For Immediate Release

Media Contact:
Mike McGill
319.939.3557
mike.mcgill@indytel.com

NEW RESIDENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN INDEPENDENCE       

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa – March 12, 2012 – The Independence Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the official launch of the New Resident Housing Incentive Program. 

The New Resident Housing Incentive Program is available to qualified applicants beginning March 12^th and offers discounts and free services to new residents who purchase or build a home within the Independence city limits.

The incentives vary from a forgivable loan up-to $2000, to limited-time free services courtesy of the City of Independence and Independence Light, Power and Telecommunications.  Other benefis include receiving the New Neighbor Welcome Package, vendor tickets to the Independence Day Celebration, Brew-B-Q and Friday Night Live @ Five events and a Family Pack of tickets to the Independence Motor Speedway.   

“We’ve worked diligently to offer an assortment of valuable incentives”, commented Tammy Rasmussen, Director of the Independence Area Chamber of Commerce.  “Qualified applicants can receive up to thirty-three hundred dollars in incentives should they choose to make their home in Independence.” 

The effort to coordinate the Housing Incentive Program has been in the works for over a year and was spearheaded by the Chamber of Commerce.  It took the collaboration of lenders, realtors, city leaders and many volunteers to create the program and organizers hope it proves to be a success.

“It is our mission to encourage potential residents to consider Independence as a place to call home”, stated Independence City Manager Steve Diers.  “As communities compete to grow their population and tax base, offering housing incentives is becoming a popular recruitment tool for many cities around Iowa.” 

The collaboration was part of the Absolutely Indee Campaign.  Absolutely Indee originated in July of 2010 with the reemergence of the “Welcome Wagon” and New Neighbor Welcome Package that was delivered to new residents.  The campaign is managed, under direction from the Chamber, by volunteers with a purpose to promote the City of Independence in hopes of recruiting individuals, families and businesses to move to the city of Independence.   “The committee’s first initiative was the Absolutely Indee campaign and the next phase will be to advertise and promote the community and the incentive program abroad”, concluded Rasmussen.    

For more information on the New Resident Housing Incentive Program, please visit www.indycommerce.com/housing-incentive-program or call 319-334.7178. 

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