Community Matters newsletter archives

Volume 4, Issue 2, Summer 2010

• Community and regional planning studio links Extension and education
• Keith Knapp joins the Institute of Transportation as LTAP director
• ISU Design West Studio wins NEA Grant to expand affordable programming
• Sioux City high school students learn by design at ISU Design West
• Eight Iowa towns will be part of ISU post-flood housing assessment
• Ackley's Prairie Bridges Park board creates a destination from the ground up
• Extension specialists study factors driving ethanol plant site selection
• Sustainability on display in Fairfield at All Things Italian Festival
• Ron Powers reflects on 30 years of innovation in community development in Iowa

Volume 4, Issue 1, Spring 2010

• Flood of activity in Elkader and along Turkey River creates a statewide impact
• Municipal Professionals Institute and Academy coming up in July
• Fairfield residents learn to go green in their own backyards
• Le Mars looks to ISU design students for ideas for a park plan
• PLaCE program acts as a catalyst for community revitalization in Le Claire
• Despite tough times, Latino businesses in Iowa continue to thrive
• Living local is the theme of exhibits at the Town/Craft gallery
• ISU Extension and Indian Hills Community College team up to teach the basics of starting and building a business
• ISU Exploritas program will offer a Missouri River and Loess Hills tour in fall 2010
• Assessment report examines housing need indicators related to population growth, housing unit supply and housing value
• Stuart Huntington remembers his years on the road for Extension offering community economic development assistance

Volume 3, Issue 4, Winter 2009-10

• 2010 visioning program expands community input process
• Online educational academy offers leadership training to public works employees
• Regional Economics and Community Analysis Program Web site offers county-level housing profiles
• Iowa delegation in the U.S. House projected to decrease following 2010 Census
• Long-form census questionnaire eliminated in 2010
• Investments in amenities and tourism create short- and long-term economic growth
• Extension sociologists promote diversity in teaching, research and outreach program
• Hispanic community in Lenox benefits from ISU Extension partnership with Iowa State Savings Bank
• ISU Exension prepares to host 2011 Urban Extension Conference
• Iowa companies and ISU Extension collaborate on agriculture environmental projects
• Latino entrepreneurship topic of Town/Craft roundtable discussion
• Tim Borich elected president of the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals
• Nadia Anderson appointed Extension architecture and community design specialist
• Cindy Kendall joins ISU Extension and the Iowa League of Cities
• Extension blog provides up-to-date information on Midwest planning and zoning issues

Volume 3, Issue 3, Fall 2009

• Southwest Iowa online shopping site extends rural development across the globe
• Extension completes a needs assessment survey for City of Spencer and Clay County
• Affordable housing issues are theme of study by ISU Extension economists
• Poverty study calls for examination of nonprofit services in Iowa
• Planning and zoning workshops for local officials offered in eight communities
• Extension materials offer guides for nonprofit organization sustainability and board of directors continuity
• Parenting classes offered to Spanish-speaking families in southeast Iowa
• Scott Timm joins ISU Extension as sustainability specialist in City of Fairfield
• ISU study examines grocery store trends in Iowa
• Iowa companies and ISU Extension collaborate on agriculture environmental projects
• High-tech tools help communities engage in economic development initatives
• Sociologists document the effectiveness of water quality initatives

Volume 3, Issue 2, Summer 2009

• Variety of services available for entrepreneurs from ISU Extension
• ISU Extension partners with the City of Fairfield to promote sustainable living and energy efficient technology
• Public meetings work toward development of Iowa Housing Policy
• Regional housing trust funds increase access to affordable housing
• Ottumwa Main Street Program makes diversity a priority in downtown area
• Facilitation guides use hands-on approach to teach immigrants survival skills
• Presentations provide tips for running a business during tough times
• Regional Capacity Analysis Program study examines the roleof minorities in the Iowa economy
• Community Development-Data Information and Analysis Laboratory moves to College of Design
• Extension economists help develop state five-year housing plan
• Wayne Kobberdahl provides a connection to the adventures of Lewis and Clark

Volume 3, Issue 1, Spring 2009

• Community Visioning Program provides long-term planning processes for cities that suffered tornado and flood damage
• Focus groups help gather information for transportation planning
• Geospatial technology training available from ISU Extension in a variety of formats
• Studio design class at ISU's Design West helps Sioux City take a new look at signage, skywalks
• Susan Fey elected president of the Iowa Distance Learning Association's board of directors
• Food and Fitness Initative makes healthy living choices easy in northeast Iowa
• ISU Extension helps communities in northeast Iowa map walking trails
• Collaborative program in Marshall County helps new farmers get a foothold in local food systems
• Shared county extension director positions offers Iowans two for the price of one
• Residents and planning students team up to improve downtown Waukee
• Conference theme is Asset-Based Community Development
• Jack Whitmer, first leader of the Office of State and Local Government, left an imprint on how Iowa cities do business

Volume 2, Issue 4, Winter 2008

• A revisit to a planning studio project in downtown Red Oak shows lasting benefits 12 years later
• Recommendations help communities become elder-friendly to attract and keep older residents
• Diane Van Wyngarden is named Individual Friend of Tourism by the Iowa Tourism Office and Iowa Department of Economic Development
• Planning and Sustaining Community Landscapes is topic for tri-state conference in Sioux City
• Iowa State University’s Design West center in Sioux City is the 2008 recipient of the American Institute of Architects Iowa Honor Award for Design
• Success of West Liberty Foods founded in partnership between ISU Extension and West Liberty Economic Area Development
• Students compete to design affordable housing for flood-damaged communities
• Multicultural Community Planning Project in Perry draws on ISU student resources
• Web-based mapping tool assists Iowa schools with Safe Routes to School program
• Election official training conducted by ISU Extension helps 2008 voting go smoothly
• Community Development – Data Information and Analysis Laboratory provides ISU Extension support to communities in all 99 Iowa counties

