DISASTER RECOVERY
Disasters are unpredictable and can happen at any time. Councils of Governments have stepped up to help their communities in time of need.
Value of disaster recovery supported by COGs in the last three
years:
$24,695,000
Bi-State Regional Commission
Bi-State Regional Commission prepared an EDA grant in late 2020 and early 2021 for Muscatine Levee improvements. The EDA grant funds were through the 2019 disaster declaration.
The $6.4 total project received $3.2 million from EDA to improve the levee along the Mississippi River to further protect the industrial area that includes 215 businesses and 3,000 jobs. The environmental review/signoffs have been completed and the project will be constructed in 2024.
Chariton Valley Planning & Development Council
Chariton Valley Planning & Development Council worked on the project ADLM Regional Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan (ADLM – Appanoose, Davis, Lucas and Monroe counties). The project was located in Appanoose, Davis, Lucas and Monroe counties and all communities within.
They created a regional multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan for the 4 counties in 2021 after numerous disasters were occurring like “Derecho” and a pandemic to update and ensure the region was covered as an approved plan. This 1 document was completed instead of 4 individual plans that were each 450+ pages to make things more streamlined with recovery efforts, projects and estimated replacement costs, etc per the guidelines from FEMA/Iowa Homeland Security.
Key Partners are ADLM Emergency Management team, all the counties, communities, schools, hospitals and many other departments and public.
Funding included $90,000 from federal resources and $5,000 from local resources.
East Central Iowa Council of Governments
ECICOG's disaster recovery project is Providing Assistance to Community Homeowners (PATCH) in Linn County.
Housing repair emerged as a critical concern following the derecho as many homeowners faced a substantial gap in insurance coverage. Multiple Linn County organizations united to create PATCH (Providing Assistance to Community Homeowners) to support low-to-moderate income homeowners in dire need of crucial repairs. The Housing Fund for Linn County received all donated funds and contracted with ECICOG to administer the program along with area partners Matthew 25, Neighborhood Finance Corporation, and Waypoint Services. In total, the PATCH Program received over
$3.4 million from the United Way of East Central Iowa, Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, the City of Cedar Rapids, and Linn County.
East Central Iowa Council of Governments
Another ECICOG disaster recovery project is the Fire Station Rebuild in Atkins.
The City of Atkins suffered a devastating loss following the derecho with the collapse of their fire station.
In 2021, the City engaged ECICOG to assist with grant administration support for a FEMA Public Assistance grant to construct a new fire station on the same site as City Hall. ECICOG has assisted with FEMA communications, information requests, and federal requirements. The proposed project is in final review with FEMA. Construction bidding can begin upon completion of that review.
East Central Iowa Council of Governments
An additional disaster recovery project for ECICOG is the Community Development Clock Grants for Derecho Recovery located in Linn and Benton counties.
ECICOG worked with local governments to secure over
$18 million in CDBG Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding for new housing, generators and tree canopy restoration. As a result, 129 new rental and for-sale housing units, 12 fixed generators, and hundreds of trees will be added to our region. New generators will be added to public facilities in Alburnett, Belle Plaine, Central City, Ely (2) Hiawatha (3), Marion Library, Mt Vernon, Norway and Linn County 3rd Fire District. Tree canopy restoration will take place in Belle Plaine, Hiawatha, Marion, Benton County and Linn County. New housing projects are being initiated in Atkins, Belle Plaine, Center Point, Marion (3), Walker, and rural Linn County.
Southwest Iowa Planning Council
Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) has been heavily involved in disaster recovery efforts from historic flooding in 2019 along the Missouri River. Approximately 240 housing units are in various stages of completion, funded by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Recovery.
Part of this effort is a 40-home new subdivision in Woodbine called Harvest Hills that is nearing completion by NuStyle Development Corporation. These new homes and supporting infrastructure will allow displaced flood victims an opportunity to return to an area they prefer to live in at an affordable price. It will also benefit low to moderate income families that want to put down roots in the community. 38 buyers have been income qualified for this project.
Two other major projects nearing completion in the city of Glenwood are a 40-home development called Arbor Hills with Mark Hughes Construction and the Burr Oak Apartment Complex developed by Travis Overhue.
Developers receive a $100,000 reimbursement to build the homes valued at around $275,000 so they can be sold at a more affordable $175,000 price tag. Hayes said some individuals have also worked with USDA to secure loans, which has been very helpful. Many of the spots in Glenwood also have buyers ready.