UNI Institute for Decision Making (IDM)

05/18/2026

Placemaking matters✨

The places people choose to live are shaped by quality of life, community energy, and opportunities to connect. IDM works with communities to explore how placemaking and talent strategies can support long-term growth and momentum.

What’s a placemaking project you’ve seen that made a community more attractive to residents, workers, or visitors? Drop an example in the comments!

05/14/2026

Last week, Liesl Seabert from IDM joined Sacha Wise and Deb Lucht in Perry for Leadership Iowa's Rural Vitality week and a panel focused on statewide rural resources.

It was a great conversation about the network of resources available to help Iowa communities grow and thrive. Thanks to Leadership Iowa for the opportunity to be part of the discussion!

05/11/2026

Last week, James Hoelscher, CEcD partnered with Carroll County Growth Partnership for a Business Retention & Expansion (BRE) training focused on supporting local businesses and strengthening long-term economic growth.

BRE work is all about building strong relationships with existing businesses and understanding what they need to succeed and grow. Workshops and trainings like this are one of the ways IDM works alongside organizations and community leaders to support local economic development efforts.

Thanks to Carroll County Growth Partnership for the opportunity to be part of this important conversation!

https://carrollspaper.com/news/specialist-business-retention-key-to-carroll-county-growth/article_c6870c5a-e229-494d-bc1b-8e5409a3f9fd.html

05/07/2026

This , we’re celebrating the people, partnerships, and projects helping communities move forward!

At IDM, we’re proud to support communities and organizations through planning, leadership development, facilitation, applied research, and technical assistance. And are especially grateful to work alongside leaders making a difference every day.

Congratulations to International Economic Development Council (IEDC) on 100 years of advancing economic development! Here's to 100 more 👏👏👏

04/14/2026

It’s Student Appreciation Week, and we’re grateful for the impact our student team members make every day!

A special shoutout to Norah, whose energy, professionalism, and willingness to jump in wherever needed make a difference across our work. From supporting events to contributing behind the scenes, she’s an important part of the IDM team.

Thank you, Norah - we appreciate you!

04/08/2026

We’re headed to Dubuque for the Iowa Rural Summit! 🚗

The IDM team will be exhibiting, and we’d love to connect - stop by our table and say hi!

Who’s going to be there?

03/26/2026

Great day at the Capitol for UNI Day on the Hill!

Thank you to the legislators who stopped by, as well as the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, for supporting UNI and the work happening across Business & Community Services.

📸 Featuring Norah, our student employee, alongside the Governor and BCS team members.

03/25/2026

We’re looking forward to hosting another Heartland Economic Development Course!! Let us know if you’ll be there or tag a colleague who should be in the room.

Time is running out to be part of the 2026 Heartland Economic Development Course—and this is your final window to join this year’s class.

If you’ve been thinking about it, now is the time.
Don’t miss four days of practical tools, real conversations, and connections that will stick with you long after the course ends.

📅 April 14–17
🔗 https://heartland.uni.edu/

👉 Register today—or tag someone who should be in the room with you.

03/23/2026

We’re headed to Des Moines tomorrow and Wednesday for the 2026 PDI & IACC Spring Training Conference!

The IDM team will be exhibiting, so be sure to stop by and say hello, we’d love to connect.

Who else will be there?

03/17/2026

At IDM, we work alongside communities and organizations across Iowa to turn ideas into action.

Through strategic planning, technical assistance, and applied research, we help groups move from big-picture thinking to real, measurable progress.

Here’s what that can look like:
✔ Clear priorities and actionable plans
✔ Stronger leadership and local capacity
✔ Momentum on projects that matter

Every community is different, but the goal is the same—helping you move forward with clarity and confidence.

💬 Thinking about what’s next for your community or organization? Message us to start the conversation.

03/10/2026

The National Rural Economic Developers Association just launched a new podcast series focused on rural economic development and we’re excited to share that our own Karla Organist is one of the guests on the very first episode! 🎧

It’s a great new resource featuring conversations with leaders and practitioners working to strengthen rural economies across the country. Be sure to check it out!

🎧 Introducing NREDA podcasts! 🎙 The 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 will be featuring thought-provoking discussions on rural economic development from those in the industry. This is a fantastic resource for economic development professionals, community leaders, and industry members ready to dive further into the rural world of economic development.

Each episode will explore the unique challenges and opportunities shaping rural economies. We bring you candid conversations with industry experts, NREDA members, and inspiring leaders who are driving real-world growth.

Whether you are a veteran of the profession or new to the field, the 𝗡𝗥𝗘𝗗𝗔 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 will equip you with the knowledge, tools, and inspiration to create immediate and lasting impact in your region.

NREDA podcasts will be recorded every other month beginning February 2026. Visit https://www.nreda.org/podcasts for On-Demand podcast recordings.