She’s the spark plug the community has needed, and she is driving hard to make sure good things are happening for the community.

A native of Minnesota, Eckers has no expectations of going anywhere.

“They are stuck with me,” she laughs.

Eckers has lived in Ellsworth for the past 15 years. Previously working for a veterinarian office, she was encouraged to do more in the community. With a bachelor’s degree in business management, she originally managed the Jewell Golf Course, but after two years, she was talked into working for the Main Street program in Jewell. For four years, she brought energy and new ideas, helping Jewell’s Main Street sparkle.

And then her parents moved to Webster City, close enough they are able to attend functions for Eckers’ daughter, Phoebe, who attends South Hamilton schools in Jewell.

But for the past two years, she has held the keys to the Ellsworth City Hall. And there are exciting things happening there.

She is working closely with the Hamilton County Growth Partnership; Ottie Maxey and Cindy Im both are key in helping with the economic development efforts for the community. From her work with Main Street, she knows where to look for grants and knows how to follow through.

Their industrial park is getting some interest, and she is enthused about the growth there.

“We have a thriving industrial park,” she said, “and it will continue to expand.”

A sign just went up for a new business in town: Dollar General will be building a new store at the corner of Iowa Highway 175 and Ubben, which will be opening at the end of June or July.

Ellsworth City Council has a key group of citizens who make it a point to attend all the council meetings. Members of the Ellsworth Community Club offer their support and involvement in many different ways. Their interest and their input keep the community moving ahead.

Eckers values that, and sees other needs in the community.

Leah Maass volunteers with Eckers to help feed people in the community. “There’s about four or five people who just enjoy cooking, and Heidi is one of those who love to cook and feed people.” Maass said, “We feed about 50 people each week, with about half as take-out meals,” she said. “When she (Eckers) comes in the room, she’s just fun working with, and she helps to provide meals for the community.

Eckers has other interests, which include music, dog rescue work and growing a garden. She calls her yard food-scaping, as her yard is a landscaping garden. “I grow a lot of food in my yard,” she confessed.

“She taught me how she gets her garden started,” Maass said, “She starts her seeds outside in the spring, creating little mini-greenhouses.”

“She’s just a breath of fresh air,” Maass continued.

Eckers has brought her musical talents into the community also, filling in on the piano, and leading singing at church. She also creates flyers and uses her personal artistic skills to liven things up in the community.

Finding grant money to help with making community improvements utilizes many of her skill sets. There is a lot of work ahead, but she seems undeterred.

Her priorities are for the good of the community. Those goals are not just her goals, but bring forward the interests and concerns of the residents.

“We have to boost the quality of life for Ellsworth residents,” she said, “People want things to do.”

The demographics for Ellsworth include a younger population. Eckers said Ellsworth has many young families, with only 27% age 50 and older.

“Housing has to be a priority,” she said, “We are perfectly positioned, close to I-35 and between Ames and Webster City.”

Downtown buildings are also on the list of priorities. Like many communities, downtown reinvestment has lagged. She has started to talk to the building owners and begun to look at ways they can help bring back some of the buildings for future use.

She is waiting for a roadmap for their downtown from the Iowa State College of Design.

“This will lay out what the community and city council wants,” she said, “and we have started the process of downtown streetscaping.”

Projects in the city park, and working with the parks and recreation group should go a long way to help create more activity around Ellsworth.

“Kids still run in packs during summer; there is an element of safety, element of trust and enough responsible people here. We’re safe. We want to remain the quintessential small town; we want to continue that here.

And her energy is contagious. The library has put a story walk on the town’s bike trail. They hosted a South High Pride tournament for volleyball and basketball at the Community Center Gym this year.

Things are moving forward, and even with a few stumbling blocks, Eckers is optimistic. The new water tower is out for bids … for the third time.

It’s ambitious work for a town with a population of 520 people, but Eckers recognizes the potential.

“I just want people to know the city is in partnership with the community organizations and library,” she said. “I want people to know there is excitement with newer leadership, there is investment happening to make this a really nice town to live in.”

Eckers admits she didn’t expect to live in Iowa. But there are a lot of people in Hamilton County who are very happy she does.