Everywhere you look, Iowans are uniting like never before. While times may be tough right now, we’re seeing it won’t stop the great people in the state from supporting one another. Many have taken to social media to help those in their communities, share helpful resources or to simply highlight something positive to bring joy to others. The Week in Social will round up the best of #IowansUnite and share these uplifting stories.
Today, we joined @ridedart for the unveiling of the first electric, zero-emission bus in the state. We are proud to partner with DART to bring electric buses to greater #DesMoines and are excited about taking another step to building a sustainable future for our region. pic.twitter.com/TTIzksvOsj
— MidAmerican Energy Company (@MidAm_EnergyCo) October 1, 2020
The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) is Iowa’s largest public transit system. Last week, DART revealed the first all-electric buses that will serve the Greater Des Moines area in a Facebook Live video. The buses are gas free and run on batteries powered by renewable energy provided by MidAmerican Energy.
DART markets the seven buses as clean, quiet and connected. Clean because each time a diesel bus is replaced, 230,000 pounds of CO2 are avoided each year, equal to planting 5,000 trees. Quiet because DART estimates electric buses are 50% quieter than their diesel counterparts. And connected because with just one charge, DART’s electric buses can travel up to 150 miles. Riders can also stay connected, as each seat has a USB port for charging purposes.
Looking for learning resources that lean into creativity? The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs launched a new online platform for Iowa families to learn creatively this fall. Through its divisions, Iowa Culture will promote access to educational resources in arts, culture, history and film.
Check out the list of more than 20 resources, which includes Iowa history, a young writers workshop, a State Historic Sites Passport and much more here.
As Iowans adjust to this strange new school year, the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs has unveiled some new online tools to help students and lifelong learners. Check out our new Educational Resources page at https://t.co/uxq4oDT2nh pic.twitter.com/5da8FAze5F
— Produce Iowa (@ProduceIOWA) October 1, 2020
We've broken ground on a new campground at Lake Manawa State Park, with an anticipated opening date of September 2021. The new 40-site campground will have a shower/restroom facility, full hook-up sites and paved camping pads.
— Iowa DNR (@iowadnr) September 30, 2020
Details: https://t.co/Rz3FPvFxkG#IowaStateParks pic.twitter.com/MTrFKcUUxE
A groundbreaking ceremony was held for a new campground at Lake Manawa State Park by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and local community groups two weeks ago. The new campground, with an anticipated opening date of September 2021, will have 40 sites to camp, a shower/restroom facility, full hook-up sites and paved camping pads. The campground facilities will be constructed with funding from the Parks and Institutional Roads Fund, Land and Water Conservation Fund and state capital infrastructure funds.
Last July, the nearly complete RiverView Ridge Senior Living Center burned to the ground just a week before residents were set to move in. The fire began just one day before the building’s sprinkler system was set to activate.
But now, the assisted-living center is almost complete and ready to welcome residents in late October.
RiverView Ridge has 38 apartments, a full-service kitchen, communal dining, in-house laundry service, a chapel and fitness rooms as well as various common spaces where residents can gather.
“We’ve got three or four people that would move in today if we’d let them,” said board president Todd Van Tol. “There’s another 10 or so that hope to move in in the next 90 days.”
ROCK VALLEY—RiverView Ridge Senior Living Center in Rock Valley is a phoenix rising from its own ashes. https://t.co/gd5iUt3kkQ
— N'West Iowa REVIEW (@NWestIowaREVIEW) October 1, 2020
