Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017

CAPITAL CROSSROADS 2.0 LAUNCHED

Regional vision plan to guide Central Iowa for the next five years

GREATER DES MOINES, IOWA – Organizers launched Capital Crossroads 2.0, the next five-year regional vision plan for Central Iowa, on Wednesday during an event at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. The first iteration of the plan celebrated more than 400 measurable successes in our region because of the work of our local jurisdictions and the leadership of nearly 700 volunteers. Capital Crossroads 2.0 was formed with the input of more than 3,000 residents and dozens of community partner organizations. Capital Crossroads 2.0 was funded by the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Greater Des Moines Partnership, Prairie Meadows, and the United Way of Central Iowa.

Capital Crossroads is led by tri-chairs Angela Connolly, Polk County Supervisor; Kristi Knous, President of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines; and Jay Byers, CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership. The tri-chairs applauded the success of the last five years, which has been called “the most aggressive and comprehensive regional effort” in the 20-year history of consultant Market Street Services. The tri-chairs called business leaders and regional stakeholders to again join together to help implement Capital Crossroads 2.0.

“The first Capital Crossroads plan helped provide our region with a strategic vision that our community partners and local jurisdictions have been implementing for the last five years. We can collectively applaud hundreds of successes, including the launch of the Cultivation Corridor, expansion of our regional trail network, and completion of the Principal Riverwalk,” said Connolly. “Our efforts have been and will continue to be focused on working across silos to maximize collaboration and impact.”

Capital Crossroads 2.0 will again have ten Capitals, or areas of work, including Business Capital, Capital Core, the Cultivation Corridor, Cultural Capital, Governance Capital, Human Capital, Natural Capital, Physical Capital, Social Capital, and Wellness Capital.

“The completion of Capital Crossroads 1.0 and the launch of 2.0 is only possible because of the community partners that have stepped up to lead this and the volunteer support that has pushed us forward,” said Knous. “In devising the Capital Crossroads 2.0 strategy, we have intentionally woven inclusion, diversity, equity, and civility throughout all ten capitals.”

Byers noted that there are five overarching cross-Capital themes that will require strong leadership and collaboration: housing, mental health, transit, water, and workforce. He also pointed to possible infrastructure and quality of life projects such as advancing the Des Moines International Airport terminal project, activating the Des Moines River for downtown recreation activity through dam mitigation, advancing regional parks plans, and more.

“Our collaboration and strategic focus will be important as we work to push our region to new heights,” Byers said. “We came a long way as a community during the first iteration of Capital Crossroads, and now we have the opportunity to maximize that momentum.”

To view the full Capital Crossroads 2.0 plan, click here. To view an executive summary, click here.

About Capital Crossroads

Capital Crossroads is a bold but achievable vision pushing Central Iowans to dream big, not settle for good enough, think long term, and work together. Capital Crossroads brings together nearly 700 community volunteers to meet the challenges of the future while building on our past successes. It is in partnership with the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Greater Des Moines Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Greater Des Moines Partnership, Prairie Meadows, and the United Way of Central Iowa.