In a year with a global public health pandemic, starting up a business may be a difficult task, but Guthrie Center’s business industry has continued to grow.

Guthrie Center Chamber Board President Shannon Neff-Muell says lots of new businesses have opened in the past year and became Chamber members, including Incredibowl, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services First Realty, Dahl’s Custom Meatlocker, Melissa Loest Edward Jones, and Central Iowa Family Eye Care. Other new businesses that opened within the past two months and are Chamber members include Gap Creek Quilty Mercantile, Cafe on the Hill, and Eighmy Friedrich Monument Company.

Neff-Muell comments on Guthrie Center’s thriving and increasing business community even during a pandemic.

“It says that we have a need for different businesses here in town and we have a lot of organizations that can help. From the development board, to Region XII (Council of Governments) to be able to help people who maybe they have a dream of starting something. So come in and chat with the people that can kind of help guide you into getting something started.”

Neff-Muell adds that while the Chamber is busy scheduling its backlog of ribbon-cutting ceremonies for those new businesses, one has been scheduled for Melissa Loest Edward Jones for June 18th at noon.