The cities of West Burlington and Burlington have been selected as partners by the University of Iowa’s Initiative for Sustainable Communities (IISC) program. During the 2024-25 academic year, IISC will bring more than 100 faculty and students to collaborate with city officials on projects that include engineering designs and policy recommendations. 

The two cities applied jointly to the competitively selected program. According to Travis Kraus, IISC’s director, they provided multiple structural projects that are a good fit for UI courses. 

“One of the goals in the university’s strategic plan is to expand our impact on local and regional communities, and IISC is thrilled to have West Burlington and Burlington as community partners,” said Kraus, who also works as an Associate Professor in the University of Iowa’s School of Planning and Public Affairs. “They provided us with projects that will challenge our students, including trail designs and an arts and culture master plan, while adding to the quality of life for local residents.”

Gregg Mandsager, City Administrator, West Burlington, has worked with IISC before and is enthusiastic about the opportunity for his city to collaborate with students and professors. He says of the projects slated for the partnership, which runs from August 2024 to May 2025, “Those projects that have a direct impact and improve the built environment and quality of life for our residents are particularly exciting and meaningful for me."

A prairie restoration will be the first visible work completed in West Burlington. Students enrolled in an Earth and Environmental Sciences class will work with the city’s facilities staff to identify a suitable site for a small-sized prairie and the best selection of native plants. They will do the planting in mid-fall and provide the city with a maintenance plan. 

Graduate students in Public Affairs will analyze the potential for West Burlington and Burlington to share or merge governmental services, such as law enforcement and fire, public works, city administration, maintenance, engineering, and vehicle maintenance. By spring, the team will provide a cost-benefit analyses and a report of researched recommendations.  

Chad Bird, City Manager of Burlington, says, “I am excited about exploring inter-jurisdictional collaborations and service sharing opportunities with West Burlington. These projects have the potential to make a significant difference, and I'm eager to see them come to fruition."

As projects are announced, they will be posted on the West Burlington/Burlington page on IISC's website.