Community Playmaker

Image Credit: Travel South Dakota America is turning 250, and this birthday is extra special, with cities across the country taking programming, investment, and civic energy to a level that hasn’t been seen in a generation. Some cities are going big and concentrated while others are spreading activity across regions and relying on a single iconic image to draw visitors in, and a few are quietly integrating the milestone into existing events that already attract millions of people.

Image Source: SFC Art Department January 22, 2026 6:24PM EST On the site of a formerly rundown parking lot in Ames, Iowa, the future of the college sports experience is taking shape—the first of what will be eight new buildings, a new 78,000-square-foot. medical facility, is nearing completion at Iowa State University.

By Matt Swenson In a city where wine flows nearly as freely as water, Napa, California, is banking on a development along its namesake river to spur significant economic growth. The Napa RiverLine, as the vast project is known, is in many ways the model for the latest community growth trends throughout the country. It incorporates preservation of nature and recreation areas while encouraging restaurants, retail, and hospitality venues to set up shop.

The Sandhills Global Youth Complex in Lincoln, Nebraska, held its official grand opening ceremony on April 26, with members of the community and former Major League Baseball players celebrating a project expected to bring between $15–20 million to the area each year. The all-turfed complex will host local, regional and national baseball and softball tournaments and will be home to Nebraska Wesleyan University’s baseball and softball teams.

The Jay M. Robinson Mondo Track & Field Facility continues to generate economic impact from sports tourism in Cabarrus County. The venue is set to host its first meet of the 2025 season this month which is expected to generate an estimated economic impact of more than $488,000. . During the USA South Conference Championship on April 25-26, 150 collegiate athletes will compete in a variety of track and field events including high jump, long/triple jump and all throwing events.

March 30, 2023 3:42PM EST Image Courtesy of Johnny Crosskey In the Spring of 2020, New York City was in crisis. The onset of the COVID pandemic introduced a host of public emergencies, including overcrowded hospitals, struggling businesses, and an anxious citizenry eager to return to normalcy. The streets of New York were eerily quiet during the initial days of the pandemic. While it goes without saying that the COVID pandemic was a physical crisis, it was also an economic crisis for New York City.

March 28, 2025 2:26PM EST Image Source: Adobe Stock Whit Remer says when he was working and living in the Washington, D.C. area a decade ago, he reached out to then Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn with a recommendation: the west Florida coastal city should create a high-level position focused on sustainability and resilience, given Tampa’s location and the frequency with which it must confront severe inclement weather. “‘And by the way, I’ll fill it for you,’” Remer says he told Buckhorn.

Image Source: Focal Flame Photography December 17, 2024 7:53PM EST Jonathan Lambert-Melton, Mayor Pro Tem and at-large city council member for the city of Raleigh, is a textbook example of how North Carolina’s capital has grown in stature. Lambert-Melton moved to Raleigh in 2004 to attend North Carolina State University – and never left. “Folks will come to this area for higher education,” Lambert-Melton said.

October 21, 2024 2:44PM EST In 1924, America’s best swimmers competed at an Indianapolis public swimming pool called Broad Ripple Park for a spot in the Summer Games in Paris. One century later, Indianapolis once again hosted the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials before the Summer Games in Paris. History may have repeated itself, but many details have changed over 100 years.

Image Source: Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau October 24, 2024 4:19PM EST In an eventful week during Ryan Ladd’s first few months as Virginia Beach Sports Center’s general manager, he and his team prepare for an indoor track meet, tear down the setup to make room for a state wrestling tournament three days later, and then go full circle by laying the groundwork for another track competition.