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.

Following is the article from the UERPC's October 2022 newsletter:

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!

Maquoketa's Bear River Cottages Pocket Neighborhood has been recognized with receiving the Iowa Housing Authority's Single Family Housing Development Award!

https://www.ecia.org/programs/pocket_neighborhood/index.php?fbclid=IwAR3Mv3xl7OCIdCQH_zxh1mdU_CzIHtP...

Winnie’s Playscape at Oneota Park is a project that Clay County Conservation has been developing for the community over several years. The natural playscape is nearly an acre in size and features a log swing, sand pit, tunnels and rock pile in a wooded environment.

"The playscape offers opportunities for children to connect with natural resources and environmental sciences," said Will Horsley, Clay County Conservation Director. The latest addition to Winnie's Playscape is a child-safe water pump installed using 5-2-1-0 grant funds.

"The water feature has proven to be an essential component to the playscape. It promotes physical fitness, stimulates creativity, and encourages mental development among youth participants," said Horsley. "The water feature also helps children improve their motor skills as they engage all their senses while traversing through the playscape."

MORE: Learn about Spencer's other 5-2-1-0 projects Learn more here. Get your community involved with 5-2-1-0! Are you interested in learning more about how your community can get involved with 5-2-1-0? Take this survey and we will be in touch! Take survey here. There are FREE resources and action guides for schools, early care providers, after-school programs, workplaces and health care clinics. Access them here. Ready to make the commitment? Sign-up your school, early care site, out-of-school program, workplace or health care clinic as a 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! site. Registration is free, easy and gives your site access to exclusive resources and technical assistance. Register your site here.

Iowa Association of Councils of Governments and the Healthiest State Initiative are proud to highlight Cherokee County's Community Garden project. Watch the video below to see how the community of Cherokee is making a difference through the support of 5-2-1-0! The Cherokee Community School District and Hy-Vee partnered to create a community garden on land between the two sites. Raised beds were constructed by the high school shop class and Hy-Vee works with K-12 students to plant and harvest the garden.

"The rolling produce harvested from the garden beds will benefit the school’s nutrition education and the community’s fresh produce availability," said Victoria Halloran, grant administrator for Cherokee. "These gardens increase students’ access to hands-on nutrition education and offer outdoor classrooms for students."

Community members are also able to pick and take home produce grown in the gardens and excess produce will be donated to the food pantry. As the garden programming grows, picnic tables will be added to host outdoor classrooms. MORE: Learn about Cherokee's other 5-2-1-0 projects Learn more here. Get your community involved with 5-2-1-0! Are you interested in learning more about how your community can get involved with 5-2-1-0? Take this survey and we will be in touch! Take survey here. There are FREE resources and action guides for schools, early care providers, after-school programs, workplaces and health care clinics. Access them here. Ready to make the commitment? Sign-up your school, early care site, out-of-school program, workplace or health care clinic as a 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! site. Registration is free, easy and gives your site access to exclusive resources and technical assistance. Register your site here.

Iowa Association of Councils of Governments and the Healthiest State Initiative are proud to highlight Segeant Bluff's NEOS 360 installation project. Watch the video below to see how the community of Sergeant Bluff is making a difference through the support of 5-2-1-0!

The city recently purchased a park at 901 First Street and decided to design the park with accessibility in mind. All of the park's planned amenities – including a basketball court, shelter, restrooms, splash pad and green space – will be ADA-accessible.

With the help of 5-2-1-0 funds, the city has also purchased a NEOS 360 game system for the playground.

The NEOS 360 is an interactive piece of playground equipment that was recently installed in Sergeant Bluff's newest park. Players can choose from multiple games which prompts the NEOS 360 to display lights and play music. The equipment is unique for the area.

"Kids of all ages gather at the NEOS 360 for lots of fun, laughter and physical activity," said Lexi Dolentina, Assistant Parks & Recreation Director. "Thanks to this 5-2-1-0 funded project, we have been able to provide another opportunity for our community to get out and moving while playing with an electronic piece of equipment."

The Iowa Association of Councils of Governments in coordination with the member Councils of Governments have created a resiliency toolkit that has specific regional resources. You may view the document and resources by going to https://www.iowaresilience.com/  to download the toolkit.

This has been a great coordination with Capture Management Solutions, Bill Menner Group and Lincoln Savings Bank. The resiliency toolkit is to help those businesses, nonprofits and communities navigate getting back from the pandemic and helps create a road map for any natural or economic disaster in the future.

May 29, 2020

For Immediate Release

 

Media Contact:

Mike Norris, Vice President, Homes for Iowa

319-753-4310

mnorris@seirpc.com

 

Homes for Iowa is the recipient of a $5,000 grant from the Alliant Energy Foundation. The grant will help Homes for Iowa, Inc. continue its mission to address Iowa's housing shortage, train offenders in skilled trades and reduce recidivism.

 

The generous support from the Alliant Energy Foundation will be used to purchase tools and equipment used to train offenders in skilled building trades.  All training is delivered through a Home Performance Laborer registered apprenticeship. Homes for Iowa anticipates training over 300 offenders in the next 10 years.

 

Homes for Iowa partners with Iowa Prison Industries to train offenders from the Newton Correctional Facility and Newton Correctional Release Center to build quality, stick-built homes that are shipped in one piece to home sites and set on the foundation. A 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 1,200 square foot home is available in 2020 for $75,000 delivered and set. Site costs are the responsibility of the developer/buyer.

 

In 2020 Homes for Iowa has delivered two homes, to Jefferson and Perry, IA, respectively. Another 16 homes are planned to be delivered to various parts of the state in 2020.

 

Homes for Iowa, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, go to www.homesforia.com.