Community MattersISU Extension Community and Economic Development 1

Community MattersVolume 4, Issue 4

Spring 2011

a Quarterly Publication for Iowa Leaders from Extension Community and Economic Development

Page 3 Urban forestry survey shows Iowans want more community trees

Page 5 ISU Extension Program Builder available at your fingertips

Page 6 LA studio helps Lake Delhi-area residents explore options

Page 8 Citizen engagement process helps Hawarden identify community vision

Page 9 NE Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative makes healthy choices easier

In This Issue

continued on page 4

ISU Extension Helps Entrepreneurs Find a Silver Lining in Economic CloudBy Mary Weinand, ISU Extension to Families Family Resource Management Specialist

The negative impacts of the current economy are obvious. Unemployment and poverty are high and businesses are not hiring. However, the silver lining in this economic cloud is entrepreneurship.

Many Latino Iowans are launching businesses in small communities, prompting a recent series of micro-enterprise/entrepreneurship classes for Latino business owners in Extension Region 20 (Louisa, Des Moines, Henry, and Lee Counties).

In July 2010, the New Iowa Center approached staff at ISU Extension and the Small Business Development Center about collaborating to offer the training program.

The group decided to use First Step FastTrac material from the Ewing Marion Kaufman Foundation to help provide entrepreneurship and business education specifically targeted to Latino entrepreneurs. The Kaufman Foundation, a Kansas City-based organization, developed the FastTrac programs to teach entrepreneurial skills in non-academic environments.

The classes were offered for 11 weeks starting in September 2010, with the help of mini-grants through the Community Vitality Center and Iowa Foundation for Microenterprise and Community Vitality. The grant funded the purchase of books and handouts, and travel reimbursements for speakers.

The First Step FastTrac classes covered many business topics, with a focus on concept development and feasibility planning.

Ten people participated in the program. Their current business or business ideas

included party supply, insurance, retail, taxi, engineering, import/export and construction services. The group met with representatives from local financial institutions and economic development organizations, as well as successful entrepreneurs and mentors. The First Step FastTrac curriculum is available in English and Spanish, and the New Iowan Center provided translation for the group when necessary.

All ten participants said they were happy with the program, and several plan to attend further training on Quick Books and account management.

One participant said, “I have always dreamed of owning a business and now I do. This class introduced me to a lot of resources to help me start my construction company and get connected with the right people. I now employ five people full time and we have a long-term contract. The future looks pretty good!”

Other participants talked about the cautions they had learned from the program.

“I hope to open an engineering consulting business and this helped me think about the steps I need to take to get there,” one participant said. “How will I price my

services? How will I market and expand my business?”

Another said, “Location is very important in retail and I am going to be very cautious about signing a contract for my new business.”

Parts of Extension Region 20 have unemployment as high as 10.7% and poverty rates are as high as 14.7%. Entrepreneurship may be a key to improving that situation.

These Mount Pleasant businesses are owned by Latino entrepreneurs..

Community Matters2 ISU Extension Community and Economic Development

effort. Because community development is often the smallest of Extension programs in most states, we have learned to draw upon one another to maximize our resources to the greatest benefits of our respective states’ citizens. It also means that frequently our programming can take a more holistic approach to community development rather than focus upon a single sector or direction.

So the next time you contact an Extension community development specialist, remember he or she represents not only Iowa State University and its Extension system, but also a much broader network of expertise from across the country.

Timothy O. Borich Director, Iowa State University Extension Community and Economic Development

From the Director

Contact InformationIowa State UniversityExtension Community and Economic Development2711 South Loop Drive, Building 4, Suite 4900Ames, IA 50010-8664515-294-8397Fax 515-294-1354www.extension.iastate.edu/communities

To download additional copies of this newsletter in PDF file format, go to:www.extension.iastate.edu/communities/newsletter/vol4issue4.pdf

To change your mailing information, contact Cindy Stuve at cstuve@iastate.edu.

Editorial Board: Tim Borich, Abbie Gaffey, Karen Lathrop and Sandra Oberbroeckling

Community Matters is published quarterly for Iowa State University Extension Community and Economic Development staff and their clients. Comments, questions, and suggestions regarding the content of this newsletter should be directed to:

Sandra Oberbroeckling, editorISU Extension Community and Economic Development2711 South Loop Drive, Building 4, Suite 4900Ames, IA 50010515–294–3721Fax 515–294–1354soberbr@iastate.edu

. . . and justice for allThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Many materials can be made available in alternative formats for ADA clients. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326–W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250–9410 or call 202–720–5964.

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Gerald Miller, interim director, Cooperative Extension Service, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa.

Dear Friends:

I have just returned from attending the annual conference of the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP). A number of Iowans made presentations and moderated sessions at the conference. In many ways, the conference not only provided good information to be shared across state lines, but also gave many of us thoughtful reminders of the importance of our work.

