Partnerships
The Central Midwest CO-Learn team collaborates with many partners across the region, including non-profits, other university-based centers, and state and federal climate service providers. Listed below are many of the organizations that we have partnered with and who provide resources for residents in our region.
Federal Partnerships
Regional Climate Centers – Description
Climate Adaptation Science Center – Description
USDA Climate Hub – Description
Regional Collaboration Network – Description
National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) – Provides regional Drought Early Warning Systems (DEWS) for the Missouri River Basin and Midwest
State Partnerships
Regional Partnerships
Heartland Environmental Justice Center – Funded as an EJTCTAC
The Heartland EJ Center is a first-stop resource for communities seeking help with pressing environmental justice and energy equity challenges. We offer no cost, customized support to strengthen communities’ ability to identify challenges, plan and implement solutions, and work towards achieving their community goals.
- Grant development – help with navigating grant opportunities and preparing to apply.
- Education & Outreach – Host a virtual or in-person training for your team on various EJ project planning topics.
- Project Planning & Budget Development – Host a virtual or in-person needs assessment for your community and build a project budget with you.
- Technical Expertise – Support with government processes, navigating federal systems like Grants.gov, SAM.gov, etc.
- Networking & Coalition Building – Connect you with environmental organizations across the region.
Providing reliable tools and science-based information to help Iowans understand and reduce their flood risks
The Iowa Flood Center is part of the University of Iowa College of Engineering and is the nation’s only academic research center devoted solely to flooding. The IFC develops innovative tools and reliable information that decision-makers, emergency responders, community leaders, home and business owners, educators, and the public depend on to help them understand and reduce their flood risks and make better flood-related decisions. The center’s work is accessible to everyone through the online Iowa Flood Information System which communicates real-time information about stream levels, flood alerts and forecasts, and hydrologic conditions for the entire state.
The Iowa Watershed Approach (IWA) is a vision for Iowa’s future that voluntarily engages stakeholders throughout the watershed to achieve common goals, while moving toward a more resilient state. It is a replicable model for other communities where the landscape has lost its natural resilience to floods. This program is not only about Iowans helping Iowans, but also about demonstrating Iowans’ commitment to agricultural stewardship, to the environment, to their neighbors, and to the future.
The goals of the IWA include the following:
- Reduction of flood risk
- Improvement in water quality
- Increased resilience
- Engagement of stakeholders through collaboration, outreach, and education
- Improved quality of life and health for Iowans
- Development of a replicable program