Lt. Governor Chris Cournoyer Visits HFI at Iowa State Fair

Homes for Iowa was pleased to welcome Iowa Lt. Governor Chris Cournoyer to the Homes for Iowa house exhibit during the 2026 Iowa State Fair. This visit carried very special meaning given her long history with the program.

Cournoyer has been a champion of Homes for Iowa since its early days. Before the first home was built, she joined members of the original exploratory group on a trip to South Dakota to learn about its successful Governor's House Program and explore how a similar model could work in Iowa. She later helped champion the legislative effort that provided funding to pilot the Homes for Iowa program and has remained a vocal advocate as the partnership has grown.

Today, that original idea has developed into a unique partnership between Homes for Iowa, Iowa Prison Industries, and the Iowa Department of Corrections, alongside many local developers and homebuyers. Together, they combine attainable housing for Iowa communities with meaningful trade training and second-chance opportunities for incarcerated individuals.

Cournoyer's support has extended well beyond the State Capitol. Last fall, she visited the Homes for Iowa building site in Newton, toured the operation, met with program participants and IPI staff, and even climbed into the passenger seat of an IPI truck to ride along as a completed home was delivered to its final destination in the community.

Her stop at the Iowa State Fair provided another opportunity to see the finished product, visit with the Homes for Iowa team, and continue sharing the story of a program that she has supported from its earliest stages.

Homes for Iowa and Iowa Prison Industries appreciate Lt. Governor Cournoyer's continued commitment to the program and her support of its three interconnected goals: Creating more attainable housing for Iowans, developing our state's skilled workforce, and providing opportunities for individuals to successfully build a new future.