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People riding bikes in downtown Iowa City.

BACKGROUND

ABOUT ENVISION EAST CENTRAL IOWA

Cedar Rapids Skyline view from the riverwalk.

Envision East Central Iowa has worked with a cross section of regional stakeholders to explore the region’s economic development ecosystem, and how it can evolve.

A key focus is a collaborative approach to building an inclusive and resilient future for the region. This project has been an 8-month long visioning and strategic planning process running from July 2021 through March 2022.

STATED INTENTIONS FOR ENVISION EAST CENTRAL IOWA:

  1. Create a common vision that will energize and unite the region around an economic development strategy and its implementation while acknowledging that implementation of the vision may look different in the various areas of the region.

  2. Build economic pathways for success for both businesses and individuals, especially for those who are underrepresented, have significant barriers, or experienced greater harm due to COVID-19.

  3. Embrace, celebrate and leverage our varied and diverse strengths, at both community and regional levels

  4. Be inclusive of different voices and perspectives.

  5. Identify areas for collaboration on economic development projects, including ways existing assets and institutions can be leveraged for greater success across the region.

  6. Identify success markers to promote collective accountability after plan adoption.

OVERVIEW OF THE PLANNING PROCESS

Envision East Central Iowa worked with a cross section of regional stakeholders to explore the region’s economic development ecosystem and how it could evolve in the future. A key focus of the plan is a collaborative approach to build an inclusive and resilient environment for the region. The 8-month long visioning and strategic planning process began in July 2021 and ended in March 2022. This report represents Future iQ’s analysis of the research and engagement outcomes. It outlines how the extensive accumulated data has informed the identification of a preferred future and key strategic action areas for future economic development in the East Central Iowa Region.

Over 500 people have contributed to the plan’s development.

East Central Iowa CEDS Stakeholder Engagement infrographic.Regional Think-Tank participants 122, Future Summit Approx. 100 Monhly Strategic Committee Meetings 8 meetings 22 committee Members Stakeholders Surveyed 490+ Listening Sessions 8 meetings and 60 participants, Focus Group Sessions 12 focus groups with over 100 participants.

"We are strong-willed, resilient, and will have weathered a pandemic together! We have incredible assets at our disposal and will be poised to make some great decisions together."

- ENVISION EAST CENTRAL IOWA STAKEHOLDER SURVEY RESPONDENT

Engaged participant stakeholders conversing on strategic topics.

PRIORITIES FOR ACTION

During the regional Future Summit held on March 1, 2022, participants were given the opportunity to allocate priority to each of the strategic actions. Participants were asked to nominate:

  • Which actions will best address the immediate needs for the region? (red)

  • Which actions will best deliver long-term payoffs for the region? (green)

Embracing an innovation focus 69 immediate action 109 long term payoff. Fostering an entrepreneurial approach 109 Immediate, 93 long term, Protecting and sustaining our unique natural resources 91 Immediate 82 long term, Reimagining the build environment 71 immediate 96 long term, Creating a more vibrant communities 67 immediate 122 long term. Purposefully growing a thriving diverse regional workforce 112 immediate 80 long term, Creating and expanding pathways for shared prosperity 182 immediate 97 long term.
Action Priorities Speaker
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