February 25, 2019
David Swenson, associate scientist, contributed to The Gazette's Iowa Ideas column Feb. 24, 2019 with "Opportunities for rural Iowa an uphill battle for mid-sized cities."
"Furthermore, state policy has not meaningfully addressed the root economic and social factors undermining mid-sized city resilience. There is no formula that will boost the fortunes of our micropolitan places. But state policy that has a strong, central place revitalization focus with resources to match can begin to make a difference for Iowa’s mid-sized cities."