Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association (WCCTA) recently received a $5,000 Ripple Effect Grant to assist with the re-opening of the newly named Market on Market grocery store in Gowrie, IA
The residents and businesses of Gowrie, a community of 1,037 in Webster County, has rallied together to save their local grocery store after the former owner began closing stores in other nearby rural communities. Within just 10 days, the community was able to raise $250,000 in donations and resulted in creating the Gowrie Grocery LLC which will manage Market on Market.
Volunteers have been working hard behind the scenes and within new limitations imposed by social distancing, to transform the look of the store into a small independent grocery that will focus on fresh food. The next step will be to expand the store size, and return the deli to operation. But the emphasis today is on customer service and the revitalization of the 3,000 square feet of grocery space.
Former area native Larry Roper is the new manager and is excited to hit the ground running where an entire community stood up to rescue their only grocery store. Larry will be able to put his expertise of working with a variety of grocery businesses at the new Market on Market.
The Ripple Effect grant application was made to Aureon on behalf of Gowrie Grocery LLC by Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association, the local provider of internet, TV and phone service. In addition to the $5,000 Ripple Effect grant from the Iowa Area Development Group and Aureon, WCCTA will provide a matching grant of $5,000 for a total of $10,000 in grant funding to the community project.
“While WCCTA serves 16 small rural communities, Gowrie is the largest and is also the only community with a grocery store, which is located just blocks from our headquarters..." [Read more]