A partnership with the Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities will help the growing central Iowa city of Granger plan for its future.
Story: Cale Stelken
Published: Aug. 18, 2026
The Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities (IISC) is partnering with Granger during the 2026–2027 academic year to help the growing central Iowa community plan for its future.
Supported by the University of Iowa Graduate College, IISC provides UI students with immersive, real-world education in community planning and policymaking. Led by faculty from numerous departments, student teams apply their skills to projects identified by community partners and offer strategies for development.
Granger Parks and Recreation Director Alishia VanDrimmelen says the city wants to demonstrate to residents and regional partners that it is growing intentionally. Through the partnership, Granger 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,” VanDrimmelen 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, and planning for future municipal facilities.
Other areas of interest include 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,” she says. “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.”
IISC Director Travis Kraus says Granger’s rapid growth makes the partnership an opportunity for students to see how community needs vary across Iowa.
“The geographic diversity and the unique characteristics of our three partnering communities — Lyon County, Ottumwa, and Granger — really showcase the importance of place-based community engagement work,” Kraus says. “The needs and opportunities look quite different for a rural county, urban micropolitan, and rapidly growing small town, which makes this an exciting year for IISC.”
The partnership also creates experiential learning opportunities for students in fields such as urban and regional planning, civil and environmental engineering, law, journalism and mass communications, and fine arts.
“We encourage faculty who are interested in this work, either through courses or research, to reach out as we continue to develop our partnerships,” Kraus says.
In the coming months, IISC will continue seeking input from UI departments interested in developing spring courses focused on real-world community development.
