Barn Quilts of Grundy County

Problem:
Nearly 11,000 cars per day were being diverted away from the small towns in Grundy County with the newly completed Highway 20. A concern was expressed that gas stations, restaurants and retail stores were going to lose business.

Response:
Iowa State University Extension in Grundy County partnered with the Grundy County Development Alliance and the Grundy County Farm Bureau to develop a Barn Quilt project that would provide a loop around the county that tourists could travel and would bring people back into the heart of the community.

Impact:
Although the project has not yet celebrated its one year anniversary, the Barn Quilts of Grundy County has far exceeded any and all expectations. Bus tours and individual automobile travel has increased with the outpouring of news stories about this project. A UNI intern worked over 350 hours on the start of the project and has been hired as a full time coordinator at a salary of over $20,000. Local businesses have provided support in terms of money and materials, and over $8,000 in grants have been funneled back into the community for this project. A state-wide conference to take this idea out to other communities will be held in March, and organizers of this project in Iowa, Ohio and Tennessee will come together in the Spring to take this project nationally.

Contact:
Patricia K. Gorman, Field Specialist/Resource Management
Grundy County Extension
703 F Street Suite 1
Grundy Center, IA 50638
Phone 319-824-6979
Fax 319-824-6601
Email pgorman@iastate.edu