When Iowans think of Extension, they think of their local county Extension office or possibly Iowa State University. Most don’t know that this Cooperative Extension System involves a network of dozens of land-grant universities across the country and their respective state Extension systems. We draw upon this system to identify best practices in community development efforts, new methods of researching local economies, and ways to reinvigorate our local communities. Much of what our Extension Community and Economic Development Program employs both on campus and in our fieldwork is rooted in the work of such institutions such as Cornell, the University of Wisconsin, Purdue, or Washington State. I should

add that some of the work we accomplish in Iowa is shared across the country as well. In fact, the national Urban Extension Conference will take place in Des Moines this May, during which much of urban programming will be highlighted to an audience from throughout the nation.

Beyond the sharing of information, land-grant universities often share staff and resources for regional efforts. A good example is a joint program to improve community sustainability that will soon be available. Purdue, University of Wisconsin, University of Missouri, Iowa State University, Michigan State University, and the University of Minnesota are just some of the institutions that are contributing faculty and staff in this collaborative effort. ISU faculty and staff are also involved with Extension faculty and staff in research and Extension program development in such topics as community planning and climate change, urban programming, local food system development, Latino business development, water quality, and community leadership.

In this era of tight budgets in higher education, these systems of interaction and sharing across state lines and through multiple universities provide tremendous efficiencies through coordination of

Community MattersISU Extension Community and Economic Development 3

By Sandra Oberbroeckling Extension Program Specialist

Hardly a day goes by when greenhouse gases, air and water pollution, energy conservation, or the economy are not mentioned in the news. These issues are the topics of much debate at the national, state, and local levels. One strategy for dealing with them is urban forestry.

It is common knowledge that trees purify the air and water, reduce soil erosion, provide habitat for wildlife, and enhance outdoor recreation. In addition, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, “Many Iowa communities are utilizing urban reforestation to enhance community appearances and attract or retain businesses. Trees in community settings can increase individual property values from 5 to 15% as compared to properties without trees.”

Urban forestry programs are increasingly important, and understanding the forestry needs in our communities is critical to the success of these programs. To determine how well Iowans are served by urban forestry programs, Trees Forever and the Iowa DNR Forestry Bureau engaged Iowa State University Extension Community and Economic Development (CED) to conduct a survey of Iowans involved in these projects. Respondents were asked to evaluate the implementation of community forestry projects in terms of process and effectiveness. They were also asked to identify challenges to program delivery and urgent needs to effectively complete forestry projects.

With guidance from the Trees Forever and Iowa DNR research team, ISU Extension CED’s Community Development Data Information and Analysis Laboratory (CD-DIAL) created a six-page survey using SurveyMonkey, and distributed it to community volunteers, city staff, and elected officials involved in urban community forestry programs/projects in Iowa. A total of 265 surveys were completed by community volunteers and leaders, city staff, and elected officials.

Key findings include:• The majority of the respondents (73%)

are willing to help advocate for more state and federal funding.

Urban Forestry Survey Shows Iowans Want More Community Trees

• The majority of the respondents have been involved in planting trees (84%), followed by maintenance and care of trees (73%), record keeping/preparing applications/grant writing (59%), budget and policy (47%), education activities (42%), taking photos (41%), fund-raising (36%), advertising (31%), and advocacy efforts (23%).

• The top three benefits of urban trees are: energy savings —shading buildings or providing windbreaks, improved aesthetics of the community, and improved air quality (see figure).

• Recruiting volunteers, retaining volunteers, matching funds for tree planting and tree maintenance, involving youth, and technical assistance in maintaining trees are the most urgent needs to effectively complete community forestry projects identified by respondents

• Respondents are motivated to be involved with community forestry mostly by the aesthetic value of trees. The environmental and economic benefits of trees are also important motivating factors.

• The majority of respondents are concerned about the emerald ash borer (EAB), tree diseases, insect/pest threats, and sustaining their local efforts.

“I thought that the fact that 73 percent of respondents are willing to advocate for more state and federal funding for urban forestry

was impressive,” said Shannon Ramsay, founder, president, and CEO of Trees Forever. “The top issues are lack of funding and dealing with disease,” she added.

CD-DIAL produced a report summarizing the survey results, and Trees Forever and the Iowa DNR have been disseminating to various audiences.

“Information from the survey has already been shared with the UFC (Urban Forestry Council). We developed a fact sheet to share with legislators [on February 10] at the Coalition for Iowa’s Woodlands and Trees and Trees Forever Day at the Capitol,” said Meredith Borchardt, Trees Forever program manager and member of the research team. “We also plan to share information at the April 5 Tree City USA banquet in Des Moines, an event which typically brings over 100 community forestry volunteers and elected officials together.”

The results have also been presented to the natural resources and agriculture committees of both the Iowa Senate and House of Representatives. Eventually the information will also appear in Trees Forever and DNR Forestry news articles and publications and will be posted on the organizations’ websites.

