2017 Spencer Comprehensive Land Use Plan

Spencer, Iowa  2017  Comprehensive Plan

Spencer Main Street Spencer Main Street Company was founded in 1987. Spencer Main Street’s approach to downtown revitalization emphasizes four points: 1) Promotion, 2) Design, 3) Business Improvement and 4) Organization. The Main Street’s philosophy also has eight principals of success. These include a comprehensive program, an incremental process, the program is self-help, public and private partnerships, capitalizing upon existing assets, a quality program, not quantity, changing attitudes and a planned implementation process.

Arts on Grand Celebrating 25 years of promoting and furthering the arts and culture in Spencer, Arts on Grand is a non-profit organization and art gallery whose purpose and vision is “Enriching life in Northwest Iowa through arts.” Arts on Grand is in one of Spencer’s beautiful art deco era downtown buildings at 408 North Grand Avenue.

Spencer Alliance for a Creative Economy (SPACE) The Spencer Alliance for a Creative Economy was created to nurture Spencer’s growing creative community by expanding professional opportunities for artists and creative entrepreneurs. Furthermore, the SPACE organization reinforces and promotes other creative organizations in Spencer.

Spencer Blue Zones Spencer became the first certified community in the State of Iowa in 2012. Spencer was one of only four (4) cities chosen in the state out of 84 applications in the first round. This community is leading the way towards creating change for a healthier community and state. By

2013, Spencer became the first city in the state to meet all its goals for achieving certification as a Blue Zones Community. The Blue Zones project originally began in 2004 when the founder of Blue Zones, Dan Buettner teamed up with National Geographic to discover places around the world where people live longer lives, regularly past the age of 100. After his studies, Mr. Buettner wrote his book, The Blue Zones. The City of Spencer is part of the Iowa Blue Zones initiative which was started by Governor Terry Branstad in 2011. The basic premise behind the Blue Zones initiative is to create communities in which people live longer and better quality lives. The City of Spencer’s efforts to create a Blue Zones community include cutting healthcare costs, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting healthier lifestyles through food choices and physical activities.

Iowa Great Places Furthering Spencer’s efforts to create and stimulate the artistic

and cultural amenities of the community, Spencer applied for and in 2008 was one of the first four cities in the State to be named an “Iowa Great Place” community. Through the Iowa Great Places program, the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs challenges Iowa communities to recognize and invest in what makes their community a truly great place to live. To date, projects in Spencer

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NW Iowa Planning & Development