City of Manning Honored with the 2025 Iowa Tourism “Outstanding Marketing Campaign Award”

MANNING, IA – The City of Manning has been recognized for its exceptional marketing efforts, receiving the 2025 Iowa Tourism Outstanding Marketing Campaign Award for communities with marketing budgets under $50,000. The prestigious honor was presented at the Iowa Tourism Conference on March 13, 2025. This award recognizes Manning’s innovative, multi-faceted marketing efforts that have successfully elevated the city’s tourism profile, despite working with a limited budget.

“This award is a reflection of the passion and teamwork that make Manning such a special place,” said City Administrator Dawn Meyer. “We may be a small town, but we think big—and this recognition validates the impact of our collaborative efforts.”

Attending the event to receive the award were Manning’s City Administrator, Dawn Meyer, along with key members of the Manning Hotel/Motel Committee, who collaborated on marketing initiatives that led to this recognition. This team included Andrea Rohe with Manning Area Partners, Cory Arp with City of Manning Parks & Recreation, Kristina Grossman-Willis with Manning Hausbarn Heritage Park, and Shelly Greving, owner of Emerge Marketing Solutions, and her creative team. Also instrumental in these efforts, though unable to attend, were Kristina Lupardus and Mary Beyerink.

A Legacy of Effective Marketing
Manning’s recognition is a testament to the long-term marketing strategy the community has pursued since 2017. Under the branding “It’s Refreshing,” Manning’s marketing efforts have helped transform the city into a vibrant small-town destination, significantly boosting economic growth and community revitalization.

Despite working with a modest budget, Manning’s collaborative and innovative approach has made a major impact. Notable successes include:
*Nearly tripling hotel/motel tax revenue in the past four years.
*Attracting global visitors, as evidenced by pinpoint maps at the Market Place and Sweet Treats showcasing guests worldwide.
*Encouraging population growth, with new families choosing to make Manning home.

Innovative Marketing Efforts
Manning’s marketing efforts have included a diverse mix of digital and print strategies, ensuring that the city reaches both residents and potential visitors:

  • The Manning Minute – Launched in 2023, this bi-monthly newsletter, available in print and digital formats, promotes local events and attractions.
  • Localhood Reels – Manning has embraced the power of Google search by creating engaging short videos that highlight the town’s charm and attract visitors.
  • A Fresh Website Experience – Manning’s 2020 website refresh serves as a central hub for residents and visitors, making it easier to discover all the community offers.
  • Co-Op Digital Ads – Partnering with Travel Iowa, Manning has expanded its online reach through cross-platform digital ads, bringing more attention to its attractions.

Looking Ahead
Manning’s marketing team and local partners are committed to continuing their momentum, with future plans that include:
* Expanding the Manning Minute to engage a broader audience.
* Promoting the “1500” documentary film nationally and internationally.
* Creating a Manning Community Guide for state and regional distribution.
*Introducing a texting service for community members to receive alerts, find information, and report issues.
* Continuing to showcase events like Masterpiece Manning, Trail to Nowhere Ride, Kinderfest, Oktoberfest, Weinachtsfest, and many more.

About the Award
The Iowa Tourism Outstanding Marketing Campaign Award recognizes a destination marketing organization or tourism business that has executed an exceptional, multi-faceted tourism marketing campaign on a budget of less than $50,000 per year. The winning campaign must demonstrate:
* Creativity in engaging audiences and showcasing the destination
* Data-driven decision-making to maximize marketing effectiveness
* A measurable impact on visitation and awareness of Iowa as a tourism destination
* Use of diverse marketing channels, including advertising, website, social media, video, and traditional media

To learn more about Manning and upcoming events, visit www.manningia.com.

From left to right: Shelly Greving, Kristina Grossman-Willis, Katie Lange, Jessie Shiels, Claire Zaiger, Annie Greve, Dawn Meyer, Lindsey Funk, Cory Arp, and Andrea Rohe.

Revitalizing Rural Iowa and Igniting Your Potential

Hey everyone, Shelly Greving here, owner and visionary for Emerge Marketing Solutions. Today, I want to talk about our core mission at Emerge: revitalizing rural Iowa.

What exactly does “revitalization” mean? It’s not about some generic makeover. It’s about unearthing the value that already exists in our communities, hidden beneath the surface of everyday life along these quiet back roads.

At Emerge, we see this value everywhere. We see it in the passionate business owners who serve our communities. We see it in the strong leaders and engaged citizens who carry the torch for future generations. We see it in our schools, brimming with potential, and in our hospitals, playing a vital role in keeping everyone healthy.

Here’s how we activate this potential at Emerge:

  • Empowering Businesses: We help local businesses understand their customers, both near and far, and develop strategic marketing plans and creative efforts to reach them.
  • Building Strong Leaders: We serve as mentors and role models, inspiring others to step up and lead our communities forward.
  • Bridging the Gap Between Education and Workforce: We encourage collaboration between schools, communities, and businesses, ensuring our students and businesses are well-equipped for the future workforce.
  • Strengthening Healthcare: We help hospitals understand their role in fostering a healthy community and the importance of keeping quality healthcare local.
  • Reinvigorating Local Organizations: We work with chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, tourism organizations, non-profits, and city leaders to help them tap into their potential, create a vision for the future, and reignite volunteerism.

Our Core Mission at Emerge: Revitalizing Rural Iowa

Most importantly, Emerge is about celebrating who we are in rural Iowa. We’re proud of our humble roots and the resilient spirit that defines rural America. We believe this is the heart of the American dream, and we want to share it with the world.

At Emerge, we believe in the unmatched potential of rural Iowa. Join us as we emerge from the comfort of our shell and unleash it together.