Strengthening Johnson County’s long-term investment readiness and economic resilience
Greater Iowa City, Inc. (Greater IC) is excited to share that our region has been selected to participate in Heartland Forward’s new Center for Investment Readiness (CIR)—a major opportunity to deepen Johnson County’s economic momentum and prepare our community for the next decade of growth.
CIR focuses on helping heartland communities build stronger investment profiles, unlock capital, and accelerate growth. Greater IC’s participation in this cohort will continue annually through 2030 as Heartland Forward accelerates its growth toward the $500 million of increased economic growth in America’s heartland. Johnson County was chosen because of its demonstrated commitment to collaborative, place-based development, exemplified by the Greater IC Strategic Investment District programs and the community’s readiness to take on the next phase of data driven place-based economic development strategy.
A Countywide Opportunity
This is about strengthening Johnson County as a whole, including the Greater IC Strategic Investment Districts. CIR’s tools will help our community understand:
- Where capital is (and isn’t) flowing
- How our workforce, infrastructure, and quality of life indicators benchmark against similar regions
- What barriers exist for entrepreneurs and small businesses
- How public and private sector partners can align more effectively to support investment
The work ahead will help create clearer pathways for employers, entrepreneurs, investors, neighborhoods, and civic partners countywide.
Welcoming State & National Leadership
On January 22nd, Greater IC welcomed the Heartland Forward team to Johnson County for a day of connection, local insights, and conversations focused on expanding opportunity. We heard firsthand how public-private, place-based economic development partnerships like ours help unlock economic opportunity across the Heartland.
Special thanks to Iowa Economic Development Director Debi Durham and the Iowa Economic Development Authority for joining regional leaders over lunch to discuss what comes next. Their visit to the region and participation signals strong confidence in the direction our region is heading and reinforces the value of collaboration in shaping Johnson County’s economic future.
Why CIR Matters for Johnson County
- A stronger foundation for investment
CIR’s data and analysis will help Johnson County build a clear, evidence based picture of local economic conditions, all strengthening the case for public and private investment. - Better alignment among partners
By bringing together community leaders, state partners, and national experts, CIR helps ensure that our region is rowing in the same direction and making decisions informed by shared priorities. - Scalable strategies for long-term growth
CIR’s frameworks are designed to help communities replicate what works, giving Johnson County tools that can be applied across municipalities, sectors, and future projects.
Looking Ahead
Participation in the Center for Investment Readiness marks an important milestone for Johnson County. The next phase of the partnership kicks off with a 10-week series of dashboard learning sessions, where we will explore each data point and decision-making tool while providing real-time feedback as the Heartland Forward team continues to add new capabilities. Together, we’ll begin using the dashboard to identify key economic and community development opportunities—setting the stage for the rest of the year to focus on refining those priorities and turning insights into action.
Greater IC and our partners will collaborate with Heartland Forward to:
- Build a clearer picture of regional investment readiness
- Identify shared priorities for action
- Strengthen support for local businesses and entrepreneurs
- Create predictable, transparent pathways for future development
This is the start of a long-term effort, one grounded in collaboration, data, and a strong belief in the future of Johnson County.
