What is the Van Meter Community Development Corporation? 

In 2014 the Van Meter City Council recognized there was no local chamber of commerce or similar organization to help the businesses and community collaborate on promoting growth and improving the quality of life in our town.  As a result of this void in our community and since the local business community was so small City Council and local business owners decided to form a hybrid model of a chamber and invite everyone in the community to join including the school, other non-profits and individuals.  Thus the Van Meter Community Development Corporation was born. 

We are a 501c(3) non-profit organization with an executive board consisting of 7 members.  We currently have over 30 members who are made up of local individuals, businesses, and other non-profit groups in town.  Please note, we are not a part of the City of Van Meter, and we are not funded through any taxpayer money.

Over the years VMCDC has sponsored and/or been involved in numerous local initiatives and events:

•   Iowa Architectural Foundation Community Design Program – This program provides conceptual solutions to design-related problems using a transparent process that engages the community with design professionals.
•   Design, construction, and funding of the Way-Finding signage now located in front of 5th Quarter Bar & Grill
•   Iowa’s Living Roadways Community Visioning Program – This program provides small Iowa communities with the planning and design resources needed to make meaningful transportation improvements to the local landscape
•   Annual Sips & Snacks holiday business tours
•   Annual Light the Town Challenge
•   New business ribbon-cutting ceremonies
•   Assorted local sponsorships and event participation
•   Grant research and applications
•   Meetings with Van Meter City Council in relation to city projects.

As we strive towards our mission of community collaboration we have recently invited other community groups under the VMCDC umbrella.  The advantage to these organizations is that it allows them the ability to collaborate on their ideas and needs, use our resources and non-profit status to help maximize their efforts.  We believe that as more groups and individuals participate that we can create even more synergies in our communities where we can all accomplish more. 

We hope our meetings and this website provide a platform for everyone to be able to keep up with everything that is going on in our wonderful community.

Please Join Us:

Membership with VMCDC is free, and we do welcome guests at our meetings so please feel free to join us at any of our Quarterly meetings.