# PolicyWorks

> PolicyWorks is a West Des Moines government affairs and public relations firm that combines lobbying, coalition-building, media relations, digital campaigns and event work for clients ranging from nonprofits and trade groups to Google, DraftKings and Bristol Myers Squibb. Founded in 2006 as a one-stop advocacy shop, the firm is best understood as an interpreter between the statehouse and the public - one team works the legislative calendar while another turns policy into stories people can understand and act on.

- **Founded:** 2006
- **Headquarters:** West Des Moines, United States
- **Founders:** Justin Hupfer (Co-founder and CEO)
- **Products:** Government relations, Public affairs, Grassroots advocacy, Public relations and creative services, Event planning
- **Notable:** Helped clients win passage of 2019 Iowa legislation authorizing sports wagering and fantasy sports contests after a six-year effort., Cites work connected to Election Day voter registration, insurance coverage for prosthetic devices, newborn congenital-heart-defect screening, smoke-free public places and expanded solar-energy access in Iowa., Helped The Nadas turn a pandemic-disrupted album tour into a virtual tour that generated revenue while venues were closed.

## Products & services

- **Government relations** — State and federal legislative and executive-branch lobbying, bill and rule tracking, drafting, position papers, meetings and real-time reporting.
- **Public affairs** — Integrated issue campaigns combining earned and paid media, digital communication, community outreach, town halls and coalition building.
- **Grassroots advocacy** — Supporter identification, coalition growth, mobilization, lobby days and tools that help constituents communicate with policymakers.
- **Public relations and creative services** — Media relations, social strategy, content creation, graphic design, websites, newsletters and brand-awareness campaigns.
- **Event planning** — News conferences, legislative events, lobby days, client gatherings and strategic networking programs.
- **Government procurement counsel** — Bid intelligence, competitor and decision-maker context, opportunity timing and facilitated meetings.

## Achievements

- Helped clients win passage of 2019 Iowa legislation authorizing sports wagering and fantasy sports contests after a six-year effort.
- Cites work connected to Election Day voter registration, insurance coverage for prosthetic devices, newborn congenital-heart-defect screening, smoke-free public places and expanded solar-energy access in Iowa.
- Helped The Nadas turn a pandemic-disrupted album tour into a virtual tour that generated revenue while venues were closed.
- PolicyWorks promotion helped The Nadas sell out xBk Live for the venue's first sellout.
- CEO Justin Hupfer received the 2026 Eugene H. Farley League Leadership Award for advocacy leadership in the credit-union movement.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — PolicyWorks highlighted a staff RAGBRAI cycling team and continued posting culture and client-work updates after the 2026 Iowa legislative session.
- **2026-08** — The firm publicized its support for YSS in launching the Before It Becomes More opioid-misuse prevention campaign.
- **2026-06** — PolicyWorks reported more than 250 downloads for its PolicyAfterWork podcast and announced more episodes.
- **2026-03** — CEO Justin Hupfer received the Eugene H. Farley League Leadership Award from the American Association of Credit Union Leagues.
- **2025-05** — Creative strategy manager McKinley Fisk published a field note on the All-American Rejects' surprise Iowa pop-up show as a model for scarcity-driven grassroots PR.

## Links

- Website: https://www.policyworksiowa.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/policyworks-iowa
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/PolicyWorksIA
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PolicyWorksIowa/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/policyworks
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-21