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In his retirement Mickey Mantle is quoted as saying, "Nothing's ever been as fun as baseball." When it comes to the great American pastime from t-ball on up to high school prep, Matt Eckhardt, operations manager of North Liberty Coralville Baseball Softball, says that there are three goals for the league: learn the sport, make friends, and have fun.

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.

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It's easy to become quickly overwhelmed when planning a wedding. There are so many details even with the smallest of affairs. Coordinating between vendors, family members and guests while trying to get it all just right. Emily McMahon, of Soirée Wedding Planning, helps organize, design, and direct each unique event while placing the emphasis on creating a memorable experience.

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 easy to take lighting for granted when it comes to designing a space. Whether it's a remodel or a fresh start, every detail counts especially in how it will be lit. Kim Miller, of Illuminate, helps clients to develop multi-tiered lighting systems that will serve both as utility and aesthetic to bring out the most in the built environment.

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.

Peggy Cullivan has been working with ice cream for two and a half decades. All of it at Heyn's, the shop she now owns.

She still loves eating ice cream, especially blueberry cheesecake flavor, her favorite since she was 12.

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 can be difficult when shopping for clothes to find comfort, style, and a full range of sizing. Faced with this challenge herself, LaShanda Wilks started LaLa Boutique first online, then due to its popularity moved into a physical space where she offers thoughtfully selected apparel with all sizes in mind.

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.

Imagine a program for middle and high schoolers that helps guide them through future career options. And how in better preparing them with local opportunities those young people are more likely to remain in the area after graduation. What if I told you this program is free? Director, Kristine Bullock, and coordinator, Megan Lehman, talk about Kirkwood's Workplace Learning Connection program, which is all of the above.

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.

What began as an effort to provide more holistic, better food options and products to pet owners quickly became a means for connecting with the community. Through donations, fundraising and volunteering, Leash on Life co-owners Julie Phye and Laurie Smith spread around their goodwill to aid in both animal and people causes. Because, as Julie says, "We can't have the communities we have if we don't give back."

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.

The delivery economy has only grown over time, though not everyone has their own drivers to run goods and many of the available options are not local. Adam Weeks, co-founder of Chomp, says a better option based in and serving to the needs of the community was overdue.

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.

Boasting enough fancy high tech to make NASA stop and take notice, and with sustainability and community in mind, Courtney McClellan and Mike Flynn are excited for their debut business venture, Speedy Mike's Car Wash, to take off.

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.

What do many of the folks from the MLB Field of Dreams event, Chris Soules from The Bachelor, news anchors from CNN, producers of the Oprah Network, U.S. senators, and even the President of the United States, Joe Biden, have in common? Aubrey Holsinger, the owner of Flip Salon & Spa, has done some styling work on them all.

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.