As the state’s second largest city, Cedar Rapids is a vibrant community, with unique attractions, exciting events, specialty shopping, a dynamic art scene, and a large variety of restaurant and nightlife options. Cedar Rapids offers one of the best places to live, work and play in the Midwest. Cedar Rapids is home to almost 300 different manufacturing plants and two dozen Fortune 500 companies.
As part of the City’s Healthy Hometown implementation, the mayor-appointed Wellbeing Advisory Committee supports programs and outcomes for older adults. The City continues to focus on overall walkability and accessibility within the community and recently adopted its first Pedestrian Master Plan. Since 2015 over 2,000 curb ramps have been repaired or replaced to meet ADA standards, which supports a more accessible, inclusive community. The City’s Parks and Recreation Department has a variety of programming for all ages and abilities. Furthermore, the City recently underwent a comprehensive housing market analysis that revealed demand projections for all service levels of senior housing in Cedar Rapids. This information will be used to guide future development. Recently, the City launched the Municipal Volunteer Program, to make civic engagement even easier and more accessible for all. Numerous agencies and services are targeted to older populations. In 2019, Heritage Agency on Aging began implementation of Encore Café in Cedar Rapids. Encore Café emphasizes combating social isolation and increasing health and wellness in older adults.