There is no doubt that the Corridor Community has exploded over the last few years. From homes, to businesses, developments, and restaurants; new additions to the area can be found all over the place. North Liberty without question has been one of the fastest growing cities in the state. It has a growth rate of 1.49% annually and a newly updated population of about 20,000, it’s now the 27th largest city in Iowa (“North Liberty, Iowa Population 2020 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs”). 

With all this growth, it can be difficult to keep the tight-knit community feeling around. Jillian Miller, Community Engagement Coordinator for the City of North Liberty, is determined to keep that feeling alive. 

“I grew up in a close-knit neighborhood. We went on vacations with many of our neighbors, had what seemed to be never-ending sleepovers, and my parents to this day call those from our cul-de-sac their best friends….” Miller relayed on the North Liberty website. 

She soon realized that not everyone had the same experience that she did. And that today some people don’t even know their neighbors’ names. With the Great Neighborhoods program she aims to have communities be more engaged with each other, support, and be as inclusive as possible. 

The Great Neighborhoods program is where the City of North Liberty is divided into 29 sections. You can apply and go through a process to represent your specific neighborhood. There would be around 1-3 ambassadors per neighborhood. Being your neighborhood ambassador means that you have a whole collection of other ambassadors to network and collaborate with. You get access to community developmental opportunities, volunteer opportunities such as helping with the local food pantry, tours of city facilities like town hall, and are always up-to-date with what is happening in the community. 

Much, much, much more information can be obtained from the North Liberty website as well as contact information for Jillian Miller and how to apply. 

“We do a pretty good job of this as North Libertarians already. Many of you probably settled here because you heard North Liberty is a great place to raise a family. And it is. North Liberty has also long been labeled a bedroom community, with most residents working elsewhere in the ICR area,” Miller highlights on the Great Neighborhoods home page.

 “That’s true, too. But I’m challenging us to take it a step further. Let’s be known for our great neighborhoods.”