11/03/2025
Our streets are at stake! On November 4, we urge you to vote YES on the *City of Grinnell’s Public Measure SI* (Local Option Sales Tax (LOST)) ballot initiative. Here’s why:
💰 The local option sales tax places an additional 1% tax on many goods and services purchased in the community — that stays right here to benefit Grinnell.
💰 Since 2007, LOST has generated over $20 million for our community — it has funded our public safety building, improved water and sewer infrastructure, and the Grinnell Mutual Aquatic Center and Drake Community Library.
💰 If approved, future LOST revenues will provide reliable funding to support major projects: parks and recreation, continued street improvements, enhanced public safety needs, and more.
💰 Plus, visitors contribute through with their local spending, too! Their dollars help us generate much needed funds for our community.
The Chamber works to advance economic growth of our members and community at large. We hope you join us in voting YES.
Read our full endorsement letter below:
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Today we are asking you to join us in voting YES on Tuesday, November 4, for the City of Grinnell’s Public Measure SI Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) ballot initiative. The mission of the Chamber is to support development and growth of our members, help advance economic growth, and foster community vitality. This vote, and continuation of this tax, is a direct way to continue advancing our community’s economic growth.
The local option sales tax – different from property taxes – allows cities and counties to place an additional 1% tax on many goods and services purchased in the community – including online sales – that stays right here to benefit Grinnell. First adopted in Grinnell in 2007, LOST has generated over $20 million that has been used to fund projects in the community, including the public safety building, improved water and sewer infrastructure, street and sidewalk reconstruction, downtown beautification projects, and the Grinnell Mutual Aquatic Center and Drake Community Library — all critical infrastructure and key quality-of-life amenities for our community.
If approved, future LOST revenues will continue to build upon these successes to provide reliable funding to support long-term planning for major projects to include parks and recreation, continued street improvements, enhanced public safety needs, and so much more.
Did you know? Visitors contribute through their local spending, too! We welcome so many visitors to Grinnell on an annual basis — many from across the country and world — and purchases they make locally help contribute to our economy through this mechanism ensuring that, as a community, we see continued improvements and growth.
We hope you will consider getting to the polls and voting YES for this important ballot initiative that will allow visitors and residents alike to continue this much-needed support for our community.
— Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce Staff & Board of Directors
