By Sara QuamNewcomers to the city of Luverne will have a warm welcome if the originators of a new program have their way.Beth Bartels and Becky Feikema approached the Economic Development Director with the idea of a new sort of "welcome wagon" for Luverne.They plan to call it Hometown Greetings and will start it in January.The idea came from a friend of the two women who works with a similar program in Tea, S.D.Bartels looked back at her moving experience to town and thought it was something she would have appreciated.Bartels said the welcome packet is a wonderful way for businesses to reach new customers. She said, "There are over 300 businesses in Luverne, and I almost can’t believe it. People don’t know the kinds of services or businesses that are right here."Feikema actually lives outside the city but said she is happy to be a part of making Luverne a more welcoming place."I’ve lived here for four years and I’m still learning new things about Luverne," Feikema said.The city of Luverne is sponsoring the program with EDA director Jill Wolf coordinating much of it. The city will share lists of newcomers through new utility hookups. Before now, people new to town had to pick up their own packet at the Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce. Many people didn’t even know there was a packet or that they had to pick one up.Also, some people, even non-Luverne residents, would repeatedly pick up the packets to take advantage of coupons or discounts inside.Hometown Greetings is a welcome service to Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce Director Dave Smith, who didn’t have the time to personally deliver welcome packets to new residents."We think it’s a good thing to personally call on newcomers and it’s one thing the Chamber has been lacking," Smith said.Businesses will receive letters from the Chamber and the city of Luverne about participation in the new program. As a side note to Hometown Greetings, the same people may start a newcomers club. It would meet quarterly and introduce new residents to each other and to certain highlights of the community.
