Audience Questions from the Muscatine Community Summit

Below are audience questions from the Muscatine Community Summit on December 10, 2025, hosted by Collaborate Muscatine. Responses were contributed by members of Collaborate Muscatine. A recording of the event is available here. Muscatine Ambassador t-shirts are available for purchase here.

How do you pick what gets lifted and who presents at these meetings? 

• The Collaborate Muscatine Summit is tailored annually to communicate progress of aligned community priority goals and to provide visibility of the great things happening in Muscatine.  Presenters are selected from Collaborate Muscatine membership, based on associated specialties.

How do other people get involved?

• We encourage everyone to follow the Collaborate Muscatine Facebook and newsletters for communications on engagement opportunities to increase your role serving as Muscatine Ambassadors! Or join, area committees or Boards as they become available. And, don’t forget to follow and engage in United Way’s volunteer portal. 

Another idea is to have a water taxi taking visitors to the island!!! Amazing tourist attraction! 

• Thanks for the suggestion! We are excited for what Community Foundation ownership of Towhead Island will mean for our community and our area children through activities, conservation, and education. Stay tuned and watch for updates on how to get involved as planning unfolds.

Do our local businesses have childcare within their buildings? Kent, HNI, Musco? 

• Short answer: No.

• Longer answer: While none of these businesses currently offer onsite childcare, several local employers are actively engaged in community childcare efforts through the local childcare coalition. In the past, HNI received a State of Iowa grant to support childcare, and Stanley Consultants provides scholarships for childcare workers pursuing Child Development coursework at Muscatine Community College.

• Currently, the childcare coalition is working to determine the true cost of increasing both the quality and availability of childcare in Muscatine County. Once these costs are identified, the coalition will determine next steps in partnership with Iowa HHS childcare initiatives. Coalition members include representatives from HNI, Kent, Muscatine Community School District, childcare centers, in-home childcare providers, UnityPoint Trinity Public Health, and Child Care Resource & Referral.

For first time home buyers in Muscatine, what efforts are being made to lower that barrier of entry in grants, assistance, or cost for them?

• The City of Muscatine offers multiple down payment assistance programs to help first-time homebuyers. These include a $2,500 Down Payment Assistance Grant and the “Thrive, Don’t Drive” grant, which provides up to $20,000 in assistance. Additional details are available on the City’s website.

• Through the HNI land donation on University Avenue, the City is working with the developer to ensure the value of the donated land is passed on to homebuyers in the form of reduced purchase prices. While this type of incentive is new for the City, staff are actively evaluating how best to incorporate it into the final development agreement.

• The City is also reviewing options to reduce or repurpose City-owned parcels with dilapidated structures and is exploring ways to incentivize homeownership through development agreements. These agreements may include reduced lot prices when homes are constructed within a specified timeframe.

• Additionally, the City is seeking developers willing to explore mid-range housing options, such as slab-on-grade homes, to help lower construction costs. Staff are also evaluating opportunities for infrastructure cost-sharing to further reduce the overall cost of homeownership.

How can we continue to pursue making Muscatine more green.

• Muscatine has been on a path toward becoming more sustainable for many years, with efforts spanning city operations, utilities, and the business community. The Muscatine Solid Waste Division continues to explore opportunities to expand recycling programs and reduce the amount of material sent to the landfill, including evaluating a potential slow-speed shredder to increase compaction and extend the landfill’s lifespan. At the same time, the Muscatine Waste & Resource Recovery Facility uses a Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) program to convert these materials into renewable energy, while the Muscatine Organic Recycling Center (MORC) converts food waste into energy through a similar process.

• The City also integrates green initiatives into infrastructure projects and daily operations, with protecting water quality remaining a priority, which is evident in the multi-phase sewer separation project nearing completion. Muscatine Power & Water (MPW) has reduced carbon emissions by over 65% and continues to expand renewable energy capacity, with an Energy Services Advisor available to help residents and businesses identify efficiency improvements and access rebates.

• Local employers also play a major role in sustainability. Every major corporate resident has a sustainability program, many with ambitious environmental goals. For example, HNI has invested in renewable energy, reduced Scope 1 and 2 emissions, and minimized landfill impacts. Together, these efforts demonstrate Muscatine’s ongoing commitment to becoming greener and more sustainable.

Is the decreasing birth rate something that is inevitable or is the school actively trying to increase attendance by drawing from other school districts in terms of attractiveness to live here in Muscatine?

• Declining birth rates are a broader demographic trend that is affecting school districts across Iowa and the Midwest, and Muscatine is not unique in that regard. While we cannot directly control birth rates, we are very intentional about making our district a strong choice for families. We work closely with the city and community partners to ensure Muscatine remains an attractive place to live, and we focus on offering high-quality academic programs, extracurricular opportunities, and student supports that can retain current families and attract new ones. Our goal is not to compete with neighboring districts, but to ensure that families who choose Muscatine feel confident they are choosing a district that meets their children’s needs.

Is there a link of any of the presentations? 

• View the presentation slides here.

Will there be a quarterly or mid-year update shared? 

• Yes, be on the lookout for a quarterly e-newsletter update from Collaborate Muscatine.

I think there could be stronger communication about events in Muscatine. For example, utilizing Facebook, newspapers, city of Muscatine website, chamber newsletter, etc. The Instagram account would be a fantastic way to be informed too. 

• The muscatine.com/events calendar is a go-to resource for staying connected to what’s happening in our community and a valuable platform for individuals, businesses, and organizations to promote their own events. While traditional print options have become more limited, new locally owned and operated radio stations provide an opportunity to amplify community happenings alongside various social media pages (Visit Muscatine, Chamber, City, etc.). In addition, A Muscatine Moment, the local talk show airing on MPW TV, YouTube, and social media, offers another engaging way to spotlight stories and events.