Hometown Pride promotes long-term cultural and economic vitality in Iowa’s small towns—strengthening each community and increasing its ability to not only survive, but thrive.

Hometown Pride, created in 2012, provides participating groups of towns with 5 years of funding toward the cost of a Hometown Pride “coach”. This coach, with training from Keep Iowa Beautiful, engages local leaders and volunteers to complete projects that address pressing needs for the community. In partnership with the Iowa Economic Development Authority, the program supports qualifying Iowa communities, coaches, and volunteers to create physical, cultural, and economic improvements in their town to increase community pride.

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Through the work of local volunteers and the support of our Hometown Pride “coaches”, our 118 Hometown Pride towns have completed more than 2,200 betterment projects, raised more than $18 million, and produced 260,000 volunteer hours (valued at $7.5 million).

How Hometown Pride Works

The Hometown Pride program works when everyone involved is committed to furthering the economic and cultural vitality of the county and its communities. The truth is, it does take a village. This partnership strategy is only successful when it is mutually supported, facilitated, and coordinated. Every decision, even determining which coach the Hometown Pride community will work with, is made locally.

When working with local government, local businesses, community members, volunteers and Keep Iowa Beautiful, Hometown Pride communities achieve more.

Once Implemented, the Community Will…

• Cultivate Local Leadership: Develop a new generation of leaders passionate about your town.
• Enhance Community Amenities: Create and improve local facilities, spaces and events that contribute to a vibrant and attractive community.
• Foster Civic Pride: Cultivate a sense of belonging and pride among residents.
• Boost Economic Vitality: Improved leadership, amenities and pride will make your community more attractive and supportive for businesses.
• Increase Cross-Sector Collaboration: Building partnerships between local government, non-profit organizations and businesses to implement change.

Step-By-Step Process

Once Hometown Pride communities join the program, they’ll take the following steps:

1. Local leaders work with Keep Iowa Beautiful to select a “coach.” Coaches provide the communities with expert advice and hands-on support to ensure the success of the program.
2. The coach works with community leaders to recruit volunteers to form a Hometown Pride committee.
3. The coach guides the committee through a process to identify potential community betterment projects and programs – seeking local input and analyzing community plans and ongoing initiatives. Once priority projects are identified, the coach works with the committee to create an action plan with goals and a timeline.
4. Committee members take on duties to meet project milestones, and the coach supports them every step of the way for 5 years.
5. Coaches report program activities monthly to Keep Iowa Beautiful and attend technical assistance calls with all coaches to share best practices and project ideas. 
6. The 5-year partnership is reviewed annually to ensure both parties are meeting program goals.

Hometown Pride Coaching

Participating communities receive five years of professional coaching assistance. Our trained Hometown Pride coaches work to deliver a sense of stability and empowerment, by providing “on the job” leadership training and guidance to local volunteers. Coaches provide Hometown Pride committees with on-going advice and assistance for: recruiting and empowering volunteers, creating action plans, identifying opportunities for community betterment, completing projects, fundraising and grant-writing. Keep Iowa Beautiful provides onboarding and on-going support for the coach.

What Hometown Pride Committees Do

Hometown Pride committees complete a wide variety of community improvement projects, programs and events, such as: new park amenities, clean-up events, public art, festivals, fundraising, leadership programs, trails, welcome signs, memorials, beautification, and more. The work program for each Hometown Pride committee is personalized to their community, based on its unique strengths and needs.

Our Successes

Hometown Pride Flyer

(download/print)

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To learn more about this vital program, contact Keep Iowa Beautiful.