Capital Crossroads Annual Report Highlights Progress on Workforce Housing, Education and More

GREATER DES MOINES, IA (Feb. 12, 2026) – Capital Crossroads has released its annual report highlighting progress made over the past year toward advancing opportunity and prosperity across Central Iowa, while also announcing its 2026–2027 Regional Council, a diverse and influential group of leaders who will guide the next phase of work aligned with the community’s shared vision plan.

Launched in 2011 and now in its third iteration, Capital Crossroads: A Roadmap to Opportunity and Prosperity for All, serves as Central Iowa’s forum to address complex, long-term challenges through regional collaboration. The Roadmap, which runs through 2040, focuses on six critical outcomes and four Cornerstones shaped by extensive research and community input.

The annual report highlights measurable progress since the launch of the Roadmap in January 2024, with a continued emphasis on workforce housing and education: two priority areas identified as essential to the region’s long-term economic vitality.

“Capital Crossroads exists because no single organization or sector can tackle these challenges alone,” said Dan Houston, Retired Chairman, President and CEO of Principal Financial Group and Capital Crossroads Regional Council co-chair. “The progress reflected in this year’s report shows what’s possible when leaders across business, government, and the community align around shared priorities and move forward together.”

The report outlines several key milestones achieved through cross-sector collaboration, including:

• Launch of the award-winning, nationally recognized Central Iowa Workforce Development Ecosystem Map and companion white paper to support regional talent development and retention efforts.
• Support for the reintroduction of the Early Childhood Education program at Des Moines’ Central Campus during the 2025–26 academic year, strengthening the local childcare workforce.
• Rollout of new housing preservation resources, including a database tracking federally backed housing in Central Iowa to inform planning and decision-making.

• Launch of the Lead Forward event series, engaging emerging leaders around regional collaboration and priority issues such as Reimagine DART.

• Expanded outreach efforts reaching tens of thousands of Iowans through media, digital communications and in-person engagement.

“These efforts reflect the power of regional collaboration and a shared commitment to creating sustainable pathways to success and wellbeing for all Central Iowans,” said Kaity Patchett, Executive Director of Capital Crossroads. “The annual report is both a reflection of progress and a reminder that meaningful change requires sustained leadership, alignment, and community engagement.

As Capital Crossroads enters the next phase of its Roadmap, the focus remains on advancing initiatives that strengthen education pathways, expand workforce housing options, and deepen collaboration across Central Iowa to better position the region for long-term, inclusive growth.

Capital Crossroads is led by its Regional Council, a cross-sector group of 46 leaders representing community organizations, government, and industries across Polk, Dallas, and Warren counties. Co-Chaired by Dan Houston, Principal Financial Group (Ret.); Mayor Courtney Clarke, City of Waukee; and David Stark, UnityPoint Health; the Council plays a critical role in guiding implementation of the Roadmap, surfacing emerging issues and supporting initiatives that move the region forward.

New Regional Council Members for the 2026–2027 Term Include:

• Supervisor Jill Altringer, Polk County Board of Supervisors
• Mayor Bob Andeweg, City of Urbandale
• Britney Appelgate, Wells Fargo
• Deidre DeJear, Oakridge Neighborhood
• Abby Delaney, Bankers Trust
• Kyle Gamble, Hubbell Realty Company
• Suzanne Heckenlaible, Delta Dental
• Jeff Lorenzen, American Equity
• Dr. Skylar Mayberry-Mayes, Jacobsen Institute at Grand View University and Des Moines School Board
• Doug Romig, Housing Solutions Alliance
• Matt Smith, Des Moines Public Schools
• Dr. Liang Chee Wee, DMACC

Council members serve two-year terms and are responsible for providing strategic guidance, supporting calls to action, and helping elevate the region’s shared story through collaboration and civic leadership.

The full Capital Crossroads 2025 Annual Report is available at capitalcrossroadsvision.com. For more information contact Kaity Patchett.

About Capital Crossroads
Capital Crossroads is a regional collaboration of organizations and leaders working together to improve economic opportunity, community vitality and quality of life in Central Iowa. The Capital Crossroads Roadmap to Opportunity and Prosperity for All provides a forum to connect diverse stakeholders and unite efforts across four Cornerstones: Economic Opportunity and Prosperity; Community and Cultural Connections; Thriving Neighborhoods; and Youth Investment. The initiative drives impact by creating a shared regional vision, convening influencers, catalyzing large-scale initiatives, coordinating efforts across communities and celebrating progress toward six critical outcomes: Regionalism, Equity and Inclusion, Workforce Housing, Education, Job Growth and Placemaking. Learn more at capitalcrossroadsvision.com.