Payment is always disclosed
Every official business profile is a paid Partner position. A pre-launch profile is labeled Launch Preview and does not imply a paid relationship.
For Businesses
Become a Partner in a selective Iowa City guide.
The complete guide contains 25 paid Partner positions: 10 in Food & Drink, eight in Retail, and seven in Lifestyle. Every official profile is reviewed for fit, paid, and clearly disclosed.
Placement standards
Independent businesses only
Every official business profile is paid and disclosed
Every paid relationship is clearly disclosed
No more than 25 Paid Partners citywide
What Our Iowa City is
A calm local guide built to help people choose independent Iowa City businesses more easily, without turning the whole experience into a noisy feed or a crowded directory.
Paid relationships stay visible
Paid profiles and sponsorship placements are labeled Paid Partner or Sponsored wherever the relationship matters to a reader.
Twenty-five positions, citywide
Partner inventory is capped at 10 Food & Drink, eight Retail, and seven Lifestyle positions so the complete guide stays selective.
Why businesses join
A Paid Partner position is designed for local businesses that want stronger context, calmer presentation, and a better discovery environment than a generic ad or listing can offer.
A better first impression
Your business shows up inside a calmer editorial environment built to make strong local places easier to notice and trust.
Editorial presentation, not template filler
We shape the profile, tighten the copy, verify the details, and present the business with strong imagery and clear calls to action.
Visibility in the right layers
Paid Partners receive a polished profile and may be considered for clearly labeled sponsorship placements when there is a useful fit.
Limited partnership by design
We keep paid inventory limited citywide so the guide feels selective, useful, and worth trusting over time.
What is included
What readers actually get
Paid Partners receive a tighter, clearly labeled presentation with the details and links readers actually use.
- A polished business profile with sharper editorial copy and clear essentials
- A clearly labeled Paid Partner position inside the right section
- Consideration for labeled homepage, newsletter, and seasonal sponsorships when there is a fit
- Verified business details, links, and imagery
- Direct website and Instagram pathways for readers
- A calmer local context than generic ads or self-serve directories
Launch Preview
Editorial imageLifestyle
FilmScene
Iowa City's nonprofit cinema pairs new independent films and repertory favorites with festivals, education, and lively downtown gathering spaces.
Pedestrian Mall · independent film · date night
This Launch Preview demonstrates the profile standard. It does not imply a paid relationship. Only confirmed Paid Partners remain public when the guide officially launches.
Future seasonal opportunity
Seasonal participation is considered separately.
The next hunt has not been scheduled. Partner participation may be considered only after the timing, stops, prizes, rules, and entry system are confirmed.
Future seasonal consideration
The next hunt is not scheduled. Paid Partners may be considered only after its timing, stops, prizes, rules, and entry system are confirmed.
Never bundled or guaranteed
Partner status does not guarantee Hunt participation, a ranking, a favorable story, or any particular volume of traffic.
Clear terms before activation
Any future seasonal participation will be agreed separately and disclosed in the materials for that campaign.
Between seasons
The next hunt has not been scheduled.
No Partner stop, prize, entry window, or opening date is currently announced.
Better than a generic ad or listing
We protect reader trust first. That makes the platform more useful to the audience and more valuable to the businesses that do fit.
Local only
We feature independent businesses rooted in Iowa City. Chains and franchises are not included.
Editor reviewed, paid disclosed
Every Partner is reviewed for fit and usefulness before publication, and every paid relationship is clearly labeled.
Limited by design
We accept no more than 25 Paid Partners citywide. Scarcity keeps the environment readable and credible.
Accurate and current
Profiles prioritize clear details, good imagery, and information readers can act on.
Partner inventory
Twenty-five paid positions. One complete guide.
Paid Partner inventory is capped at 25 positions citywide: 10 Food & Drink, eight Retail, and seven Lifestyle.
