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 in 2019 to implement the
5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count campaign across Iowa. The initiative promotes environmental and policy changes that support active living and healthy eating, with funding and technical assistance provided to participating communities.
IDPH selected ICOG because our member Councils of Governments (COGs) have strong, established relationships within their communities, enabling swift and effective implementation.
Since its launch, the program has continued to grow—expanding into additional communities and maintaining strong momentum. Now in its seventh year, it has partnered with numerous communities statewide to foster healthier environments and lasting change.
Homes for Iowa
ICOG collaborated with Iowa Prison Industries on an initiative to address the affordable housing crisis in Iowa, particularly in rural communities. This partnership led to the creation of the Homes for Iowa program, which trains inmates to build affordable homes that are then placed in communities across the state.
COGs played a pivotal role in the early success of Homes for Iowa by actively connecting potential buyers to available homes and helping facilitate the buyer process. Their engagement ensured that homes reached the communities most in need and supported local economic development efforts.
Homes for Iowa has proven to be a successful and sustainable solution—delivering quality housing, providing valuable workforce training, and addressing a critical need in Iowa’s housing landscape.
Learn more about Homes for Iowa here.