For additional information about the study, contact Trees Forever at 319-373-0650. For information about the services available from CD-DIAL, contact Nora Ladjahasan, assistant scientist, ISU College of Design Institute for Design Research and Outreach (IDRO) at 515-294-0374 or nading@iastate.edu.

The survey results indicate that Iowans understand and appreciate the benefits that trees offer.

Not at all beneficial Very beneficial

Legend

Energy and environment

Economic and livability

Quality of life and wellness

1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5

Improved retail sales in shopping districts

Mental and emotional health benefits

Improved aesthetics of community

Increased property values

Provide economic benefit to community

Provide wildlife habitat

Reduction of green house gases

Improved air quality

Energy savings – shading buildings or providing windbreaks

Improved water quality, reduction of stormwater runoff

Community Matters4 ISU Extension Community and Economic Development

Iowa's Living Roadways Community Visioning Kicks off 15th YearBy Sandra Oberbroeckling Extension Program Specialist

Iowa has changed a lot since the Iowa’s Living Roadways Community Visioning Program started 15 years ago. For example, visitors to Storm Lake are now welcomed by a giant lighthouse along Highway 71. Wellman residents are able to stroll along a tree-lined community trail. After tornadoes ripped through the town, Parkersburg is restoring trees to shade neighborhoods and parks to promote energy efficiency and habitat quality.

Since the 2008 flood, Elkader has been working on a plan for improving streets, roadside parks, and river access points that will be resistant to flood damage. New Hartford has removed a flood-damaged home to make way for a rain garden to improve storm water management. And so on.

These examples are only a fraction of the impacts that the visioning program has made in Iowa’s small communities. Since 1996, 172 communities have participated and 94 percent of them have implemented at least one project. These communities have generated more than $24 million to fund their projects, in the form of grants, private donations, and in-kind contributions.

As the program enters its 15th year, twelve more communities are preparing to

fulfill their visions: Brighton, Elk Horn, Kimballton, Lisbon, Madrid, McGregor, Monroe, Monticello, Mount Vernon, Prairie City, Rockwell City, and Sidney.

The visioning program integrates technical landscape planning and design techniques with sustainable community action to assist community leaders and volunteers in making sound and meaningful decisions about the local landscape.

The program is sponsored by the Iowa Department of Transportation in partnership with Iowa State University Landscape Architecture Extension and Trees Forever, an Iowa-based nonprofit environmental advocacy organization. In addition, professional landscape architects offer expertise in creating conceptual design plans for the communities.

To celebrate the 15th year of the Iowa’s Living Roadways Program, the program partners are holding a two-day statewide conference in Ames on October 19–20, 2011. The conference will focus on

2011 Visioning Communities

The lighthouse along US Highway 71 guides visitors to Storm Lake.

The community trail in Wellman is a work in progress, the most recent step was adding trees.

According to the Kauffman Foundation, investments in entrepreneurship education often leads individuals on a path to self-sufficiency, preparing them to hold good-paying jobs, raise their families, and become productive citizens.

“One of the most important characteristics about the Fast Trac Program is that it lets the clients figure out their own plans, benchmarks and expectations. We provide the training and the tools, but it is up to the individuals to shape their dreams and build their own roads towards their goals,” Hernández said.

Those interested in learning more about this program should contact Himar Hernández at 641-799-6681 or himarh@iastate.edu.

Entrepreneurs continued from page 1 Save the DatesThe 2011 Municipal Professionals Certification Program Institute is scheduled July 18–22 and 25–29, and the Academy is scheduled July 27–29. The program is sponsored by the Iowa Municipal Finance Officers Association, in conjunction with the Iowa State University Extension Office of State and Local Government Programs and the Iowa League of Cities.

All courses will be taught at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames. For more information about the Municipal Professionals Institute and Academy, visit the Iowa League of Cities website at http:\\iowaleague.org or contact Cindy Kendall at ckendall@iastate.edu or 515-290-1811.

community livability and sustainability and provide practical information for Iowans wanting to improve the place they live in. Information about the conference will be posted on the Community Visioning Program program website at www.communityvisioning.org, the ISU Extension Community and Economic Development site at www.extension.iastate.edu/communities/, and the Trees Forever site at www.treesforever.org.

For additional information, visit the website at www.communityvisioning.org or contact Sandra Oberbroeckling at 515-294-3721 or soberbr@iastate.edu.

Community MattersISU Extension Community and Economic Development 5

Did You Know?

By Sandra Oberbroeckling Extension Program Specialist

City council members, county supervisors, and appointed boards and commissions make up the backbone of the local planning and zoning process. Unfortunately, the issues surrounding land use, and the tools and techniques used to address them, are becoming increasingly complex. At the same time, landowners, developers and residents are more likely to sue local governments if they disagree with the decisions that are made by these “citizen planners.”

