America's SBDC Iowa Announces Portable Photo Studio Initiative

Winn-Worth Betco delivers Portable Photo Studios to all communities

May 21, 2021 Melissa Michaelis of Winn-Worth Betco in partnership with America’s SBDC Iowa & NIACC Pappajohn Center has delivered portable photo boxes to Winnebago County communities.

These photo boxes have been provided to all communities to help businesses get their products online and able to post to www.shopiowa.com, or on their own websites, to increase sales.

“We are delighted to announce our tremendous outreach project to distribute portable photo studios all across the state,” said Lisa Shimkat, SBDC State Director. “We have found throughout the pandemic, that access to quality photos for websites and e-commerce is essential as businesses are pivoting operations. The studios along with training resources will provide access to any small business in Iowa, including home-based businesses. The studios will be available at key places in communities.”

For additional information about the initiative, go to https://iowasbdc.org/photo-box/. The webpage also includes a downloadable Portable Photo Studio & Digital Marketing Guide as well as a training video. “The photo box functions as a full photo studio in a portable box!” stated Michaelis. “All you need is a camera and an outlet, and you are set to start taking professional photos to post on your website or at www.shopiowa.com.”

Brook Boehmler, Director of the SBDC in the Pappajohn Center, states that “Businesses should start working on a minimum of 20% of their revenues to be related to their online presence and having a good picture of their products is the first step.” The Pappajohn SBDC provides no cost confidential business counseling to people who own or considering owning a business.

Locations where you can use and/or check out these photo boxes include:

• Forest City Chamber: 106 South 4th Street, Forest City info@forestcityia.com
• City of Leland: 316 Walnut Street, Leland leland@wctatel.net
• City of Scarville: 121 Main Street, Scarville Cityclerk50473@gmail.com
• Buffalo Center Public Library: 221 North Main Street, Buffalo Center bclib@wctatel.net
• Thompson Public Library: 102 Jackson Street North, Thompson thomplib@wctatel.net
• Rake Public Library: 123 North Main Street, Rake rakelibrary@wctatel.net
• Lake Mills Chamber Development Corporation: 203 North 1st Avenue West, Lake Mills Lmcdc@wctatel.net
• Northwood: 906 1st Avenue South, Northwood morgan@northwood.lib.ia.us  641-324-1340
• Kensett: 214 5th Street, Kensett kensettlibrary@mchsi.com 641-845-2222
• Manly: 127 Sout Grant Street, Manly director@manly.lib.ia.us 641-454-2982
• Fertile: 204 West Main Street, Fertile ferlib@wctatel.net 797-2787
• Hanlontown: 214 Main Street, Hanlontown redhawks@WCTAtel.net 641-896-2888
• Grafton: 201 4th Avenue, Grafton graftonlib@wctatel.net 641-748-2735
• Joice: 102 North State Street, Joice jhawks@wctatel.net 641-588-3330

End of Release

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Those pictured below are:

• Forest City: Norma Hertzer, Executive Director of Forest City Chamber of Commerce
• Leland: Dawn Arispe, City Clerk
• Scarville: Mary Hinderaker, City Clerk
• Buffalo Center: Elaine Michaelson, Assistant Director of Library Services
• Thompson: Fairy Lawrence, Director of Library Services
• Rake: Virginia Cooper, Director of Library Services
• Lake Mills: Cassie Johnson, Executive Director of LMCDC
• Northwood: Morgan Johnson, Director of Library Services
• Kensett: Barb Luckason, Assistant Librarian & Diana Parker, Library Board Representative
• Manly: Connie Moretz, Director of Library Services
• Fertile: Linda J. Arndt, Assistant Director or Angie Thompson, Library Director
• Hanlontown: Barbara Kinseth, Director of Library Services
• Grafton: Nancy Walk, Director of Library Services
• Joice: Mardene Lien, Director of Library Services

Winn-Worth Betco is the Winnebago-Worth Counties Betterment Council. Winn-Worth Betco was established in 1991 by a group of forward-
thinking citizens to ensure that the area would see economic growth through organizing an economic development office. Winn-Worth Betco
serves the economic development interests in housing, tourism, community development, and business recruitment and retainment for
Winnebago and Worth Counties. The Executive Board is comprised of both the Boards of Supervisors of Winnebago and Worth counties.
The Advisory Board is comprised of representatives from all 14 incorporated communities in Winnebago and Worth counties as well as one
member of each of the county Boards of Supervisors in Winnebago and Worth counties.

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