By Diane Van Wyngarden, Esther Crompton
AMES, Iowa – What does your town look like through the eyes of a first-time visitor? For Iowa’s small communities, the answer to this question could unlock new opportunities to grow tourism, attract new residents and enrich quality of life. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s First Impressions program is designed to uncover those insights—and the application deadline is fast approaching, with community applications due Jan. 31.
Inspired by a successful initiative in Michigan, First Impressions has been adapted for Iowa by Diane Van Wyngarden, extension’s state tourism specialist, and was piloted in 2024 with two communities, Corning and Maquoketa.
“This program helps communities see themselves through the eyes of first-time visitors,” said Van Wyngarden. “It offers practical strategies to highlight a community’s strengths, address challenges and formulate action steps that produce measurable results.”
The assessment process is tailored to communities and includes advanced research and in-person visits over multiple weeks by a trained assessment team. Assessment data is analyzed to form a comprehensive community report with actionable recommendations to enhance community vitality, elevate visitor experiences and improve overall quality of life. This report is shared with stakeholders and local residents during a public community forum.
Communities with a population of 10,000 and under are invited to apply, and five communities will be selected for the 2025 program year. Visit the First Impressions website for program information, the list of community responsibilities and program fees and the application form. For more information, contact Diane Van Wyngarden at dvw@iastate.edu.
