ECICOG
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      • Business and COVID Recovery Loans
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      • Belle Plaine Organics Management Pilot Program
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Economic Development

ECICOG offers an array of services to organizations that assist with economic development efforts within the ECICOG region. These services include grant writing and management, downtown assessments/revitalization, and process review.  As our regional communities seek economic growth, our ECICOG team is able to provide technical services to aid in those efforts.  

Grant Writing/Management

Our staff maintains an active roster of state and federal grant opportunities that are available to communities and organizations.  ECICOG has the ability to write and administer relevant grants helping source additional resources for projects along with removing the burden of managing grant reporting requirements.  ​
CAT Grant
The Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) program assists communities in the development and creation of multiple purpose attraction or tourism facilities.  CAT awards can help position a community to take advantage of economic development opportunities in tourism and strengthen a community’s competitiveness as a place to work and live.  CAT projects may include but are not limited to the following: museums, theme parks, cultural and recreational centers, recreational trails, heritage attractions, sports arenas, and other attractions. ​
​EDA STEM Challenge Grant
The STEM Challenge Grants provide funding to develop, implement, and expand new work-and-learn models to increase America’s STEM-capable workforce. It is designed to assist communities with grants up to $300,000 for two activities – planning and development, and program implementation. 
Catalyst Grant
The Community Catalyst Building Remediation Program assists communities with the redevelopment, rehabilitation or deconstruction of buildings to stimulate economic growth or reinvestment in the community.  The State awards 40% of these funds to communities of less than 1,500.
Rural Innovation Grant
The Rural Innovation Grant program supports creative, non-traditional ideas that focus on current issues and challenges faced by rural communities associated with the themes of community investment, growth and connection. This program is a result of the Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Initiative’s 2018 Recommendations.
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2021 Resiliency Toolkit for Businesses and Organizations
To help small businesses and organizations plan and prepare for unforeseen emergencies, ECICOG, the Iowa Council of Governments (ICOG), and the Economic Development Administration (EDA) partnered together to create the 2021 Resiliency Toolkit for Small Businesses and Organizations.
 
The toolkit helps incorporate long-term strategies for responding, surviving, and thriving after an emergency or disaster. Case studies, downloadable worksheets, and strategy development resources are provided to help businesses build resiliency into your organization, management, marketing, and finance.  
Download the Toolkit

Downtown Revitalization/Assessment

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ECICOG can provide technical services related to creating or updating a downtown master plan or revitalization plan. ECICOG will provide guidance and facilitate components of the process to provide a deliverable suitable for the community. ​

Rural Recovery Challenge

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​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

proposal instructions
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Karen Kurt
Executive Director
karen.kurt@ecicog.org
319-365-9941​ ext. 122
Adam Bentley
Senior Planner/Economic Development Specialist 
adam.bentley@ecicog.org
319-365-9941 Ext. 127
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regional vision
The Regional Vision functions as ECICOG's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy document. For more information about the Regional Vision please visit the website.
Regional Vision

More About Community Development Projects


Click on the stories below to learn more about how we serve you! ​​
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Downtown Revitalization
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Comprehensive Planning
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Preparing for the Future
More Stories
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700 16th St. NE Suite 301
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
319-365-9941
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Pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987 and other nondiscrimination authorities, it is the policy of the East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) that discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability or income status shall not occur in connection with any of its programs or activities. For more information on Title VI, or to file a complaint please see the Title VI section here. 
  • About
    • Announcements
    • Employment
  • Our Region
  • Services
    • Facilitation
    • Grant Writing & Administration
    • Project Funding & Management
    • Data Analysis & Mapping
    • Planning & Technical Assistance
  • Program Areas
    • Business Loans >
      • Business and COVID Recovery Loans
      • Cedar Rapids Loan
      • Czech Village/NewBo Loan
      • Cedar Rapids MICRO Loan
      • MedQ Loan
      • Marion Loan
      • Swisher Loan
    • Community Development
    • Environmental Services >
      • Belle Plaine Organics Management Pilot Program
    • Housing >
      • East Central Iowa Housing Trust Fund
      • Housing Fund for Linn County
      • PATCH Program
      • Home Buyers Assistance
    • Transportation
    • Economic Development
  • Documents
  • Funding
  • Contact Us