Introduction to Planning and Zoning for Local Officials is a workshop designed as a “basic training” for local councils, boards and commissions. Using case scenarios presented in a highly interactive format, the workshop highlights issues frequently faced in the land use process. Subjects covered include roles and responsibilities of land-use decision makers, the planning and zoning commission, the zoning board of adjustment, common legal issues, rezoning, nonconforming uses, variances and special uses, and conflict of interest

procedures. The recently passed Iowa Smart Planning Act will also be discussed. Since Iowa State University Extension began offering the workshop on a regular basis in 2005, more than 2,100 local officials from 262 cities and 91 counties have attended one or more workshops.

Introduction to Planning and Zoning for Local Officials is offered annually in eight locations across the state. Locations will change from year to year so that city and county officials are able to attend a location near them at least once every two years (see table for 2011 dates and locations).

Registration is $55 per person, or $45 per person if a city or county registers five or more people. The fee covers the cost of instruction, workshop materials and a

Planning and Zoning Workshops Offer Basic Training to Local Officials

meal. Registrations will be accepted at the door, but a meal will not be provided for same–day registrants.

Registration forms were mailed at the end of January to city clerks’ offices, county supervisors’ offices, county zoning officials, Iowa APA members, and regional councils of governments. The form is also available for download in Adobe PDF format at http://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/planningBLUZ. For more information contact Cindy Stuve at 515–294-5265, or Gary Taylor at 515-290-0214.

Spring 2011 Planning and Zoning Workshop ScheduleDate Community LocationMarch 22 Quad Cities Scott County Extension OfficeMarch 23 Fairfield Fairfield Arts and Convention CenterMarch 29 Fort Dodge Best Western Starlite VillageMarch 30 Urbandale Urbandale Public LibraryApril 5 Dubuque Grand River CenterApril 6 Waterloo Ramada Hotel & ConventionApril 12 Council Bluffs Hilton Garden InnApril 13 Spencer Clay County Regional Events

Iowa's Living Roadways Community Visioning Kicks off 15th Year

By Diane Van Wyngarden Community Development Specialists

You are at a meeting away from your office, discussing economic development in your community, and a question about an Extension program arises. You decide to look it up online, only to realize that your laptop battery is dead, the meeting site doesn’t have Internet, or you left your laptop at the office.

Is this scenario familiar?

If so, Iowa State University Extension Community and Economic Development has the app for you. Program Builder, ISU Extension CED's online interactive research tool, is now available at your fingertips via smart phone. Program Builder provides access to information about ISU Extension’s community

ISU Extension Program Builder Available at Your Fingertips leadership trainings; retail trade analysis; Census data; GIS and township trustee training; and resources for local government, nonprofit management, community visioning, landscape and downtown revitalization, tourism, Latino business assistance, and transportation.

Simply download the free Tag Reader app on a web-enabled camera phone at http://www.gettag.mobi/.

Using Tag Reader, scan the Program Builder tag pictured here. (A tag or a QR code is a type of barcode designed specifically to be scanned by a mobile phone.) Program Builder will automatically open on your phone’s browser. Save the tag on your phone for quick access at any time. When you need to use Program Builder again, simply open Tag Reader and go to History to reopen the tag.

The Program Builder tag allows Extension clients to interact with ISU Extension Community and Economic Development in new ways! Try it now!

Program Builder is still available the “old fashioned way” at www. http://www.extension.iastate.edu/programbuilder/.

Scan this tag using Tag Reader on your mobile phone to open Program Builder.

Community Matters6 ISU Extension Community and Economic Development

By Heather Sauer, Communications Specialist, College of Design

On July 24, 2010, the Delhi Dam on the Maquoketa River in eastern Iowa collapsed suddenly under pressure from rising flood waters. The breach drained a nine-mile recreational lake behind the dam, and the resulting flash flood destroyed 16 homes, caused significant damage to more than 70 others and released tons of accumulated sediment downstream.

In the wake of this disaster, Gov. Chet Culver created the Lake Delhi Recover and Rebuild Task Force to develop strategies to assist in the recovery and rebuilding of the Lake Delhi area, and to help determine whether—and under what conditions—the dam should be rebuilt. Meanwhile, Iowa State University landscape architecture faculty Julia Badenhope and J. Timothy Keller began studying the issue and proposed to help local leaders and residents discover alternatives for recovery.

In conjunction with ISU Extension Community and Economic Development, the Badenhope and Keller approached the director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development, who chaired the task force’s economic and community development committee, with a plan to collect public input, conduct community and economic analyses of the area, and create scenarios for future development.

Project-based design studioIn ISU's fall 2010 LA 401: Community Design studio, co-instructors Badenhope

and Keller integrated field work, practical research and academic study within the project-based design studio. The “Alternative Futures for Lake Delhi and the Maquoketa River” studio included 30 upper-level undergraduate and graduate landscape architecture students.

