Public Affairs graduate students in the School of Planning & Public Affairs partnered with the City of West Branch and other community stakeholders on a multifaceted initiative to optimize the community’s historic assets as a catalyst for economic vitality, tourism development, and enhanced quality of life for residents. 

West Branch—best known as the birthplace of President Herbert Hoover and home to a National Historic Site—possesses a wealth of cultural and historic resources. The project centered on developing deliverables to position historic preservation and the community's historical assets as integral components of West Branch’s long-range community development efforts. Students worked closely with city officials, Historic Preservation Commission members, and community organizations, to advance this vision through several components:

• Certified Local Government (CLG) Designation: Assisted the city in pursuing CLG status through the Iowa State Historic Preservation Office, enabling access to technical assistance and funding for preservation efforts.
• Historic Preservation Plan Update: Reviewed and updated West Branch’s existing historic preservation plan to align with current best practices and community priorities.
• Community Integration of the Hoover National Historic Site: Explored strategies to better connect the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and National Park Service site with downtown West Branch through a wayfinding plan.
• Comprehensive Plan Integration: Coordinated with parallel planning efforts to ensure historic preservation is integrated into the city’s long-range comprehensive plan update.

Deliverables included draft historic preservation plan updates, a wayfinding plan, materials for the CLG application, and a report. This project provided students with a robust foundation in historic preservation policy, intergovernmental collaboration, tourism planning, and community development—while supporting West Branch’s efforts to honor its past and shape a vibrant, inclusive future.