Make it an Epic Summer and Help Prepare DSM for the Future

As the weather has really been warming up, our region’s momentum has matched it. Key economic indicators such as population growth and real gross domestic product growth point to a healthy region, and Greater Des Moines (DSM) continues to place highly on rankings showing it is a great place to live and work.

Capital Crossroads Update

This momentum is no accident. In fact, it is completely intentional. Throughout the last 30 years the community has compiled and implemented several community vision plans, the most recent of which has been Capital Crossroads and the updated Capital Crossroads 2.0. Over the past 10 years, the Capital Crossroads regional vision plan has set the stage for successes including the Iowa Confluence (ICON) Water Trails, the Cultivation Corridor, the Regional Cultural Assessment, the Central Iowa Code Consortium, the Here We Grow workforce housing initiative, the DSM USA 4 Equity Collective, Make it OK in Iowa and more.

These successes continue to transform our community. And they happen because the community makes them happen. We work collaboratively, as public, private and nonprofit partners, and as one region, to take the vision and make it a reality.

Capital Crossroads recently announced the consulting team to help develop the next iteration of the regional vision plan. The selected team consists of local, regional and national experts who value equity, foresight and creativity. The consultant team will be led by Rebecca Ryan, APF of Madison-based NEXT Generation Consulting in partnership with EQT By Design, Group Creatives and Green Heron Planning, LLC. The consulting team will work with a broad range of community representatives on this planning process. Watch for more information about feedback opportunities in coming weeks.

Working with regional partners to develop the next iteration of Capital Crossroads is a Strategic Priority for The Partnership in 2022, and will drive our community forward in the next five years.

Increasing Downtown DSM Foot Traffic

Another of The Partnership’s Strategic Priorities for 2022 is to continue to enhance the vibrancy of Downtown and increase foot traffic. This summer, there is so much going on across our region and in our region’s core, Downtown DSM.

Leaders throughout the DSM community have long identified that a successful Downtown DSM bolsters success in the entire region. Downtown is everyone’s Downtown.

Right now, Downtown is full of activity. The Downtown Farmers’ Market presented by UnityPoint Health – Des Moines brings tens of thousands of people to the Historic Court District each Saturday morning. Each Wednesday, food trucks line the Downtown streets during lunchtime for Out to Lunch, providing an opportunity for Downtown workers and residents to socialize, eat delicious food and listen to live music.

Already we have celebrated major events and festivals including EMC Dam to DSM, IRONMAN Des Moines, CelebrAsian and more. Coming up, we have the Dew Tour at Lauridsen Skatepark, Yankee Doodle Pops, the Des Moines Arts Festival® and the 80/35 Music Festival. This is in addition to the many attractions that Downtown DSM offers on a regular basis including Iowa Cubs games, concerts at Wells Fargo Arena, shows at the Des Moines Civic Center and much more.

To help encourage people to come experience Downtown, The Partnership has hosted a number of pop-up surprise-and-delight activations. These activations create a fear of missing out, or “FOMO,” and encourage residents and visitors to explore Downtown and support local while doing so. The next activation is Downtown DSM Tweet Week from July 9 – 16, where local artists will hide handcrafted ceramic birds in various locations Downtown for residents and visitors to explore.

We encourage you to make it an epic summer by taking part in everything our community has to offer and helping prepare for the future of DSM.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the economic and community development organization that serves Greater Des Moines (DSM), Iowa. Together with 24 Affiliate Chambers of Commerce, more than 6,500 Regional Business Members and more than 365 Investors, The Partnership drives economic growth with one voice, one mission and as one region. Through innovation, strategic planning and global collaboration, The Partnership grows opportunity, helps create jobs and promotes DSM as the best place to build a business, a career and a future. Learn more at DSMpartnership.com.