Johnson County is now a Certified Welcoming community! As of 2026, just 42 cities and counties across the entire United States are designated as Certified Welcoming, and only 11 of those entities are county governments.
In late February, Johnson County governments, nonprofit organizations, and other community partners who helped make this designation possible gathered in the Hy-Vee Center at Centennial Park in North Liberty to celebrate this important milestone. Greater Iowa City, Inc. is a proud supporter of this certification.
What is the Certified Welcoming Designation?
Certified Welcoming is an official designation from the organization Welcoming America, a nationwide nonprofit leading a movement of communities to become more prosperous by ensuring that everyone belongs. They have a special emphasis on immigrant residents and programs and policies servicing immigrant residents. Welcoming America also organizes the Welcoming Week initiative, which Greater IC and many additional community partners have participated in for over three years.
This distinct designation is for local governments that have created practices reflecting their values and commitment to immigrant inclusion. This innovative program assesses local governments on their efforts to include and welcome immigrants in all areas of civic, social, and economic life in their communities.
Belonging Begins with Us!
Over 20 local entities across Johnson County came together to make this certification a reality. These organizations collaborated closely to showcase their very extensive array of services available to the over 15,000 immigrant residents who live in Johnson County. Together, these groups and local governments showed that Johnson County excels in:
- Civic engagement
- Connected communities
- Economic development
- Education
- Equitable access
- Government and community leadership
This designation highlights the unique collaboration happening within Johnson County between governments and immigrant-serving groups and organizations. Welcoming America provides a vast library of resources that will be used to continually improve these local partnerships to better serve every resident within Johnson County.
To see a full library of photos from the celebration, visit the City of North Liberty Facebook page.
