Pink Friday
November 21
Holiday Craft & Vendor Fair
Saturday, November 22
Holiday Open Houses
Make plans to attend Holiday Open Houses Nov. 5-8.
Participating businesses will be open until 6 pm on Thursday, Nov. 6.
Help Wanted – Public Works
The City of Rock Rapids, Iowa is seeking a dedicated Public Works Maintenance I worker to join our team.
Rock Rapids Rewards Card
Purchase your Rock Rapids Rewards card for only $10 at the Chamber office, Details & Rosies.
Card valid until Dec. 31, 2025.
Over 30 businesses have great savings on the card!
Sponsored by Retail Trade.
Socktober
Socktober Sock Drive
October 1-31
Drop off new socks of all sizes (kid & adult) in original packaging to Chamber office, Sunshine, Details & Rosies.
Socks will be distributed in Lyon County.
Sponsored by Retail Trade.
Rocky’s Round Bales
We have Our Winners!
Family Fall Fest – October 9, 2025
Make plans to attend the Family Fall Fest, October 9, 2025!
Owner found – Lost Dog 9/24/2025
Owner Found – Lost dog was found near DGR Engineering 9/24/2025. Please contact the city office at 712-472-2553 to claim.
Recycling Notices and Updates
Link to Information:Â Click Here
THE BIG CHALLENGE – Build – Innovate – Grow in Northwest Iowa
The BIG Challenge
Build – Innovate – Grow in Northwest Iowa
The BIG Challenge allows entrepreneurs the chance to submit their dreams to start or expand a business, then encourage friends, family, and customers to vote for them online. Five finalists will present their idea to an audience and judges in a pitch competition with $10,000 in prize money to be awarded. The deadline to submit an entry is September 28 at 11:59 PM.
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible, you must:
- Be located in Lyon, Osceola, Sioux, O’Brien, Plymouth, Woodbury, or Monona County.
- Have a for-profit business.
- Have fewer than 5 full-time employees.
- Have been operating your business for 3 years or less.
- Have not been awarded prize money in a previous BIG Challenge or Dream Big Grow Here competition.
Click here for additional information
To Apply: Â https://contest.iawestcoast.com/the-big-challenge-2025/
Seal coating – Weather Delay – Will now be done 08/21/2025
-South 3rd Ave.: Greene St. to Carroll St.
-South 3rd Ave.: Carroll St. to Adams St.
-South 3rd Ave.: Adams St. to Union St.
-South 3rd Ave.: Union St. to Louis St.
-Louis St. and Park Drive
-South Dickinson St.: 2nd Ave. to 3rd Ave.
-South Randall St.: 2nd Ave. to 3rd Ave.
-South Bradley St.: 2nd Ave. to 3rd Ave.
-South Bradley St.: 3rd Ave. to 4th Ave.
-South Bradley St.: 4th Ave to 5th Ave.
-South Story St.: 6th Ave to 7th Ave.
-South Story St.: 7th Ave to 12th Ave.
Temporary Closure – Rock Rapids Municipal Airport
Rock Rapids Municipal Airport
Important Notice: Temporary Airport Closure
August 18, 2025
This letter is to inform you that the Rock Rapids Municipal Airport (KRRQ) will be temporarily closed for a planned airfield lighting upgrade project. The closure is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, September 2nd, and will last for approximately 30 days. We anticipate reopening the airport on Wednesday, October 1st.
During this period, all runways and taxiways will be closed, and no aircraft operations, including takeoffs and landings, will be permitted. This project is a crucial step in modernizing our facility and ensuring the continued safety and reliability of our airfield for years to come. The new lighting system will enhance visibility and operational efficiency, especially during low-light conditions.
A formal NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) will be issued to alert all pilots to the closure. We encourage you to check for the official NOTAM before any planned flights to or from KRRQ.
We understand that this closure may cause inconvenience, and we appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work to improve our airport. We are committed to completing this project as quickly and safely as possible.
If you have any questions or require additional information, please feel free to contact Micah Freese at 712-472-2553 or city@rockrapids.net.
Thank you for your understanding.
Sincerely,
Micah Freese
Rock Rapids Municipal Airport
Seal Coat Notice for August 20, 2025
City of Rock Rapids                                                            Â
411 1st Avenue, PO Box 403, Rock Rapids, IA 51246, Tel 712-472-2553, city@rockrapids.net
RE: Seal Coat Notice
The City of Rock Rapids will be seal coating the following streets on Wednesday, August 20 with rain dates of August 21st and 22nd:
           -South 3rd Ave.: Greene St. to Carroll St.
-South 3rd Ave.: Carroll St. to Adams St.
-South 3rd Ave.: Adams St. to Union St.
-South 3rd Ave.: Union St. to Louis St.
