Update: April 2025

Exciting News: CivicSol Selected as Consultant for Cedar Valley Population Study

We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve officially signed a contract with CivicSol (Civic Solutions Partnership) to lead our Cedar Valley Population Study!

This milestone marks a major step forward in our efforts to understand and address the challenges and opportunities related to population growth in our region. After a thoughtful and competitive interview process led by a dedicated team of six individuals from our Population Study Steering Committee, CivicSol emerged as the top choice among five impressive candidates.

CivicSol brings extensive experience in community-driven research and strategic planning. Their collaborative approach aligns perfectly with our commitment to inclusive, data-informed decision-making. Over the coming months, CivicSol will work closely with our steering committee, local stakeholders, and the broader community to dive deep into the factors influencing population trends in the Cedar Valley—and, most importantly, help us develop actionable strategies for a thriving future.

Update: February 2025

In response to the forecasted population decline in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls MSA, Grow Cedar Valley is partnering with a consultant to conduct an in-depth population study aimed at identifying the root causes and uncovering best practices for sustainable solutions. The findings will serve as the foundation for a public and private sector action plan over the next decade, strategically addressing these challenges to ensure long-term regional growth.

On January 10th, we issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to consultants across the United States, seeking the right partner to lead this important study. Proposals were due to Grow Cedar Valley by February 21st, and we were thrilled to receive 15 strong and competitive proposals from consultants nationwide.

We’ve since narrowed the list down to our top five candidates, who we will be interviewing during the week of March 10th–13th. We aim to make a final decision by the end of March and kick off the project with the selected consultant in mid-April.

Please check back as we continue to update this post with the most recent information.

For more information, please contact: