In July of 2024, I attended an event hosted by the CBJ that featured a panel discussion on the topic of regionalism in the Cedar Rapids — Iowa City Corridor. The timing of this event happened to coincide with my newfound love for Iowa women’s basketball. My family was now making the pilgrimage to Carver-Hawkeye Arena seemingly every other week.
And those drives on I-380, it occurred to me that our Cedar Rapids — Iowa City Corridor stands at a defining moment. Our region’s strength has always been its diversity — of people, industries, and ideas — yet too often, communities within the Corridor still operate in silos. In terms of building an economic vision for the region, rather than reinventing the wheel, we should build on what already works. Education, health care, cultural vitality, and economic diversity have made Eastern Iowa one of the Midwest’s most livable and enviable regions. With a world-class university and medical center with accessible recreation, affordable housing, good governance and high-quality jobs, our foundation is strong.
However, there are cracks starting to appear.
Attacks from the Iowa Legislature — efforts that weaken local government, threaten academic freedom, and undermine the very institutions that define our regions — are real. Recent federal and state legislative actions targeting the University of Iowa’s research programs, diversity initiatives, and protections for free speech strike at the heart of what makes this Corridor successful. Our universities are more than classrooms; they are engines of innovation, inclusion and economic growth. To politicize or defund them is to jeopardize the very progress Iowa needs to compete in a global economy. When the state undermines its flagship university, it undermines the entire region and system — from the medical corridor to the local small colleges and businesses that depend on its graduates and discoveries, they all feel the pain.
Social and ideological crusades erode home rule, discourage collaboration, and send a fearful and damaging message: that the future of Iowa should be dictated from the halls of our government, not shaped by the people who live, work and invest here. These policies divide us at a time when we should be aligning our core strengths.
Industry leaders should know this, but they are too timid to speak. Initiatives that they have proudly championed and staked the integrity of their organizations on are now fading from focus.
And yet, the durability of this region continues to shine through. While as a state we were once lauded for our progressive politics, the rise of Iowa women’s basketball has captured national attention and put Iowa back on the map as a place where excellence, teamwork and inspiration thrive. Their success is emblematic of the larger story unfolding here — from our industries, music, and arts to the growing network trails, entertainment and cultural venues in the Corridor that draw audiences from across the Midwest. These cultural and business touchpoints aren’t distractions; they are engines of identity and pride, helping to brand Eastern Iowa as a region that celebrates talent, creativity and community.
To secure our future, we must think bigger and plan bolder. Regional placemaking — zoning, land use, and development that fills in the gaps between cities — can transform the Corridor into a unified, dynamic destination. By focusing on quality design, shared funding, and projects that draw residents and visitors alike, we can foster growth that benefits all communities, both urban and rural.
Our marketing should be equally visionary. From the University of Iowa’s medical corridor to the continued evolution of Coral Ridge Mall and the record-breaking growth of the Eastern Iowa Airport, we already have the anchors of a national brand. Just as the Mayo Clinic’s presence reshaped Rochester, University of Iowa Health Care can define our own regional identity as a hub of health, innovation and opportunity.
“Building on the Brand” is more than a slogan — it’s a regional strategy. By embracing shared assets, investing in innovation, and designing for quality of life between communities, Eastern Iowa can evolve from a corridor of cities into a corridor of ideas — connected, creative, and competitive. Even as state politics chip away at local authority, education, and expression, our region can lead by example — reminding all of us that collaboration, inclusion and innovation remain the most powerful drivers of progress.
Dale Todd Is entering his fifth term on the Cedar Rapids City Council. He is also the developer of affordable housing for Hatch Kiernan Development Group.
