Please take advantage of this opportunity to share your thoughts and preferences about the future of Des Moines and Central Iowa.

A note from the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines:

Central Iowans are Invited to Share their Visions
Online Survey now Available

The public input opportunity has begun for Capital Crossroads: A Vision for Greater Des Moines & Central Iowa. The vision planning process is a comprehensive, inclusive and forward-seeking effort to build regional consensus on the future of Central Iowa. The project is being led by Tri-Chairs Angela Connolly, Polk County; J. Barry Griswell, Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines; and Cara Heiden, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.

The online survey is open and available to anyone living in a 50-mile radius of the Iowa State Capitol who has an interest in public and quality of life planning in their community.

The survey can be found by visiting http://www.capitalcrossroadsvision.com and clicking the "survey" link. Please share this information with your networks so we can engage a broad audience in giving input to the visioning initiative.

The survey includes questions and answers that explore the region's strengths and weaknesses and identify future opportunities and challenges. It also includes multiple open-ended questions where respondents may offer their ideas and hopes for what Central Iowa will look like in ten or twenty years. This survey will remain available to the public until December 10, 2010.

Responses gathered from the survey will contribute to the vision planning process and guide the Tri-Chairs and Steering Committee in discussions prioritizing regional needs. The planning process is expected to take approximately seven months. At the end of the months-long effort, Greater Des Moines and Central Iowa will have a consensus-based, achievable roadmap to guide the area's path to short and long-term economic growth. The formal plan will be released in May of 2011. Market Street Services, Inc., a community and economic development consulting firm, will facilitate the vision planning process.

Capital Crossroads is supported through resources from Bravo Greater Des Moines, Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, Greater Des Moines Partnership, Iowa State University, Prairie Meadows, and United Way of Central Iowa. The Community Foundation and Greater Des Moines Partnership are providing staff support to the process. For more information, please contact the Community Foundation at 515-883-2626.