UNI Institute for Decision Making (IDM)

06/15/2026

Congratulations to the City of Rock Valley on the completion of its city park renovation project! 🎉

Community projects like this don't happen overnight. They start with a vision, a plan, and a lot of hard work along the way. It's inspiring to see years of effort, collaboration, and investment come together in a project that will benefit residents for generations.

Well done to everyone involved in making this vision a reality!

After several years of planning, construction and one historic flood, the city of Rock Valley celebrated the completion of its city park renovation with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday.

06/11/2026

The IDM team is headed to Brooklyn next week for the Governor's Empower Rural Iowa Initiative & Iowa Rural Development Council combined meeting!

We look forward to connecting with community leaders, economic developers, elected officials, and partners from across the state who are passionate about strengthening rural Iowa.

Drop a 👋 in the comments if you'll be joining us!

06/04/2026

Join us in wishing a very happy birthday to James Hoelscher! 🎉

As IDM’s Associate Director, James brings expertise, leadership, and a passion for helping communities and organizations move from ideas to action. We’re grateful for all he does for our team, our clients, and communities across Iowa.

Happy Birthday, James! We hope you have a fantastic day.

06/02/2026

Communities don't become stronger by accident, they become stronger when people come together around a shared vision and take action.

That's where IDM comes in.

Here are 5 ways we support communities across Iowa:

📍 Strategic Planning
📊 Applied Research
🤝 Organizational Development
🌱 Leadership Development
🌎 Statewide Partnerships

From local projects to statewide initiatives, we're proud to work alongside communities, organizations, and leaders across Iowa to help build a better Iowa.

What is one challenge or opportunity your community is focusing on right now? We'd love to hear about it in the comments.

06/01/2026

Last week, the Institute for Decision Making team spent the afternoon in Baxter facilitating a discussion and training session with community leaders and partner organizations.

As part of Baxter's Comprehensive Plan process, representatives from the City, Economic Development Corporation, Chamber of Commerce, Hometown Pride committee, and regional partners came together to talk about the community's future and how they can work together to make an even greater impact.

Great things happen when communities bring people to the table, share ideas, and work toward a common vision. We enjoyed the opportunity to support these conversations and help local leaders identify ways to strengthen collaboration and move priorities forward.

Thank you to everyone who participated and for your commitment to Baxter's future!

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!