Volume 2, Issue 3, Fall 2008

• Community and economic development programming from ISU Extension assists communities in disaster recovery
• Study examines the decline of grocery stores in Iowa’s smallest communities
• Student-operated statistical service reaches out to Iowa Communities
• Take Charge Web site provides tools for communities to find economic development data
• Iowa’s Living Roadways community visioning program makes route come alive for 2008 RAGBRAI riders
• ISU Extension specialists facilitate retreat for directors of the Fort Des Moines Museum and Education Center
• Geographic Information Systems study examines performance of students in Iowa and Illinois school districts
• Value added agriculture programs helps Iowans retain more of their food dollar
• Norm Riggs looks back on a 31-year career with ISU Extension

Volume 2, Issue 2, Summer 2008

• Mount Pleasant PLaCE Project is Turning a Downtown Visualization Exercise into a Reality
• Geospatial Survey Technology Enhances Participation in Iowa's Living Roadways Community Visioning Program
• High-Tech Land-Use Planning is a Benefit of CommunityViz Software Used by Institute for Design Research and Outreach
• Study Demonstrates Value of Natural Resources to Economic Development
• Horizons Program Focuses on Reducing Poverty in Rural Iowa Communities
• Extension Programs Benefit from Involvement of ISU Students
• Design West Studios Expose Students to the Elements of Design and Planning in Sioux City
• Town/Craft Roundtables Address Key Community Development Issues. Recent topics include Biofuels and Elder-Friendly Design
• Quality Workforce Housing Essential to Economic Development
• Housing Expert Joines Extension Community and Economic Development Staff
• 'Number Guy' Will Goudy Set the Standard for Accessible Census Data

Volume 2, Issue 1, Spring 2008

• North Central Regional Community Resources and Economic Development Planning Roundtable held at Town/Craft Center in February
• Economic impact of industrial activity is topic for Dave Swenson at conference at ISU Design West in Sioux City
• Online program offers master's degree in community development
• Tri-State Green Spaces Conference brings together ISU specialists in Sioux City
• Interactive geographic information systems allow public to participate in community planning
• City of Jefferson uses GIS survey as a tool to solve problems with city water and sewer quality
• Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll tracks views of Iowans on bioeconomy and quality of life issues
• ISU Design West center featured in Siouxland Magazine
• Director of Center for Transportation Research and Education looks at Iowa's road system and the need for repairs, replacements and maintenance
• Program specialist joins Regoinal Capacity Analysis Program (ReCAP)
• Communities selected for Iowa's Living Roadways 2008 Visioning Program
• A look back: Sir Eino Kainlauri, professor of architecture whose outreach efforts spanned nine time zones

Volume 1, Issue 4, Winter 2007

• Extension assists in construction of two ethanol plants in Southwest Iowa.
• Geographic Information Systems short courses and Planning and Zoning Workshops offer training for local officials.
• Greene County explores ways to participate in the bioeconomy.
• Training for precinct election officials prepares the way for voting in 2008.
• Roads Scholars program helpsl state, county and municipal road workers improve their skills.
• Fairground beautification project receives a boost from ISU Extension landscape architects.
• Woodbury County Extension Education Director creates networks for economic development.
• ReCAP offers focused data analysis for Iowa Communities.
• Margherita Tarr: A woman ahead of her time who left an impact on the Iowa landscape.

Volume 1, Issue 3, Fall 2007

• SEAT program works to keep elections in Iowa open, honest, and fair
• Community Vitality Center research targets people moving to and from rural Iowa
• Therapeutic gardens yield better physical, mental and emotional health
• Small Iowa communities are invited to apply to the 2008 Community Visioning Program
• Southeast Iowa travel program attracts visitors nationwide

Volume 1, Issue 2, Summer 2007

• Extension Conference on Community Sustainability in the Bioeconomy draws large audience
• Spanish Language DVD Series Teaches Immigrants Daily Survival Skills
• Land Use Planning Notebook Updated
• Landscape Architecture Project Focuses on Community Trail Use and Physical Activity
• Immigrants Fuel Market Demand for Goat Meat in Iowa
• Citizenship Classes held New Iowans Become New Americans
• Town/Craft Center in Perry Provides Key to Sustainable Future for Iowa Towns and Landscapes
• Design Studio in Sioux City Provides New Outreach Opportunities for ISU
• West Liberty Economic Development Partnership Provides Model for Other Iowa Communities
• Planning Academy Attended by 113 Iowa Officials
• Extension Staff Certified in Many Community Development Fields
• Community Vitality Center Celebrates Five Years of Entrepreneurship
• Sociologist Art Johnson Leaves a Legacy of Strong Communities

Volume 1, Issue 1, Spring 2007

• Program Builder Offers Help for Community Development
• New Book Shows Communities How to Achieve Results that Matter
• GIS Short Courses Assist Planners
• Local Housing Trust Funds help Rehabilitate Homes
• eCommerce Workshops Offer Main Street Business Support
• Community Visioning Program Earns National Recognition
• Research Program Supports Economic Development in Distressed Regions
• Southwest Iowa Businesses Benefit from Rural Development Resource Center
• Sandra Scholl Leads Silos and Smokestacks
• Researchers Address Impact of Ethanol Plants
• Precinct Election Officials Receive Training and Certification
• Extension Takes Charge of Community Reports