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Recent News
UERPC’s Aaron Detter and Ashley Christensen attended one of the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s (IEDA) “ Downtown Forums ” in Forest City on June 26th. Over the event’s networking lunch, Detter had the opportunity to talk with Stephanie Neppl from the Iowa Tourism Office. Neppl and others at the event were sharing stories of trail projects and Detter mentioned the Northeast Iowa Regional Trails Economic Impact Analysis that he and UERPC colleague Michelle Barness had completed in 2021. Neppl and other attendees remarked that they were very interested in seeing the study, because good data about the economic impacts of trails is hard to come by, especially anything specific to Iowa. A week after the conference, Neppl followed up with Detter, looping in her colleague Matthew Kodis, a data and research analyst at IEDA. After reviewing the report, Neppl asked permission to feature the document on the IEDA/Iowa Tourism Office’s website. The study is now available on the Iowa Tourism Office’s Industry Partners Research webpage, where it will hopefully be of use to organizations throughout the state in understanding and promoting the enormous positive impact that trails can have on local economies.
UERPC held a celebration last week
in honor of 50 years of service to the counties and communities of Northeast
Iowa. UERPC was founded in 1972 by visionary public leaders. UERPC
provides professional planning, programming and technical assistance to
Iowa’s cities, counties, businesses, community organizations and Iowans of all
ages. UERPC has a governing board made up of local elected officials, business
and education leaders, economic development professionals and individual
citizens.
Executive Director Rachelle Howe commented on 50 years, “As I think of
where UERPC is now and where UERPC came from, it always amazes me. One could
look at the facts and data and be impressed….while bringing in over $387
million dollars of grant dollars to the region since 1972, while indirectly
providing over 275 jobs from those grant dollars each year. The project
list has a deep breadth of variety, including: water lines, waste
water treatment facilities, sewer projects, housing rehabilitation projects,
home buyer programs, fiber builds - $28 million, playground equipment,
walking school buses, bridge and trail development, planning efforts, fiscal
agent work, workforce efforts, economic development work such as business
workshops, business counseling, and workforce recruitment, workforce
transportation programs, daycare center builds and improvements, community
centers, energy efficiency programs, rental assistance, adult worker programs,
youth career connect, transportation planning and administration, food
assistance, local food programming, Homes for Iowa homes, business expansion,
revolving loan funds, industrial park roadways, apartment management,
recreational grants, railroad improvements, flood work for businesses,
residents and governmental agencies, historical preservation projects, fire
trucks and equipment, and so much more.”
For more than 50 years, UERPC has been growing Northeast Iowa’s communities,
businesses, leaders, regions and future. Thank you for celebrating this
very special milestone with us, and we look forward to continuing to serve you!
