Northeast Iowa RC&D is working with partners from across the state to assist in creating, supporting and sustaining an effort to unite the vast array of cultural assets in multi-county regions of Iowa during 2016 and 2017. A state-wide planning consortium of Iowa’s RC&D’s, the University of Iowa, and the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs was developed to bring support and assistance to Iowa’s rural communities. This effort is bringing historical societies and sites, artists, and cultural groups together to examine the potential for the region and develop and implement a plan to build the capacity of and enhance history, art, and culture regionally.