Availability is derived only from confirmed businesses labeled Paid Partner. Launch Preview profiles do not consume inventory and may not remain public at official launch.
Food & Drink
0/10
10 Paid Partner positions available
Retail
0/8
8 Paid Partner positions available
Lifestyle
0/7
7 Paid Partner positions available
Citywide
0/25
Paid Partner positions active citywide
Who it is best for
This is a strong fit for businesses that want quality local attention and a cleaner editorial context around their brand.
Independent operators
Best for small businesses that are locally owned and shape the city in a recognizable way.
Downtown and destination spots
The format works especially well for places students and locals can browse into, recommend to friends, and revisit with a little more context.
Places with personality
The format works well for businesses with a clear point of view, strong atmosphere, or loyal neighborhood following.
Owners who value context
This is for businesses that want thoughtful local visibility, not maximum-volume ad inventory.
How the process works
We keep the process direct, selective, and easy to understand from first application to follow-up.
Step 1
Apply
Tell us what you do, where you fit, and what makes the business distinctly local.
Step 2
Review
We review local ownership, category fit, accuracy, usefulness, and current Partner availability.
Step 3
Build the feature
If there is a fit, we confirm the paid terms, disclosure, facts, image rights, and strongest useful profile angle.
Step 4
Publish
The Paid Partner profile goes live with a clear label and may be considered for other disclosed sponsorships when relevant.
Pricing
Two clear rates. No hidden add-ons.
Partner pricing is simple: one standard rate and one documented community rate for qualifying smaller businesses, nonprofits, and cultural organizations. Both are flat and month to month.
Independent commercial businesses
Paid Partner
$350 per month
- One of 25 Paid Partner positions citywide
- Editorial profile with verified details and imagery
- Newsletter and seasonal feature consideration
- Month to month; cancel with written notice
Qualifying smaller independent businesses, nonprofits, and cultural organizations
Community Partner
$150 per month
- The same labeled Partner position and polished profile
- The same clear Paid Partner disclosure in the guide
- Newsletter and seasonal feature consideration
- Month to month; cancel with written notice
Businesses that join before September 4, 2026 may also carry Founding Partner status at no extra cost. It is a secondary status for an active paid sponsorship and always appears alongside the Paid Partner label.
FAQ
Is Our Iowa City a directory?
No. It is a selective guide with 25 clearly labeled paid Partner positions, supported by current events and useful local stories.
How often does the site change?
The core guide stays dependable. Fresh events, new stories, newsletter issues, and seasonal features keep the product current where it matters.
Who can apply?
Independent Iowa City businesses, studios, venues, and local services that fit the publication. Chains and franchises are not included.
What does a Paid Partner receive?
A polished labeled profile, section placement, verified details, strong imagery, and consideration for other clearly disclosed sponsorship placements.
Can the Summer Scavenger Hunt include my business?
Possibly, but it is never guaranteed or bundled. The next hunt is unscheduled, and any future participation requires separate confirmation after the campaign is fully defined.
Is every application accepted?
No. We review local ownership, accuracy, usefulness, section fit, and open Partner inventory. The goal is a trusted local guide, not unlimited inventory.
What does a Paid Partner position cost?
The standard Partner rate is $350 per month. Qualifying smaller independent businesses, cultural organizations, and nonprofits pay $150 per month. Both rates are flat—no hidden add-ons—and either can be cancelled with written notice.
What is a Founding Partner?
It is a secondary status for a business that begins a paid Partner relationship before September 4, 2026. It costs nothing beyond the regular monthly rate and never replaces the Paid Partner disclosure.
Apply
Apply for a Partner position
If your business is locally owned and right for the guide, send it in. We review each application for ownership, accuracy, usefulness, section fit, and real Partner availability.
Business inquiries: Paid Partner positions, sponsorships, and business questions. Email sales@ouriowacity.com. General inquiries: Editorial, legal, privacy, and general questions. Email hello@ouriowacity.com.