Iowa’s struggle to keep young people from leaving the state dominated one of the most pointed moments at Saturday’s Storm Lake Legislative Forum, when Buena Vista University President Brian Lenzmeier urged lawmakers to confront what he called a growing “brain drain” crisis.
About 40 people attended the final forum of the legislative session at the Sunrise Pointe Golf Course Clubhouse, including local elected officials, community members, and students from BVU and Storm Lake High School’s iJAG program.
Lenzmeier told lawmakers that Iowa’s outward migration is becoming impossible to ignore.
His comments came just as a new report from the Common Sense Institute found that nearly a thousand more people moved out of Iowa than moved in last year, and that Iowa ranks 11th out of 12 Midwestern states for outward migration. The report also found Iowa produces highly educated graduates but doesn’t have enough jobs to keep them here.
Senator Lynn Evans of Aurelia said the issue affects every generation.
Evans, a Republican, said property taxes, job availability, and the cost of energy all influence whether young Iowans stay or leave. He argued that rural Iowa must be competitive if it wants to retain graduates.
Representative Megan Jones of Sioux Rapids agreed that Iowa needs to modernize its workforce programs and rethink how job training is funded. She said the state’s long‑standing 260E program is under review, and that the governor has raised concerns about its cost to property taxpayers.
Jones, also a Republican, added that Iowa has strengths it doesn’t promote enough — including strong schools, short commutes, and affordable living — but said those advantages won’t matter if graduates can’t find work in their field.
The brain‑drain discussion continued when a BVU student asked whether lawmakers were working on ways to keep graduates in Iowa. Evans said the state must focus on tax climate and business recruitment, while Jones said Iowa needs to “brag about itself” more and ensure rural communities aren’t left behind.
Saturday’s forum also included questions on mineral rights legislation, women’s health care access, parental rights bills, and the future of community college workforce programs. Evans and Jones said the session is scheduled to end this week, though budget negotiations and property tax talks are still ongoing.
