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Capital Crossroads Highlights Successes At 1st Quarterly Meeting Of 2015

January 30, 2015

The Capital Crossroads tri-chairs and co-chairs of the ten Capital committees held their first quarterly meeting of the year on Jan. 22. Capital Crossroads is a regional vision plan this is now in the third year of its five-year implementation. The plan’s supporting organizations include the Greater Des Moines Partnership, Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, United Way of Central Iowa, Bravo Greater Des Moines, The Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, Iowa State University, and Prairie Meadows.

Kristi Knous, President of the Community Foundation, has joined the Steering Committee as a tri-chair, replacing Cara Heiden, the retired Co-President of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. Knous joins tri-chairs Jay Byers and Angela Connolly. At the Jan. 22 meeting, the room full of business and community leaders discussed recent successes and future priorities.

“The Capital Crossroads implementation continues to make significant progress thanks to the willingness of stakeholders and volunteers to work together,” Connolly said. “We have accomplished a lot, but we still have much to do in the final two years of the plan’s implementation.”

Each of the 10 Capitals can claim recent accomplishments. These accomplishments do not happen by accident, but rather through strategic visioning and hard work. Some of the highlights include: 

  • The Partnership launched the GetActive Workplace Wellness Toolkit for small businesses. The toolkit includes plug-and-play tips that a small business can share with its staff.
  • In Downtown Des Moines (DSM), valuations for completed commercial to residential conversion projects increased from $4.65 million in 2006 to over $65 million in 2014.
  • The Walnut Creek Water Management Authority (WMA) received a $123,150 grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to develop a comprehensive watershed management plan. The Mud, Camp, And Spring Creek WMA received a $78,850 grant to do the same.
  • The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Great Places program selected the Sixth Avenue Corridor in DSM and the Raccoon River Valley Trail in Waukee as new Great Places, helping these areas become more culturally vibrant. 
  • The Community Connect program transitioned to a permanent home at the  Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute, and the Regional Leadership Council hosted the first Converge event that convened current members and alumni of area leadership programs.
  • The Iowa Civility Project launched the Show Some Respect campaign, aimed at improving respect and civility in our community.

To see the full committee reports, click here. To stay up to date with the latest news, sign up for the recently launched Capital Crossroads Newsletter.

Capital Crossroads is a bold but achievable vision pushing Central Iowans to dream big, not settle for good enough, think long term, and work together. Learn more at CapitalCrossroadsVision.com.

Media inquiries should be directed to Bethany Wilcoxon, Strategic Coordinator of Capital Crossroads, at (515) 286-4964 or by email at bwilcoxon@DSMpartnership.com.

About the Greater Des Moines Partnership 

The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the economic and community development organization that serves Greater Des Moines (DSM), Iowa. Together with 23 Affiliate Chambers of Commerce, more than 6,100 Regional Business Members and more than 320 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.