UNI serves Iowa’s communities through the Iowa Rural Vitality Coalition
The Institute for Decision Making (IDM) at the University of Northern Iowa is helping to improve the vitality of Iowa’s rural communities through the Iowa Rural Vitality Coalition. The coalition is a partnership of state-wide leaders and organizations, including representatives from all three Regent universities, Wellmark and the Iowa Rural Development Council.
Iowa’s rural communities face many common challenges, including declining populations, housing, fewer available workers and higher rates of certain chronic diseases. These challenges affect the quality of life, making it more difficult for people and businesses to thrive in rural Iowa. The coalition has designed and is deploying a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to improve rural vitality. The effort will work with the community of Manchester and Van Buren County as pilot communities who will help the Coalition refine the model, assemble partners to assist the communities and evaluate the effectiveness of the work.
“Our IDM team is honored to be part of the Iowa Rural Vitality Coalition in assisting Iowa’s rural communities,” said Drew Conrad, director of IDM. “Our team members have significant professional community and economic development knowledge and experience to contribute to the coalition and to assist with making a lasting impact in the pilot communities.”
The process uses the Comprehensive Rural Wealth Framework, which defines wealth as more than just financial means and takes a comprehensive approach to identify the assets and gaps in a community. As part of the planning process, which IDM staff will be helping to design and facilitate, communities will undergo an assessment focusing on the wealth capitals. The communities will work with the Iowa Rural Vitality Coalition to explore the interconnectedness of the wealth capital, develop plans that build on assets, and identify solutions that improve the health and well-being of their residents.
IDM is the economic development arm of Business & Community Services and the David W. Wilson College of Business at UNI. For over three decades, IDM has delivered planning, technical assistance, applied research and training to Iowans concerned about their community’s economic vitality. IDM has proudly served more than 850 communities, nonprofits and economic development groups throughout Iowa and beyond.