No, we aren’t talking about the impact Central Lyon High School graduates Zach Lutmer and Reece Vander Zee are having on the start of the University of Iowa football season, even though we are enjoying it.

The institution in Iowa City sent and will send students as far as they can go within the state to collaborate with a few Lyon County communities.

The Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities is an engagement initiative that provides a hands-on learning experience for graduate and upper-level undergraduate students while also benefiting the communities they partner with.

Each year, the initiative calls for proposals, and Lyon County answered thanks to $50,000 in funding from the Lyon County Riverboat Foundation. That’s some great vision by the foundation and the county to see a need to improve their communities while also providing a vital experience for the students.

One of the projects is spearheaded by Inwood mayor Becca Bixler. She answered questions about developing phase two of a subdivision plan in the town.

Bixler and Lyon County Conservation director Justin Smith worked with students on developing a connected trail system from Lake Pahoja to Inwood and the nearby West Lyon School District.

Larchwood mayor Ken Kerkvliet has been getting ready for the construction of a new community center in his town, but the question is what to do with the former center on Broadway Street. He met with University of Iowa students to come up with ideas on whether the building can be salvaged and, if so, what it could become.

The Hawkeye students were also tasked with designing accessible and low-maintenance homes for senior living in Lester, and some met with George City Council member Joe Anderson to help with Skunk Creek flood mitigation and stormwater management.

We look forward to hearing about what solutions the students have for each project. All of these projects will cost money, but it’s exciting to see several community leaders gung-ho about these projects. We hope they all come to fruition.

Plus, it is great for these students to see the opportunities N’West Iowa has to offer, and hopefully, some of them will start their careers here.