-Louis St. and Park Drive
-South Dickinson St.: 2nd Ave. to 3rd Ave.
-South Randall St.: 2nd Ave. to 3rd Ave.
-South Bradley St.: 2nd Ave. to 3rd Ave.
-South Bradley St.: 3rd Ave. to 4th Ave.
-South Bradley St.: 4th Ave to 5th Ave.
-South Story St.: 6th Ave to 7th Ave.
-South Story St.: 7th Ave to 12th Ave.
If you have questions, please call the city office at 712-72-2553 or email city@rockrapids.net.
Sincerely,
Micah Freese
Operations Officer
City of Rock Rapids
07.31.2025 – Tornado Siren Update
The city has installed a new tornado “main” siren, just north of Sunshine Foods. This has been installed to replace the siren located by the Street Department Maintenance Shop. Last week the contractor was here and installed the new siren. It was tested and worked, but due to programming will not shut back off. The remaining three sirens should sound in inclement weather. The contractor was hoping to be back up here this week but will not be able to. They are hoping to be up here in the coming weeks. When they do come again to install the programming portion of the siren, we will likely be testing again to make sure everything is working as it should. This siren will be used to sound during weather events as well as sounds at 6:00PM.
Garbage Pick up (7/28) – East Side Rock Rapids – delayed
Town and Country disposal had one of their trucks not working this morning(7/28). They are planning to still get garbage picked up today, but it will be delayed until later today.
UPDATED 2:25PM New Tornado Siren – being installed today 7/22/2025
UPDATE 2:25 PM: The Tornado siren will need some additional programming prior to being put into service. The contractor is currently planning to be back next week to update. In the meantime, the new siren will not sound in inclement weather nor at 6:00PM. We will update with further information once we have a date to complete the programming.
The contractor is planning to install the new tornado siren, today, July 22. This new tornado siren will go up just north of sunshine foods, by the bike trail.
During the installation, they may test the siren, and potentially the other sirens in town as well. Please be aware that we could test the siren several times through the afternoon.
Mosquito Spraying in City of Rock Rapids – Tentative Schedule
Mosquito Control of Iowa, sprayed for mosquitos on July 18, 2025. They will plan to spray every other Friday, after the races are completed, weather permitting. Next spraying is planned for August 1.
Trees Down 6.11.2025
The City has received calls regarding downed trees in town. We will be working to clear the trees from the streets. If you need to report a blocked street, please call the city office at 712-472-2553. We are asking if you have the means to help drag some of the branches, etc. from the street, we would appreciate the help. Thanks everyone!
Laborshed News Release – Residential Surveying
PRESS RELEASE
-FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-
5/28/2025
CONTACT:
Sam Queen, Data Analyst
Iowa Workforce Development
1000 E Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50319
Telephone: 515-281-8179
FAX: 515-281-9656
Or
Micah Freese
Rock Rapids Development Corporation
411 First Ave., Rock Rapids, IA 51246
Telephone: 712-472-4585
LABORSHED STUDY TO BE CONDUCTED IN ROCK RAPIDS
The Rock Rapids Development Corporation is partnering with Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) and Iowa Economic Development Authority to complete a Laborshed employment study for the Rock Rapids area. This study will geographically define which communities contribute to Rock Rapids workforce, regardless of political boundaries. This defined area is called a Laborshed area and is based upon commuting patterns.
The purpose of this Laborshed study is to measure the availability and characteristics of Rock Rapids area workers. Laborshed studies are useful tools for economic development teams and existing or prospective employers to understand the local labor market, make informed expansion and site selection decisions, and maintain/recruit a high-quality workforce.
For the success of this study, we are sending letters to randomly selected households asking residents to take a confidential online survey. Survey questions will cover topics such as: employment status, current and desired wages, current and desired benefits, education level, and type of occupation, among other things. However, Iowa Workforce Development will not be asking survey takers identifiable information such as: name, social security number, or date of birth. Participation in this workforce study is greatly appreciated regardless of employment status whether you are currently employed, unemployed, a homemaker, retired, etc. Your input is highly valued.
Following the conclusion of the online surveying efforts IWD will conduct telephone surveying in the area through a third-party vendor. The same survey questions asked in the online survey will be asked of those who participate in the survey on the phone and again, no identifying information will be collected. All the survey answers collected will be combined and reported together. Individual answers are completely confidential.
Every year Iowa Workforce Development conducts Laborshed studies across the State. The results of each analysis are publicly available online at workforce.iowa.gov/laborshed. If you have any questions about the Laborshed project, please contact Sam Queen at samuel.queen@iwd.iowa.gov or 515-281-8179 or Micah Freese, with Rock Rapids Development Corporation at 712-472-4585.
Thank you for your support and participation.
