University of Northern Iowa
PAE-19: Community Sustainability Partnerships

UNI has many partnerships with the community of Cedar Falls and other communities across Iowa and the Midwest. The University of Northern Iowa has been a leader in strengthening the local food economy in Iowa communities. We do our work through the Northern Iowa Food & Farm Partnership—a regional working group of food and farm businesses, restaurant and grocery owners, food service staff, and farmers’ market managers to develop a local and regional food system that positively impacts local farmers, consumers and businesses through education, collaboration, and economic development. Sustainable Hometown Initiatives How can we make a living in our towns and cities without compromising the earth’s capacity for self-renewal, without causing damage in Iowa and elsewhere? CEEE staff and students work with diverse community leaders, local governments, utilities and non-profit organizations to develop and implement policies and practices at the community-scale that reduce a community’s ecological footprint while improving soil, water, and air quality locally and elsewhere.