Kensett Represented at Dubuque Conference for Economic Development

Last week at the Iowa Rural Summit, the room buzzed with the kind of energy only small towns seem to generate. Among the panelists for the breakout session “Hitting Above Their Weight: Towns Under 1,000 That Rock” was advisory board member Corey Pulju, sharing stories that felt both familiar and inspiring to anyone who knows rural Iowa. Corey spoke not from theory, but from lived experience; of places where people wave when they pass, pitch in when something needs doing, and quietly make things happen.

The panel dug into how small towns often have an outsized impact, fueled by a strong sense of community identity. Corey highlighted how unique attractions, beloved festivals, and homegrown events become more than calendar items, they’re anchors that bring people together and invite outsiders in. From trail systems and outdoor recreation to creative reuse of old buildings and bold ideas sparked at the local coffee shop, the discussion showed how nature, creativity, and collaboration intersect in powerful ways.

Corey’s reflections reinforced a simple truth echoed throughout the summit: when people care deeply about a place, its size matters far less than its spirit.