Envision East Central Iowa, a roadmap for economic development initiated by East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) for Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Washington counties, successfully trained its first cohort in the Strategic Doing method of group facilitation.
Regional leaders gathered at North Liberty City Hall Nov. 20 to 21 to participate in the training, described as “a discipline designed to guide collaboration, a practice that develops innovative partnerships across siloed organizations or teams,” a release stated. “It helps solve complex challenges by innovating and taking action quickly, moving towards measurable outcomes with 30-day action plans.”
Led by Kate Moreland of Kate Moreland Coaching and Consulting and Jennifer Horn Frazier of Bluebird Sky Solutions, the training equipped leaders with tools to build cross-sector partnerships, adopt a shared problem-solving framework, and enhance team development, meeting facilitation, and accountability structures.
These newly trained facilitators are expected to play a pivotal role in advancing the goals of Envision East Central Iowa, the region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).
“As we come together to address the complex issues in our community, Strategic Doing will be an effective tool to advance collaboration and break down barriers”, said Karey Chase, United Way of East Central Iowa vice president of Community Impact. “By bringing together diverse perspectives, Strategic Doing can generate innovative solutions to complex economic challenges,” emphasizing the method’s potential to harness diverse perspectives for innovative solutions.
Dennis Jordan, director of Customer, Community & Economic Development for Alliant Energy and an Envision pillar lead, echoed this sentiment.
“Strategic Doing is an excellent framework to establish regional collaboration and it will be the perfect tool for implementation of the Envision East Central Iowa comprehensive economic development plan that articulates an agreed future vision,” he said.
The training, funded by an Economic Development Administration (EDA) Technical Assistance grant secured by the East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG), also benefited from matching contributions from the Cedar Rapids Area Community Foundation, Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, Kirkwood Community College, Alliant Energy, and Greater Iowa City, Inc.
A second training cohort is planned for spring 2025, offering economic developers and community members a chance to learn this innovative collaboration tool.
“We are excited about this opportunity to mobilize local stakeholders across different sectors to achieve regional economic growth goals”, said ECICOG community development specialist, Jessica Walker. “Strategic Doing involves identifying key actions, quickly moving into implementation, and constantly adapting based on feedback and results, making it particularly suitable for complex regional ecosystems with multiple players involved.”
