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Often, when people think of art, they do so with a capital "A". Images of en plein air painters, theories on the interplay of shape and color, the word "juxtapose" and lots of chin rubbing. But at Artisan Insight Studios, studio director and joint owner, Roxanne Erdahl, encourages casting off inhibitions to just come in, have fun and be creative.

North Liberty is the headquarters of local media, regional financial and national transportation companies and home to solar energy and tech startups, and entrepreneurs getting their big ideas off the ground.

Get to know your new business community.

From the archive:

Cory and Kim Nelson moved to North Liberty for his career and opened Next Level Extreme Fitness for her sense of community. That community grew quickly, leading to their expansion and the feeling that they're home for good.

North Liberty is the headquarters of local media, regional financial and national transportation companies and home to solar energy and tech startups, and entrepreneurs getting their big ideas off the ground.

Get to know your new business community.

Insurance, it's necessary but is often overwhelming. What needs coverage, how much, if you need to use it what happens then, all the while these details are evolving along an ever-shifting landscape. Christa Payne, an agency owner at Country Financial, says it's her role to help cut through the jargon and help make it easier for people to digest.

North Liberty is the headquarters of local media, regional financial and national transportation companies and home to solar energy and tech startups, and entrepreneurs getting their big ideas off the ground.

Get to know your new business community.

With all that most people have going on, and so few hours in the day to do it, cooking takes a sizable chunk of already limited time. Time planning what to make, time shopping, prep time, time spent cleaning up... Lora Miller, owner of Naomi's Kitchen, producers of readymade take-and-bake meals, says what she's really selling her customers is "time".

North Liberty is the headquarters of local media, regional financial and national transportation companies and home to solar energy and tech startups, and entrepreneurs getting their big ideas off the ground.

Get to know your new business community.

Whether arranging flags several times a year along the avenues, churning out innumerable pancakes for their annual fundraiser, or slinging hot dogs and burgers at events around town, everything the North Liberty Optimists do is for the kids. New president elect, Kristy Ballard, says that the club is a wonderful family to belong to that works hard and enjoys what they do.

North Liberty is the headquarters of local media, regional financial and national transportation companies and home to solar energy and tech startups, and entrepreneurs getting their big ideas off the ground.

Get to know your new business community.

We are bound together by humanity, a shared need for compassion and support, and we are best able to succeed when doing so together. Ryan Bobst, Executive Director of the North Liberty Community Pantry says, "We could not do the service that we do without volunteers." Already doing so much, and with a new location in the works, the Community Pantry will be able to do even more.

North Liberty is the headquarters of local media, regional financial and national transportation companies and home to solar energy and tech startups, and entrepreneurs getting their big ideas off the ground.

Get to know your new business community.

It's always a good time to talk about mental health. Here's one from the archive where we do just that.

The science says it's important to be good to oneself, but that's not always easy. Doctor Todd Verhoef, founder of Psychiatric Associates, says there is no one-size-fits-all plan for coping with life's challenges. That's where mental health professionals can help in developing a personalized wellness strategy for you.

North Liberty is the headquarters of local media, regional financial and national transportation companies and home to solar energy and tech startups, and entrepreneurs getting their big ideas off the ground.

Get to know your new business community.

Benjamin Franklin once said, "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." So then, turning to a team of knowledgeable financial advisors seems the smart choice for securing and growing one's investment. Chris Harris, Vice President of Wealth Enhancement Group's Hawkins Team, says that with a nationwide network of experts, they've got you covered.

North Liberty is the headquarters of local media, regional financial and national transportation companies and home to solar energy and tech startups, and entrepreneurs getting their big ideas off the ground.

Get to know your new business community.

From serendipitous beginnings, an unexpected job offer has become nearly thirty years of helping others to feel whole again. Cheryl Schlote, owner of Scarlet's Unmentionables, says she is exactly where she needs to be: restoring the confidence of her clients who have undergone mastectomies by fitting them with personal prosthetics.

North Liberty is the headquarters of local media, regional financial and national transportation companies and home to solar energy and tech startups, and entrepreneurs getting their big ideas off the ground.

Get to know your new business community.

As we cross over into Autumn it's a nice time to sit outside around a fire pit and check out this episode from the archive.

Of the many uses for fire, whether cooking, heating, illumination, even as ambient decoration, Spotix has you covered. Company president, Aaron Verhorevoort, refers to the business model as being like a wheel; Spotix is the hub connecting a multitude of various niche markets offering goods from grills, fire pits, fireplaces, and all the accessories, additions and components in between.

North Liberty is the headquarters of local media, regional financial and national transportation companies and home to solar energy and tech startups, and entrepreneurs getting their big ideas off the ground.

Get to know your new business community.