“The students’ role was to assess and communicate the viewpoints, perspectives and desires of different stakeholders, to give them a voice in the process and bring them all to the table,” Badenhope said. “In most class projects, students get to do what they want. In this case they were a voice for what others want.”

In late August, the class visited the Lake Delhi area to meet with the Delaware County economic development director as well as

the president of the Lake Delhi Recreation Association, which owns and operates the dam. They also toured the failed dam and former lake site.

Conditions before and afterThey then performed an inventory of pre- and post-disaster conditions—such as water quality, demographics, land ownership and economic conditions—and produced a four-part analysis of the region that includes watershed functions and processes, health needs and areas of concern, economic models for spending in river/lake developments, and sociocultural factors that could affect future development.

The class worked closely with Dan Otto, ISU professor of economics and ISU Extension economist, on the recreational spending models. Paul Anderson, ISU professor of landscape architecture and agronomy, helped the students perform geographic information systems (GIS) analysis and modeling. They also drew on the expertise of Iowa State and ISU Extension faculty from several other departments and specialists from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to inform their analysis models.

Focus groups with stakeholdersThe students also assisted with stakeholder focus groups in Manchester, Delhi, Hopkinton, Anamosa and Monticello. Guided by ISU Extension facilitators, the groups included lake residents and landowners; local business owners; and

Lake Delhi residents spoke of their love of the lake and what drew them to the area. Those up and downstream affected by the flood spoke to growing concern about events taking place at the watershed scale and expressed doubts as to how relief funds are to be distributed.

This map of the Lake Delhi area shows settlement patterns and transportation infrastructure.

LA Studio Helps Lake Delhi-area Residents Explore Options

Community MattersISU Extension Community and Economic Development 7

Students Use Public Input Process to Develop Alternative Futures

Lily-Love Toppar, fifth-year landscape architecture student, explains the Lake Delhi concepts to the Delaware County supervisor during the studio's open house on December 10.

downstream stakeholders, including farmers, paddlers and anglers.

“Our role was to take notes, observe and listen,” said graduate student Paola Sepulveda. “It was a good experience to be able to really see people’s reactions and hear what they’re thinking. We also reviewed the session transcripts to identify major themes and ideas presented by each group.”

Based on a methodology developed by Badenhope, students held “special places” mapping workshops to gain insight into what is valued in the area by those who live there.

“We asked people to mark on an aerial map of the area any special places that are important to them,” said graduate student Deb Cooper. “They shared memories and traditions they value in places around the lake, along the river corridor and in the surrounding communities.”

Shared concernsThe focus groups and mapping sessions revealed that while there are significant differences in stakeholder visions for the future, all groups are concerned about water quality, dam safety, watershed management, and the economic impact both immediately around the former lake and to downstream businesses affected by the dam breach. They also value community ties and share strong attachments to the area’s natural beauty, as well as the recreational activities they enjoy in the lake/river corridor, such as boating, fishing and bird watching.

“This was an opportunity for students to understand how passionate people are about where they live and learn how to apply

This section illustrates how the new development will relate to Lake Delhi and the surrounding landscape.

what they know in a more human context,” Badenhope said. “Their task then was to develop a series of potential schemes that fulfill these community desires and give people the tools to achieve their goals.”

Three scenarios for the future The class presented its preliminary analyses at a public meeting in Manchester in early November. Students then created three development scenarios for the future, including two that address rebuilding the dam and lake and one that addresses restoring the Maquoketa River to its natural flow.

One rebuilding scenario is based on residents’ incorporating as a municipality, while the other assumes county ownership of the dam. The third scenario examines the potential impact of restoring the river and the related effects on tourism and businesses.

“These scenarios are not completed designs or implementation plans, but rather studies that explore implications of potential development decisions,” Cooper said.

“Helping the affected people in that area imagine alternatives gives them hope that even if things are different, they can be just as good or even better than before,” Sepulveda said. “It opens up possibilities residents may never have thought could happen in their community, whether the dam is rebuilt or not.”

One significant finding was that sedimentation and nutrient pollution from the watershed is the most important factor affecting the success or failure of any future dam scenario. As a result, Badenhope says, future river restoration and dam

reconstruction studies must take into account the need for watershed management. One group of students worked with ISU faculty and Iowa DNR experts to design a conceptual watershed management strategy to work with all future development scenarios.

“It was fascinating for me to learn how you try to get stakeholder groups to discuss options and find solutions that work for everyone, whether at the top or bottom of the watershed,” said fifth-year student Cody LeClaire. “This project has emphasized that design is about working with people and solving problems that affect them in their daily lives.”

Preliminary information from the studio was provided to the task force and included in its report to the governor on Dec. 1. That report is available at www.iowalifechanging.com/lakedelhi. Copies of the students’ analyses, watershed study and scenario presentation boards also were made available in conjunction with the final studio report, which was released on Dec. 20.

Community Matters8 ISU Extension Community and Economic Development

along with many other town and rural residents of all ages.

