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WELCOME
GREETINGS,
On behalf of the city of Sheldon, I would
like to welcome you to our wonderful community.
As a lifelong resident and current mayor,
it is my privilege to
be able to share some of
the things that make this
town a great place to live.
Sheldon is a place “where
families come first,” and
its leaders strive to make
that a reality by providing
the amenities and environment
that allow that to
Greg Geels
take place.
We have learned that by working together
at many different levels we are able to turn
dreams into realities and make great things
happen.
Here are just a few examples:
g The Sheldon Join Community Sports
Complex was a joint effort between the city
and the Sheldon School District to develop
softball/baseball fields and green space for
soccer and football. It received an All-Star
Community Award from the Iowa League
of Cities for this cooperative endeavor.
g Northwest Iowa Community College’s
Lifelong Learning and Recreation
Center is available to college students,
staff, faculty and community members. It
provides wellness and recreation facilities
and equipment, as well as space for trainings,
conventions conferences, and trade
shows. The city and college worked jointly
to finance this beautiful facility, and both
students and citizens have access to yearround
fitness opportunities.
g The city and the Sheldon Chamber and
Development Corporation have worked
together to provide tax increment financing
as an incentive for numerous business
expansions.
g Crossroads Pavilion is a state-of-the-art
event center that provides a wide variety of
events, which include banquets, business
seminars, concerts, corporate meetings,
graduations, performances, reunions,
trade shows, weddings and other social
and community gatherings. This beautiful
venue was financed in part through a generous
Community Attraction & Tourism
(CAT) grant from the state of Iowa’s Vision
Iowa Program.
g Over the course of the summer
months, Sheldon hosts three major
celebrations including RiseFest, a family-friendly
Christian music festival; Village
Northwest Unlimited’s Independence
Day celebration complete with a fireworks
display; and Sheldon Celebration Days, a
four-day community event that takes place
over the Labor Day weekend. These events
bring thousands of people to the community
and would not be possible without the
help of hundreds of volunteers working
countless hours to provide great entertainment
to those who attend.
The dictionary defines community as
“that feeling of fellowship with others that
comes as a result of sharing common attitudes,
interests, and goals.” I hope you get
a sense of community here, whether you
are visiting, or you have made Sheldon
your home.
We care about each other and that has
been very evident throughout the decades.
Helen Keller is quoted as saying, “Alone,
we can do so little; together, we can do so
much.”
Sheldon is a community of people who
are proud of their town and realize it is up
to each one of us to contribute to its continued
prosperity. I invite you to join us in
that endeavor.
Sincerely,
Greg Geels, mayor of Sheldon
6 2024 SHELDON COMMUNITY GUIDE