A group that’s working to spruce up communities across the state is holding its annual conference today in Webster City. Keep Iowa Beautiful executive director Gerry Schnepf says there’s a good reason why the Hamilton County town was selected as the host city. “Webster City is a good example of a place that has changed and adopted and it’s a good model for other communities,” Schnepf says.
Around 100 people attending the conference at the Webster City Community Theater are hearing from speakers on a wide range of topics. Schnepf says those topics include ways to spruce up communities with tree plantings or art projects, and involving young people through “service learning” projects. Many of the conference attendees arrived in Webster City on Tuesday to help clean up the Boone River Recreational Trail.
The featured speaker for the conference is Jim Dittoe, founder of Winning Communities based in Indianapolis. His keynote speech is titled “Community Development IS Economic Development.”
(Reporting by Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City)