Our Town

KCRG-TV9′s Becky Phelps takes a look at some unique farming practices one local business is making a priority.

The journey to being an entrepreneur is rarely the same for any two business owners

Independence is revitalizing its downtown area by investing in businesses.

Baby boomers own about 40-percent of the nation’s small businesses, according to Forbes.

Our Town is our summer tradition where we adopt different cities and highlight what makes them stand out.

Our Town Independence celebrated its 175th birthday in June, and is helping America celebrate its 246th birthday this fourth of July.

One of the biggest employers in "Our Town Independence" has a product you've likely enjoyed and didn't even realize it.

The University of Iowa in Our Town Iowa City is celebrating 50 years of Title IX and women’s athletics.

Chauncey Swan Park near city hall hosts movies throughout the summer.

With 400 employees and up to another 400 contractors on site, the site makes hair care products, personal care products as well as oral rinse products. With such a big impact, the company wants to minimize its footprint.

All this week, we’re celebrating the people and places from “Our Town” Luana, Postville, and Monona. The Clayton County Pioneer Cemetery Commission is a group of people working to preserve this history of people who were in the same places 200 years ago.

All this week, we’re calling the towns of Monona, Postville, and Luana ‘Our Town’ and sharing what makes them so special. A pocket of peace in Northeast Iowa is the Monona Butterfly Garden. It’s been a part of the community for 22 years.

In Postville, the bakery Mi Dulce Elena is making creations for some of people’s most important moments.

The Luana Plant is Prairie Farm’s biggest cheese manufacturer, it sees 7-thousand milk trucks every year.

While we often hear small towns are getting smaller, Luana and Postville are growing in population.

KCRG-TV9 is kicking off the first week in the series of Our Town features this summer by featuring three towns. They are Luana, Postville, and Monona.

The First Avenue Hy-Vee in Cedar Rapids gave away 250 free meals to customers to celebrate National Family Meals Month and recognize Hispanic Heritage Month

Students at Washington High School in Cedar Rapids are voicing their frustration after being without air conditioning for more than a week.

A Tiffin 4-H group returned from its trip to Louisiana helping residents struggling after Hurricane Ida.

Activists expressed concerns about the Cedar Rapids School district SRO’s program.

Today, the Mississippi River provides recreation for the town with people boating and fishing, but 100-years ago, the river was a source of industry.

The Guttenberg Public Library has a 108 year old copy of the Gutenberg Bible.

The Mississippi River plays an important role to Guttenberg, from a past of industry, to a future of river recreation. It’s what brings people to the town to visit, and inspires others to move there.

The cafe and catering company started as a retail space for Jane and Tom Augustyn to sell their own pork and beef. They started the Picket Fence Cafe and Catering in 1997.

Campers in Our Town Monticello have found a new way to express themselves, no matter their abilities. Camp Courageous is welcoming campers with special needs back to their campgrounds this summer. And now they have a new way to play and communicate through music.

A memorial in Our Town Monticello honors the lives lost in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, now almost 20 years ago.

A business along the Maquoketa River in Our Town Monticello provides a way to relaxing way to enjoy the outdoors. Monticello Canoe Rental is in the heart of its season, with hundreds of people each day looking for a way to stay cool this summer.

It’s not just who you know, but what you know at a restaurant with a long history in Our Town Monticello.

In 2015, doctors diagnosed Austin Smith with DIPG, a rare form of brain cancer, when Austin was five. He passed away the following year, but he has left a legacy that continues to inspire others.

Like many businesses, Oak Street Manufacturing in Our Town Monticello had to pivot during the pandemic.