A partnership with the Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities will bring housing, infrastructure, public art, and other projects to northwest Iowa.
Story: Cale Stelken
Published: Aug. 18, 2026
The Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities (IISC) is heading to the northwestern corner of the state for a yearlong partnership with Lyon County.
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.
Lyon County, a rural county bordering South Dakota and Minnesota, will work with IISC during the 2026–2027 academic year on more than 10 community projects. Lyon County Economic Development Director Jen Smit says a housing assessment study is a high priority for communities throughout the county.
“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,” Smit says. “We are fortunate to have leadership within the county that saw the possibilities of what the partnership could provide.”
Smit credits the Lyon County Riverboat Foundation with funding the partnership’s entire $50,000 fee.
Planned projects include George Skunk Creek flood mitigation and stormwater management, regional trail connections, and Inwood subdivision site development. Students will also study multiple adaptive-reuse alternatives for the Larchwood recreation center.
In spring 2027, students enrolled in a new course on public art practice will create a series of site-specific art installations along an existing community trail in George, Iowa. The course will be taught by Ali Hval (MFA19) in the UI School of Art, Art History, and Design.
The Larchwood recreation center in Lyon County, Iowa, will be studied for multiple adaptive reuse alternatives by the Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities.
“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,” says IISC Director Travis Kraus. “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.
