DES MOINES – The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) and Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) announced their newly designated 2025 Iowa Thriving Communities, and Mason City made the coveted list.
“Housing is the foundation of upward economic opportunity, and when all Iowans have access to affordable homes, families, communities, and businesses can truly thrive,” said IEDA|IFA Director Debi Durham. “Iowa Thriving Communities have stepped up as leaders in embracing housing for all income levels, and I extend my congratulations to our newly designated communities.”
Addressing the housing needs of our thriving economy requires a strategic, proactive, and innovative approach. Iowa communities, local partners, and employers must work together to ensure that all Iowans can afford to live in the communities where they work.
To highlight and encourage these efforts, IFA and IEDA launched the second annual Iowa Thriving Communities designation. This initiative recognizes communities that are going above and beyond, using innovative strategies to attract housing opportunities for their workforce.
“We are thrilled to receive the Iowa Thriving Community designation,” said Mason City Mayor Bill Schickel. “This recognition not only affirms our commitment to providing housing for our workforce but also energizes our ongoing efforts to build a brighter future for all residents.”
“With this designation, we can continue to create a vibrant, inclusive community where everyone has the opportunity to prosper.”
These communities demonstrated their commitment and innovation in welcoming housing for all income levels through a rigorous application process. By showcasing best practices in attracting housing development, they aim to serve as models for both state and national efforts. In addition to the recognition, the designation comes with valuable scoring points for the Federal Housing Tax Credit and Workforce Housing Tax Credit programs, effective through 2025 for each community.
The communities of Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Mason City, Newton and Waterloo have received designations.
In addition, the following 2024 Iowa Thriving Communities were granted extensions to encourage additional development: Charles City, Creston, Knoxville, Manning, Muscatine, Stanton and West Des Moines.