Iowa Downtown Resource Center
The Iowa Downtown Resource Center is where Main Street Iowa, the Department's highly successful downtown revitalization program is housed. Iowa’s downtowns serve as living models of the sustainable community concepts being embraced throughout the country. Some of the sustainability concepts brought to life in Iowa downtowns include pedestrian friendly, compact development, historic preservation, diversity in housing, mixed land uses, community collaboration, and strong local economies. The following services are offered through the Resource Center.
Purpose
To provide downtown development assistance to Iowa communities through:
- Training opportunities
- Referrals
- Technical information
- Statewide awareness
- Technical assistance
Services for Iowa Communities
Fee-based Statewide Training Opportunities
Downtown Assessment
- Iowa Downtown Summit - annual training
- Occasional regional workshops on specific downtown topics such as:
- Energy Conservation and Downtown
- Developing local incentive grant and loan programs
- Good design for downtown
- Improving downtown's built environment
- Technology and downtown
- Developing a market niche for downtown
- Business retention practices
- Promoting downtown
- Fundraising for downtown development
- Board building
- Downtown festivals & special events
- Limited liability corporations for downtown development
- Technology for small towns
Statewide Promotion
- Iowa Downtown Month
- Iowa State Fair Downtown Photo Contest
Downtown Information Exchange
- Examples
- Sample contracts
- One-stop shop for downtown questions
- Lending Library - deposits required (reservation form)
- Slides
- Videos
- Books
- Self-help workbooks
Consultant Exchange
- Landscape architects
- Retail consultants
- Historic preservation consultants
- Marketing consultants
- Structural engineers
- Energy Conservation Consultants
And more is on the way, too! If you have questions about the Iowa Downtown Resource Center, contact downtown@iowalifechanging.com or call 515.242.4733
Resources for Sustainable Downtowns and Neighborhoods
|
