oskaloosa has a brand-new way to fund big community projects—and it all started with a simple question at a potluck.

Following in the footsteps of the successful all-women Golden Goose Club, local men have launched the Golden Gander Club.

Want to know how the club works, who's behind it, and how they plan to match a decade of local impact?

Read the full story here: https://osky.us/GoldenGander

08/26/2026

08/25/2026

📢 Are you looking to start a business or grow your business here in Mahaska County? 💵Grant funds available!

OSKALOOSA, IOWA — The Mahaska Chamber & Development Group and Oskaloosa Main Street are excited to announce that applications are now open for the Mahaska Pitch Competition, an opportunity designed to encourage entrepreneurship, strengthen existing businesses, and support innovative ideas that contribute to the economic vitality of Mahaska County.

The Mahaska Pitch Competition is open to individuals with a new business idea as well as existing businesses looking to expand, introduce a new product or service, or make an investment that will help their business grow in Mahaska County.

Applications are open now through October 1, 2026. All applications will be reviewed by the selection committee, and finalists will be notified and invited to present their business ideas at the live Mahaska Pitch Competition on November 16, 2026.

“We are excited to hold our first Mahaska Pitch Competition and provide entrepreneurs with an opportunity to share their ideas and compete for funding,” said Deann De Groot, Executive Director of the Mahaska Chamber & Development Group. “Last December, we received the exciting news that we had been awarded an Empower Rural Iowa Grant. The funding for this competition is coming directly from that grant, and we are extremely grateful to the Iowa Economic Development Authority, Wells Fargo, and the Iowa Rural Development Council for making this opportunity possible. Their investment allows us to invest directly in the entrepreneurs and businesses that are helping shape the future of Mahaska County.”

The application can be found here:https://www.mahaskachamber.org/files/mahaska_pitch_competition_35582.pdf

For more information about the Mahaska Pitch Competition contact Deann De Groot at the Mahaska Chamber & Development Group by calling 641.672.2591 or email [email protected].

The Exchange for Entrepreneurs
Oskaloosa Main Street

08/25/2026

This is a great opportunity to meet & greet some William Penn students and consider becoming a a Penn Pal.

Looking for a chance to meet Statesmen from around the world? Come to the Soda Shoppe Social to learn more about this wonderful program while you enjoy a free dirty soda.

For many of our student's home is thousands of miles away, and it's hard to make it home on academic breaks. Sometimes all it takes is a home-cooked meal to make a big impact on how a student experiences their college journey.

Interested in joining the program? We would love to have you! Register at the link below.
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/Z4i8CCHWMM