Area Residents Encouraged to “Keep Talking About Osky”
Iowa’s Best Bite
“Just last week, we had a Facebook post that reached more than 7,000 people and we’ve had a couple of thousand more visit our website since we launched the contest,” said Iowa’s Best Bite Restaurant Challenge manager Bryan Schultz. “Those are fantastic numbers for any community Oskaloosa’s size and shows people are really engaged with what we’re doing here.”
Schultz also said that the contest and community were recently featured in Quick Service Restaurant Magazine, and have gained a following from graduates of prestigious cooking schools from across the nation.
“Oskaloosa has worked hard to be an amazing community and we’re offering an incredible prize package, so now is the time to keep talking about Osky,” he said. “People want a great place to live and a great opportunity – and Oskaloosa is offering both.”
According to Schultz, the real secret to the community’s effort to land a great new restaurant is in the hands of residents as they reach for their keyboards or telephones.
“When you talk with your friends, former classmates and family, tell them about the competition and ask them to spread the word to people they know,” he said. “While you might not know someone who wants to own their own restaurant, it’s a good bet somebody you know does. Phone calls, email and social media are powerful tools to help keep the contest’s momentum going.”
Schultz said that many entries in last year’s competition had some connection to the community, whether through relatives living there, or being a graduate of a school there.
“The people who know and love this area of the country are those most likely to develop a fantastic idea that will work here,” he said. “And who wouldn’t love a ‘hometown’ hero coming to Iowa and winning it all?”
According to Schultz, those expressing interest in the contest so far range from current and former area residents to restaurant professionals on both coasts.
“While we have some great interest, our choices get better with more competition,” he said. “This is a fun way for people living in the area to directly influence what dining option comes to their town; that doesn’t happen often.”
