As part of the ICIGO student organization within the School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability, students will develop maps of existing utility infrastructure in the cities of Doon and Alvord using Geographic Information System (GIS) tools. 

The project will create a record of key utilities to support local infrastructure management, maintenance, planning, and future community development. The project may include mapping water, sanitary sewer, stormwater, and other available utility infrastructure. 

As part of the ICIGO student organization within the School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability, students will partner with Lyon County to develop a GIS-based inventory and map of existing trails throughout the county and analyze opportunities to expand the trail network. 

Students enrolled in a Graphic Design course will partner with the City of Granger to develop an economic development website that promotes the community to prospective businesses, developers, entrepreneurs, and investors. 

Through strategic visual communication and user-centered design, students will create concepts that help communicate Granger's economic development opportunities while making information more accessible to businesses considering investment in the community.

Students studying public art practice in the School of Art & Art History will create a series of site-specific art installations along an existing community trail in George, Iowa. 

University of Iowa alumni and artist Emily Edwards will partner with the City of Granger to design and install a mural on an exterior wall of the community center in Granger, Iowa.

As part of the ICIGO student organization within the School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability, students conducted a land value mapping study.

ICIGO students utilized 2025 assessor data and GIS to visualize the assessed value of land in West Branch, normalized by determining the value of the each parcel by one acre. The resulting map provides a snapshot of relative value by land use, which can inform local officials about future land use decisions. 

University of Iowa MFA alumni Philip Rabalais partnered with the City of West Branch and IISC to create a short film sharing the history of West Branch. Olivia (Ollie) Naber, an English and Creative Writing Major at Iowa, served as the film's narrator. Ollie's hometown is West Branch.

Undergraduate students in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication partnered with Main Street West Branch to support downtown businesses with strategic communications strategy and campaigns.

Authors: Andrea Arce, Mackenzie Fenwick, Tyler Horn, Anna Jermano, Sydney Libert, Jordan Luebchow, Kiersten Mann, Alexandra Mielke, Natalie Miller, Claire O’Donnell, Ella Ostermann, Sophie Reed, Elizabeth Smith, Josh Studer, Jasmyn Tran, Olivia Vald, Sydney Walters, Camryn Ward, Koby West, Grace Westergaard

University of Iowa graduate students in Professor Eric Gidal's ENGL 6765: Bioregionalism in History, Theory, and Practice course explored traditions of bioregionalism in geography, civics, literature, culture, and the arts to create seven proposals for future community engagement in West Branch and the Lower Cedar Watershed. 

As part of the ICIGO student organization within the School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability, students conducted an on-site tree study and created a GIS-based digital inventory tool for city-owned trees in West Branch, Iowa.

Undergraduate students in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication partnered with the City of West Branch to work on a social media plan and corresponding public engagement strategy.

Visiting Assistant Professor in the School of Art & Art History Ali Hval engaged the Burlington community to activate a prominent downtown alleyway with public art.