The Waverly Chamber of Commerce and Walmart have partnered to help boost shopping in the historic downtown Waverly area during the ongoing closure of the Bremer Avenue Bridge.
Chelsea Petersen, executive director of the Waverly Chamber of Commerce, said the new Monthly Giveaway promotion began in December and will feature a once-a-month “very valuable†prize awarded to the lucky winner of a raffle each month.
“We started it in November, the first (winner) was drawn in early December, and they won a TV,†Petersen said. “Walmart has committed to donating an item each month to give away until the bridge reopens.â€
The Bremer Avenue bridge closed in August 2024 for a reconstruction project, cutting the once easy access to the two sides of the city’s downtown business zone. The bridge closure has impacted vehicle traffic especially on the east sideo of the Cedar River, with many business owners lamenting the reduction in traffic and telling The Waverly Newspapers in September of their frustrations.
Waverly Mayor Mark Anderson told the newspaper in a December interview that he understood the frustrations from the bridge closure, but he stressed that the project “had to happen,†and when it was completed, the new bridge would be a beautiful, attractive centerpiece connecting the downtown.
The bridge project is expected to be finished by Labor Day weekend of 2025, and Petersen said she and other business and city leaders are hopeful that shoppers and visitors to Waverly understand that all businesses are still open and parking is as easy as before.
“We have really concentrated our efforts to draw people downtown during bridge closure,†Petersen added. “We are trying to offer family-friendly events outside the norm to showcase (downtown). It is not difficult to get to the other side of the river.â€
In the new Monthly Give-away promotion, shoppers can enter their names into a raffle at 20 participating businesses on both the east and west sides of the Cedar River. Full rules are available on the chamber’s website and Facebook page.
No purchases are necessary to enter, and winners will be drawn during a live-streamed ceremony once a month. Prizes, Petersen noted, are “more valuable†than a small amount gift card and are often worth more than several hundred dollars.
Petersen said Walmart’s involvement came after a local business owner did outreach to the local store’s manager — Sue Rindels — and developed a relationship that led to the donations of gifts.
“The amount of collaboration between businesses has been amazing. Our business community supporting each other is really important,†she added. “A local business owner connected to Sue (Rindels), and she graciously said that Walmart would offer to donate gifts that are worth hundreds of dollars in value. It evolved from there. Sue (Rindels) did not hesitate to help out.â€
For more information, call the chamber offices at (319) 352-4526 or check out their website at: .