After three hours of wide-ranging discussion, a list emerged of Hawarden’s top priority issues and needs. Seven working groups were formed, and they have begun working on the issues identified.

The “Hospital” committee toured the existing medical facilities and is reviewing future needs. The hospital administrator is extremely pleased to have this group of local leaders involved with the hospital. They are exploring grant opportunities to help fund hospital improvements and a possible expansion to meet community health needs.

The “Tourism” committee is researching joint marketing opportunities with Sioux County and also some public/private opportunities. They plan to work with Western Iowa Tourism in creating an awareness of Calliope Village and the Historical House in Hawarden.

The 22-person “Citizens for Community Pride” committee organized a community clean-up weekend in October 2010. It was so successful the group is planning to make it an annual project. They also inventoried city

signage and prepared a list of signs that need to be replaced. They are addressing property cleanup problems by working with the city council and the city attorney to craft a nuisance abatement policy, and by working with the police chief to formulate an enforceable plan of action.

The “Quality of Life” committee is focused on youth activities in the community and how they might be expanded or enhanced. They are looking at other quality-of-life issues as well.

A “School” committee of area citizens was also formed to work with the community school to increase public support, identify resources it needs, and develop programs for community volunteers to help the school.

Looking back on the future meetings in Akron and Merrill, Tucker said, “While there were different needs addressed in each community, the key point was involving a large number of residents in identifying community needs and priorities.”

By that standard, the future meeting in Hawarden appears to have been a success.

“I was so impressed to see so many citizens show up and be engaged in a serious discussion about the future of our community. I don’t recall us ever having this many residents together in one place discussing our future,” Mayor Porter said after the meeting. “Now we need to keep this conversation going and keep people energized to address the issues the community identified.”

The top ten priorities from the Hawarden meeting are listed on the city website at cityofhawarden.com/wp-content/uploads/for-website-092210.pdf.

Citizen Engagement Process Helps Hawarden Identify Community Vision

Hawarden residents work in small groups to identify priorities for the community.

By Alan Vandehaar Community Development Specialist

When Hawarden City Administrator Gary Tucker wanted to “get everyone on the same page” about the town’s future, he knew just who to call.

Alan Vandehaar, Extension Community and Economic Development specialist, had worked with Tucker years earlier, when Tucker was economic development director in Plymouth County. Back then, Vandehaar helped local leaders organize “future meetings” in Akron and Merrill, Iowa. “The results were impressive,” Tucker said.

In March 2010, Tucker asked Vandehaar to help Hawarden through a similar process. Tucker wanted to bring together the community’s diverse population to discuss community needs, identify priority projects, and develop plans of action.

After meeting with Vandehaar, a group of local leaders scheduled the town future meeting for September 14, 2010. They recruited 175 community members to participate, exceeding expectations.

“What are the most pressing needs in our community, and what do you want our town to look like in five to ten years?” asked Mayor Ricard Porter at the beginning of the meeting. With the community center filled to capacity, there was an air of excitement as people from high school students to senior citizens shared their visions and hopes for the future of the Hawarden community.

The meeting included participants came from the city government, area businesses and industry, the school, the hospital, several churches, and local service organizations,

Extension Community Development Specialist Alan Vandehaar facilitates a nominal group process.

Do you think you know Iowa? We’ll take you inside places you’ve never experienced before!

Join our educational travel programs for adults.

www.extension.iastate.edu/RoadScholar

Or contact us for a free brochure Diane Van Wyngarden, Economic Development Specialist

dvw@iastate.edu 641.295.5757

Phone QR Code

Community MattersISU Extension Community and Economic Development 9

(GAP) whole-farm certification. Most of the 13 producers initially certified have reported almost immediate gains in the number of orders they received.

Another exciting aspect of NE IA FFI’s work is with youth teams. Students from more than 13 schools currently work with adult coaches on a variety of projects including: substituting healthy alternatives in concession stands at games, lobbying the school board to get a salad bar installed in the cafeteria, helping to start school gardens, and teaching food and fitness curriculum to third graders.

The active living team has worked hard to find strategies that encourage children to walk or bike to school, but that is not easy in rural areas where many children are bussed to school. An exciting community-school partnership that offers children an opportunity to get out and walk is the walking school bus http://iowafoodandfitness.org/news/95.html. In Decorah there are two neighborhood walking school buses that drop children off at two predetermined sites from which they walk the rest of the way to school with one or more adults. Additional schools participate in coordinated walks to school for international Walk to School Day in October.

