Ames Chamber Of Commerce: Ames Chamber Celebrates The Grand Opening Of The Laughlin Level

Press release from the Ames Chamber of Commerce:

September 24, 2021

The Ames Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the Grand Opening of the recently renovated Laughlin Level space.

Located in the lower level of the Ames Chamber office at 304 Main Street, the space officially opened on Wednesday, September 22 during a Business After Hours Event. Chamber members were invited to join in the celebration with tours, refreshments and networking with others in the community.

The Ames Chamber of Commerce chooses to celebrate Julia Laughlin, Ames Train Depot Station Master from 1917 to 1924. She was the only woman station master in the nation. When the Chicago-Northwestern Transportation Company attempted to cancel her contract, the Ames Chamber of Commerce stepped in and renegotiated on her behalf. We are proud to recognize Laughlin's tenacity and her connection with the Chamber as the namesake for the new space.

“We are thrilled to open the Laughlin Level on behalf of our members,” says Dan Culhane, CEO and President of the Ames Chamber of Commerce. “With this new space, we are furthering our mission to enhance our community, promote networking and collaboration as well as help meet the need for conference space in the area.”

A piece of Ames’s history is brought to life within the Laughlin Level as the space celebrates the historic nature of the building and marries it with a modern design and color scheme. The space offers three different sized rooms, state-of-the-art technology, and a kitchen to meet the needs of each group who utilizes it. Furthermore, the level is completely accessible thanks to the newly installed elevator. With amply parking and prime communal resources, the Laughlin Level positions the Ames Chamber and Downtown Ames as a forward-thinking community asset.

This press release was produced by the Ames Public Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.