Our Areas of Expertise:
Community Development
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Housing
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Transportation
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Economic Development
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Environmental Services
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Business Loans
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What can we help you with?
Planning & Technical Assistance
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Facilitation
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AnnouncementsCan ECICOG Help with Your 2021 Goals?
Our organization was jointly created by Benton, Johnson Jones, Iowa, Linn, and Washington counties to assist rural communities with technical planning expertise. Need some help with goal setting for the new year? We can help. Are you looking at long term land use planning? We love doing comprehensive planning in our region. The more we know about your community, the better prepared we are to identify grant opportunities for you! Speaking of grants, are there grants you want to pursue but you aren’t sure how to go about it? Our staff specializes in writing and administering grants. Is your city code out of date? We can help with drafting ordinances or codification. Are you simply short-staffed relative what you want to accomplish? You may want to consider ECICOG for contract planning, building inspection or code enforcement services. Tell us how we can help! Contact Housing and Community Development Director Tracey Achenbach at tracey.achenbach@ecicog.org for more information. Take the Regional Passenger Transportation Survey!
ECICOG is starting work on the region’s five-year Passenger Transportation Plan. Passenger transportation can include public transit, taxi/transportation network (Uber & Lyft), volunteer driving programs, and non-emergency medical transportation. ECICOG is seeking input from residents of our region, whether they are currently using passenger transportation or not. Input from regional transportation agencies and providers is also needed. Surveys are available at ECICOG’s new public engagement online platform, talkto.ecicog.org/ptp until Feb. 1, 2021. Responses are fully confidential and appreciated. We are also grateful for shares on social media. For more information, contact Transit Administrator/Planner Brock Grenis at brock.grenis@ecicog.org. A shareable post can be found on our Facebook page. ECICOG Submits Application for first “Homes for Iowa” Project
ECICOG assisted AM Management with the region’s first application for a Homes for Iowa house. Through the Homes for Iowa program, inmates at the Newton Correction Facility are trained in construction trades while constructing affordable homes. Once sold, the homes are transported to locations throughout the state. AM Management’s house will be located in Iowa City and is scheduled to arrive in May. AM Management anticipates applying for four additional homes this year. Iowa’s Council of Governments helped to create the Homes for Iowa program and assists communities and developers with placing homes. Visit homesforia.com to learn more about the program. Contact Housing and Community Development Director Tracey Achenbach at tracey.achenbach@ecicog.org for more information. Rural Recovery Challenge Funds Still Available
ECICOG is seeking proposals from communities and economic development organizations to support rural economic recovery and resilience following COVID-19. Up to $5,000 is available to implement proposals from selected organizations. Interested parties are asked to include an overview of their project, goals of the project, how the project positively impacts our rural communities, and how the project ties back to economic recovery and resiliency in their proposal. Three challenge projects are already underway:
Contact Economic Development Specialist Adam Bentley at adam.bentley@ecicog.org for more information. PATCH Program Launches
ECICOG is proud to announce the launch of the Providing Assistance to Community Homeowners (PATCH) Program! The Program aims to fill a gap in resources following the Derecho storm. The program will provide support, referrals, and financial assistance to low-to-moderate income Linn County homeowners impacted by the storm. Please visit the PATCH Program page to learn more and find out how to apply! Vertical Divider
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Funding OpportunitiesRural Heritage Revitalization Grant
Due: February 1 Properties on the historical register or listed as a national historic landmark may be eligible for Iowa’s Rural Heritage Grants. Grant awards will be between $75,000 and $125,000. Local governments or non-profits with 501(c)3 status are eligible to apply. Properties must be located in an area of 50,000 or fewer residents. The deadline to apply is February 1, 2021. More information can be found here. Contact Economic Development Specialist Adam Bentley at adam.bentley@ecicog.org for assistance. Derelict Building Grant Program
Due: February 26 The Derelict Building Program through the Iowa DNR is available for Iowa towns of 5,000 or fewer residents. The program will address neglected commercial or public structures that have sat vacant for at least six months. The Program has two primary focuses: landfill diversion through the recycling and reuse of building materials, and the elimination of hazards posed by empty structures. The application deadline is Friday, February 26, 2021 for applicants seeking: funding assistance with asbestos inspections, asbestos abatement, structural engineering analysis, site assessments, building deconstruction, and building renovation expenses. Learn more here. Contact Environmental Services Director Jennifer Fencl at jennifer.fencl@ecicog.org for assistance. Wellmark MATCH Grant
Due: February 17 The Wellmark Foundation offers two competitive Matching Assets to Community Health (MATCH) grant opportunities in 2021. The MATCH grants are designed to support projects that provide access to healthy foods or create or enhance a safe environment to be physically active in. These grants also require a matching component in the form of cash or in-kind support. The 2021 Large MATCH grant application is now available. Large MATCH grant awards are up to a maximum request amount of $100,000 for projects that will be successfully completed by December 2023. To view the MATCH Grant Request for Applications and to view previous Wellmark Foundation MATCH grant recipients, visit Wellmark.com/Foundation. Contact Transportation Director Mary Rump at mary.rump@ecicog.org for assistance. CDBG Water/Sewer Grant
Due: April 1 This competitive program offers grants to assist cities and counties with water and sewer infrastructure improvements including sanitary sewer system improvements, water system improvements, water and wastewater treatment facilities, storm sewer projects related to sanitary sewer system improvements and rural water connections. Winter applications are due January 1. Learn more here. Contact Environmental Specialist John Bruce at john.bruce@ecicog.org for assistance. |
2019 Annual Report
See what changes we've made and how we've been making an impact in our region throughout the year. View ECICOG's 2019 Annual Report here.
See what changes we've made and how we've been making an impact in our region throughout the year. View ECICOG's 2019 Annual Report here.
Regional Vision Scorecard
Check out how our region compares to similar communities across the country! View the scorecard here.
Check out how our region compares to similar communities across the country! View the scorecard here.
