Report: Summer Festivals Help Iowa City Become "Turnaround Town"

Part of the reason Iowa City's economy has remained strong is the influx of summer visitors, according to a new report.

The National Association of Realtors this week called Iowa City one of four Midwest "turnaround towns" in the country -- places showing strong signs of economic recovery.

Johnson County only has one foreclosure for every 1,447 units, much better than the national average of one in 662. The report sited the as keeping the local economy healthy.

But the authors also gave a shout-out to downtown Iowa City's summer culture: "During the summer the city receives an extra boost from visitors who flock to the arts festivals, live concerts, and cultural events that take place annually."

, Pearsons, and Oral B. have helped keep the metro area's unemployment lower than state and national averages, the report said. Other cities on the Midwest list were Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN; Grand Rapids, MI; and Boise City, ID.