ISU Extension is a major partner in this initiative, and Extension Community and Economic Development is a partner in the multilayered evaluation effort. The ISU evaluation team includes Mary Emery, adjunct professor of sociology; Cornelia Flora, distinguished professor of sociology; and graduate students Nikki A’Damo and Isaac Christiansen. A major role of the evaluation team is to assist in collection of

Research Spotlight

NE Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative Makes Healthy Choices EasierBy Mary Emery, Adjunct Professor and Extension Sociologist

The Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative (NE IA FFI) has launched a carefully planned and monitored process to initiate sustainable changes leading to healthier communities. Its work has focused on building a solid and committed team and making intentional efforts to build relationships among regional organizations and agencies as well as state and federal partners. As one of nine communities in which the W.K. Kellogg Foundation has invested in food and fitness initiatives NE IA FFI received funding for two years to assess needs and opportunities and plan for policy and system level change.

NE IA FFI is just starting the second year of the resulting three-year action plan. With the motto, “Make the healthy choice the easy choice,” the initiative has been working primarily to get local, healthy food into school systems and increase opportunities for physical activity among youth. Not only does this strategy impact many households in the region, it also has carryover effects for the larger community as FFI works to increase the number of local food producers and consumers and expands access to and information about active living opportunities.

Among the successes the initiative can celebrate is an increase in market opportunities for local producers. In cooperation with the Northeast Iowa Food and Farm Coalition (NIFF), NE IA FFI has worked to overcome a major stumbling block to getting healthy local foods into schools, colleges, hospitals, and other organizations. Many of these institutions contract with a single food service management company such as Sedexo, which requires food safety certification from their suppliers. Currently, most food safety certification processes are designed for corporate farms that focus on select products. Local food producers, however, grow multiple crops and require a different approach to food safety. Working with the US Department of Agriculture, NIFF and FFI piloted Good Agricultural Practices

data on partners and resources for the University of Michigan, which is managing the cross-site evaluation. The evaluation strategy also focuses on two aspects of the initiative that NE IA FFI identified as critical to its success: increasing local producers, and engaging youth in food and fitness policy and system change. The ISU evaluation team contributes to the development of the initiative by assisting in data collection to determine the outcome of specific strategies and by participating in planning meetings and providing feedback.

The components that underlie successful community change strategies are a key part of the evaluation. For instance, much can be learned about the importance of relationship building and fostering a learning environment in which to work toward policy change. The team is also attentive to the systems-level approaches required for long-term change in policy and practices. In addition, engagement strategies for design and implementation are a priority in the work at all levels.

Team members meet regularly discuss their findings and possible improvements to their approach. Based on the efforts during the planning stage, they have created a detailed plan for project implementation that allows maximum flexibility at the local level and emphasizes learning communities, which provide a nonthreatening environment for working, learning, and making changes together. While the planning effort might be seen as a project, the NE IA FFI has purposively moved from a project focus to looking at strategies, and as its work expands, it is beginning to take on the characteristics of a movement. As more people become involved and excitement grows, additional ideas, opportunities, and innovations emerge. A major challenge is the lack of time on the part of conveners, staff, and volunteers to do everything they would like to do.

An overview of the Kellogg Foundation’s Food and Fitness Initiative is available at: http://ww2.wkkf.org/default.aspx?tabid=75&CID=383&NID=61&LanguageID=0.

Citizen Engagement Process Helps Hawarden Identify Community Vision

School gardens are part of the youth team projects.

Community Matters10 ISU Extension Community and Economic Development

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Strategic Directions for Extension Community Resource and Economic Development

CRED

Report prepared with support from USDA – CSREES and the Southern Rural Development Center

March 2009

Strategic Directions for Extension Community Resource and Economic Development (CRED)

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Strategic Directions for Extension CRED was written to help Cooperative Extension and Community Resource and Economic Development professionals strengthen and market their programs and expand resources and partnerships needed for working with communities. The publication presents five strategic imperatives for a strong and sustainable CRED program:

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By Laura Lutz Graduate Student

Local landfills are growing a lot more slowly in Fairfield, Iowa, thanks to single-stream recycling.

Single-stream recycling is a system that does not require residents to separate their recyclables by material (e.g., newspaper, glass, plastic, etc.). Instead, everything goes into one bin, which is collected in a single-compartment truck.

When Waste Management’s new single-stream recycling program in Fairfield went into effect in late 2010, city leaders anticipated it would fulfill the goals they established in their Go Green Strategic Plan to increase recycling and decrease the amount of waste to local landfills.

The City of Fairfield’s Green Commission set goals of a 75% increase in recyclables processed with a corresponding 25% decrease in waste going to landfills by December 2012. Thanks to fantastic participation from Fairfield residents and Waste Management’s single-stream collection, residents and businesses are well on their way to achieving that goal.

After two months of the new program, Fairfield residents recycled in record numbers with encouraging results. In November, Waste Management collected a record 46.93 tons of recyclable materials, a 67% increase from the previous monthly average. December did even better with 65.04 tons collected—a 132% increase over the previous average.

If the new collection rates continue, Fairfield will increase its tonnage recycled to 563 tons annually, according ISU Program Specialist Scott Timm, the sustainability coordinator for Fairfield.

