Conference Tracks
Community & Economic Development
Strategies for workforce growth, infrastructure investment and prosperity across urban centers and rural communities.
How should Iowa build its future economy and communities?
SESSION 1
What Young Iowans Need to Stick Around
Iowa has long grappled with “brain drain” — a demographic shift where young, skilled workers move away for better pay or opportunities elsewhere. The trend not only hampers population growth. It also costs the state millions in lost economic impact. Legislators, economists and civic leaders have discussed the issue for years. But what does the next generation have to say? This panel brings together a group of young Iowans, both past and present, to talk openly about their choice to stay or go.
SESSION 2
Investing in Entrepreneurship
Turning an idea into a business takes more than ambition. What resources, mentorship, and community programs are available to Iowa entrepreneurs? What has worked and how can it be implemented across the state to help Iowans transform their dreams into a livelihood?
SESSION 3
Increasing Access to Recreational Programs
Research has consistently shown that public recreation programs inform how residents interact with their environment and connect with the broader community. But to reap those benefits, residents need first to be able to access the services. This panel explores how Iowa communities are working to increase accessibility in recreational programming for all ages and abilities. Panelists will highlight what’s working, and consider how successful approaches can be replicated across the state.
SESSION 5
Painting the Town: Public Art and Placemaking in Iowa
Whether it’s a sculpture park, mural walk or even a fleet of colorfully decorated garbage trucks, public art is reshaping how communities across Iowa engage in collective creativity and placemaking. This session explores some of the factors behind the trend — whose funding it, who benefits and what it means for the artists who call Iowa home — while also highlighting key insights from Iowans working at the intersection of creativity and civic infrastructure.
SESSION 6
Childcare’s essential role in Iowa communities
As more families rely on dual-incomes, which means they need affordable, reliable childcare. What are the barriers to reliable childcare in Iowa communities? How are schools and businesses investing in childcare and why? What are ways the state of Iowa is making a job in childcare more accessible and attractive?
