Projects
ICOG PROJECTS
Resilience Toolkit
ICOG in conjunction with it's member Councils of Governments has worked on a Resilience Toolkit for small business, nonprofit and communities.
The purpose of this toolkit is to help entities with preparing to be resilient, managing to be resilient, marketing to be resilient and financing to be resilient. Each of these four sections are important and have step-by-step guides to assist.
Check out the regional resources by going to
5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! Campaign
ICOG was awarded a grant from the Iowa Department of Public Health to implement the 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! campaign into communities across the state of Iowa.
IDPH chose ICOG because our member COGs have relationships in their member communities so they could immediately get working on the campaign.
Four communities were initially chosen in which COGs focused on healthcare, education and early education sectors to develop programs and policy changes within the community.
Iowa Prison Built Affordable Housing Project
ICOG is working on an initiative with Iowa Prison Industries to create an affordable housing program. Affordable housing is in a crisis in Iowa, especially in rural areas.
Based on a model in South Dakota, inmates are trained and enter an apprenticeship program to build affordable 2 and 3 bedroom homes. These homes constructed under supervision inside the prison are then delivered to the lot where a local crew works to connect utilities.
COGs are involved in this project as many work on finding housing solutions in their area. Many run Housing Trust Funds (HTFs) and are needing new affordable homes in their areas to help with the demand for economic development.
H-2A Housing Inspections
ICOG was awarded a grant from Iowa Workforce Development in the Foreign Labor Department, to inspect houses that are in the H-2A program.
This program is designated for employers, primarily in the agribusiness and construction industry, who bring temporary workers here on a H-2A work visa. Housing is a requirement and Iowa Workforce Development needed a partner who had experience with housing inspections and could cover the state of Iowa. ICOG was a natural partner along with our member COGs who complete the inspections.
