Lyon County 

This year sees IISC heading to the northwestern corner of the state in a partnership with Lyon County, a rural county that borders South Dakota and Minnesota. Lyon County Economic Development Director Jen Smit says a housing assessment study is of high priority to its various communities, and she credits the Lyon County Riverboat Foundation for funding the entire $50,000 partnership fee. 

“The IISC program was a way to incorporate not only Lyon County being able to get a study done, but for every community to have an opportunity to also submit their wish list of projects,” she explains. “We are fortunate to have leadership within the county that saw the possibilities of what the partnership could provide.” 

Over 10 community projects are planned, including George Skunk Creek flood mitigation and stormwater management, regional trail connections, and Inwood subdivision site development. In spring 2027, students enrolled in a new course on public art practice, taught by Ali Hval (MFA19) in the School of Art & Art History, will also create a series of site-specific art installations along an existing community trail in George, Iowa. 

City of Granger 

IISC is also partnering with Granger, a small but growing community in Central Iowa. Parks and Recreation Director Alishia VanDrimmelen says Granger wants to demonstrate to its community and regional partners that the city is growing intentionally and aims to develop a strategic roadmap with measurable milestones.

“Granger is at an exciting and pivotal point in its growth. Our community is working to meet the needs of today's residents while preparing for significant future growth,” she says. “City leadership recognized that this moment presents both tremendous opportunities and complex challenges that require thoughtful, strategic planning.” 

The city hopes to explore several areas through the partnership, including the revitalization of Main Street, long-term parks and recreation development, trails and pedestrian connectivity, planning for future municipal facilities, public safety infrastructure, economic development, community branding, public art, and improved communication and engagement with residents. 

VanDrimmelen says IISC's interdisciplinary approach gives Granger access to perspectives and expertise that a community of its size would not typically have the capacity to engage all at once. 

“We are incredibly grateful to the IISC team and the University of Iowa for investing their time, talent, and expertise in Iowa communities. We are excited to welcome students and faculty to Granger, share our community with them, and work together to create projects that we hope will have a lasting impact not only during the partnership but for generations to come.” 

City of Ottumwa 

IISC is also heading to Southeastern Iowa to collaboration with Ottumwa, a historic city located along the Des Moines River that serves as the county seat for Wapello County. Planned projects include an airport area master plan, a community health fair, and a downtown master plan. 

Director of Community Development Amal Eltahir’s connection with IISC is both professional and academic.  

“As a graduate of the program, I have seen firsthand the value of connecting academic expertise with the needs of communities,” she says. “I also had the opportunity to partner with IISC while serving the City of Oskaloosa, where we collaborated on the Downtown Master Plan. That experience demonstrated how impactful these partnerships can be for both communities and students.” 

Eltahir says that as the city advances Ottumwa's 2040 Vision, partnering with IISC is a natural fit. 

“This partnership allows us to leverage additional resources to help accelerate key projects and advance our strategic priorities. IISC has a proven track record of helping communities move important initiatives forward, and we're excited to build on that success in Ottumwa.”