When first introduced, the single-stream program was met with mixed reactions from residents—mostly due to the size of the containers, which allow for large amounts of recyclable materials. While many residents praised the ease and practicality of the containers, others found them to be too large or cumbersome.

Two months into the program, however, residents have reported recycling for the

first time, or recycling materials they previously would have thrown into the trash. In addition, Fairfield City Hall is now recycling enough paper to fill the bin weekly.

“Fairfield has been a leader in recycling participation since we began the curbside program nearly 20 years ago,” Mayor Ed Malloy said. “I am not surprised to see the strong showing for this next level of community participation. Our resolve as a community to conserve resources and protect the environment is a strong driver

for this success. It is one of the foundations of our sustainability efforts.”

Single-stream recycling is quickly reducing Fairfield’s contribution to the SEMCO landfill, but Timm emphasized that the town’s sustainability plan also calls for residents to reduce and reuse as much as possible.

“It’s really important to highlight that beyond recycling, Fairfield residents really need to focus on reducing the amount of waste they are putting into their garbage,” he said.

City of Fairfield Announces Record-breaking Recycling Results

continued on page 11

Community MattersISU Extension Community and Economic Development 11

By Sandra Oberbroeckling Extension Program Specialist

Extension community and economic development specialists from across the nation gathered in Charleston, South Carolina, March 7–9, for the 7th annual conference of the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP).

The conference, titled “Creating Opportunities in an Evolving Economy,” highlighted the role of Extension community development professionals in assisting communities in adapting and capitalizing in a more accountable economy.

Iowa State University Extension Community and Economic Development played a starring role in the execution of the conference, with community development specialists presenting seven papers and two posters and moderating 17 breakout sessions. Tim Borich, ISU Extension CED program director and NACDEP president elect, chaired the committee that organized the conference.

Susan Erickson, ISU Extension specialist and PLaCE (Partnering Landscape and Community Enhancement) program coordinator, presented “Extension Staff as Boundary Spanners: Creating Bridges Between University and Community” in a session on economic development.

Borich co-presented a regional impact assessment conducted by the North Central Region for Rural Development in a session on using data.

Three ISU Extension specialists presented on the topic of leadership and civic engagement.

Chris Seeger, ISU Extension landscape architect and associate professor, discussed using volunteered geographic information systems in community development projects. Gary Taylor, ISU Extension planning and development specialist and assistant professor in community and regional planning, presented “Increasing Citizen Participation in Hazard Mitigation Planning.” Mary Emery, ISU Extension sociologist and adjunct professor, presented the results of her study on the impact of coaching community change processes and supporting organizations.

In a session on growing sponsored funding, Alan Vandehaar, ISU Extension community development specialist, and Mickey Carlson, ISU Extension community development specialist and State of Iowa housing policy liaison, “Reaching New Extension Audiences through Creative Funding.”

Diane Van Wyngarden, ISU Extension community development specialist, talked about tourism in economic development, particularly the Road Scholar program she conducts in Iowa.

The conference also featured four guest speakers. Matthew Martin, senior vice-president at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, talked about how the current recession is different from past recessions, in that housing has brought this country out of past recessions, but it has not positively affected the current situation. He also noted that the gap between economic recovery and decreasing unemployment is much wider today than in past recoveries.

Catherine Woteki, Under Secretary, USDA Research, Education, and Economics,

and former dean of the ISU College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, stressed the importance of the work of Extension professionals, particularly during the current economic climate. She encouraged participants to continue their efforts, in spite of shrinking budgets, because community economic development programs remain critical.

Martin Holdrich, senior economist for Woods & Poole Economics, spoke about the quality of data generated by the 2010 US Census, particularly regarding rural areas where sample sizes are small. He explained that different forms of economic modeling infer data when the sample sizes are too small to draw conclusions. The implication of this is that much of the data at the Census Tract or Block Group used in making economic development decisions are inherently flawed; while data are more reliable at county, state or regional levels.

Mark Partridge, C. William Swank Chair of Rural-Urban Policy at Ohio State University, spoke about the need to create the infrastructure to support green energy technologies. Improvements to the national electrical grid system would make electricity generated by wind or solar more accessible even in places where generating wind or solar has less direct economic benefits. Additionally, Partridge spoke about how every policy change both creates new funding for new ideas and eliminates old funding for old ideas, creating a constant competition for resources and a constant need for the marketplace to respond to change.

Information about NACDEP and the conference is available at www.nacdep.net/.

Community Development Work in Iowa Showcased at National Conference

In addition to recycling, Timm said that composting and reducing packaging are very important to reducing resident’s impacts. He hopes that composting will be the next program implemented in Fairfield.

More information on single-stream recycling and what can be recycled is available at www.wm.com, www.fairfieldgogreen.com, www.cityoffairfieldiowa.com and the Fairfield Public Library.

Recycling continued from page 10

Susan Erickson introduces Gary Taylor during a leadership and civic engagement session.

Himar moderated session on entrepreneurship training programs for diverse audiences.

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