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STORIES


Colonial Lanes Expanding with ECICOG Loan
Iowa City based Colonial Lanes will begin an expansion of their business thanks to a $260,000 loan from ECICOG. The longtime bowling...
Mar 311 min read


Hills Hometown Pride Mural Nearing Completion
Progress on the Hills Hometown Pride Mural is underway; the mural project is a collaboration between Hills Hometown Pride, the University...
Mar 311 min read


Save the Date - ECICOG Local Government Recharge Day Set for May 8th
ECICOG will be hosting its annual Local Government Recharge Day on Thursday, May 8 from 9am - 3:30pm at Fireside Winery in Marengo....
Mar 311 min read
Welcome New ECICOG Board Members
ECICOG welcomed the following new board members in January: Nick Herbold; University Heights City Council Brandy Z. Meisheid; Linn County...
Mar 311 min read


ISU Hosts Workshops for Local Government Officials
Iowa State Extension will be offering several trainings and workshops that may be beneficial for local government officials. On April...
Mar 311 min read


March 25th and April 8 Webinars Will Focus on Rural Residential Recruitment and Housing
Greater IC Inc. and Johnson County are hosting two webinars featuring Ben Winchester, Rural Sociologist, and Researcher, discussing...
Mar 311 min read


Check Out the 2024 ECICOG Annual Report!
For an in depth look at all of the great projects and initiatives completed by ECICOG in 2024, check out our annual report. While much of...
Feb 131 min read


Housing Trust Funds in ECICOG Region Awarded Grants
ECICOG recently learned that all three 2024 Federal Home Loan Bank Affordable Housing Program applications were awarded, totaling over...
Feb 131 min read


Trip Connect in Johnson County Offers a New Transit Option
People in Johnson County have a new transportation option during evenings and weekends to access employment and education. Trip Connect...
Feb 131 min read


TAP Program Brings New Trails to Region
The Region 10 Regional Planning Agency (RPA 10), which is staffed by ECICOG, recently awarded funding to several trails across the...
Feb 131 min read


ECICOG Celebrates Two Years of Successful Hometown Pride Program
Five communities in East Central Iowa—Hills, Springville, Walker, Center Point, and Shellsburg—are marking their second year of...
Feb 131 min read


Homes For Iowa: An Affordable Housing Option for Local Communities
Does your community have a need for more affordable housing options? Homes for Iowa is a public-private partnership with Iowa Prison...
Feb 131 min read


Lindsey Given Egli is New Iowa Waste Exchange Specialist
Lindsey Given Egli has been promoted to the role of Iowa Waste Exchange (IWE) specialist and is available to help your company or...
Feb 131 min read


Welcome Emma Harkins to ECICOG
Help us extend a warm welcome to Emma Harkins, who recently started as the new Housing Grants Administration Specialist. Emma will be...
Feb 131 min read


NewBo City Market Receives $1.3 Million EDA Grant for Renovations and Expansion
On September 18th, EDA announced that the NewBo City Market was awarded a grant for a renovation to support small businesses. The EDA...
Nov 25, 20241 min read


Center Point Cuts Ribbon on new CDBG Disaster Recovery Housing Project
The City of Center Point recently had the honor of welcoming the Iowa EDA to celebrate the completion of a 42 unit housing development....
Nov 25, 20241 min read


Revolving Loan Fund Program Helps Business Across ECICOG Region
Businesses in Marion and Iowa City have recently utilized Revolving Loan Funds (RLF) administered by ECICOG to expand and enhance their...
Nov 25, 20241 min read


Mount Vernon Updates Zoning Code to Allow Accessory Dwellings
The City of Mount Vernon recently adopted a zoning amendment ordinance prepared by ECICOG that added accessory dwelling units (ADU) as a...
Nov 25, 20241 min read


First Cohort Completes Strategic Doing Facilitation Training for Envision East Central Iowa
A group of regional leaders convened on November 20th and 21st to learn the Strategic Doing method of group facilitation. Strategic Doing...
Nov 25, 20241 min read


Linn County Housing Needs Assessment Receives National NADO Award
ECICOG is honored to have been awarded a 2024 NADO ALICEANN WOHLBRUCK IMPACT AWARD for work completed by our staff lead Deanna Robinson...
Sep 17, 20241 min read


Envision East Central Iowa EDA Grant
ECICOG successfully obtained an Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to accelerate work related to Envision East Central...
Sep 17, 20241 min read



Homes for Iowa Receives 2025 HousingIowa Award
Congratulations to the Homes for Iowa Team on winning a HousingIowa Award! The Iowa Association of Councils of Government played a key role in establishing this successful program. Beyond providing affordable housing options, the program also helps prison inmates learn valuable construction skills while building the homes in a controlled environment. ECICOG has assisted with numerous Homes for Iowa projects throughout the region. For more information on Homes for Iowa, visit
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Strategic Doing Facilitation Services Available for Projects that Support Envision East Central Iowa
Does your community or non-profit organization have a challenge or goal that requires cross-organization collaboration? Thanks to a grant from the Economic Development Administration, ECICOG has trained Strategic Doing facilitators who can help get your group started! Strategic Doing is a collaborative approach to strategy that emphasizes rapid action, flexible planning, and network-based problem solving. Unlike traditional strategic planning, which often relies on rigid, lon
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Safe Streets and Roads for All Planning Begins
ECICOG was awarded $144,000 from the U.S Department of Transportation to develop the Eastern Iowa Tri-Region Safety Action Plan for ECICOG, Region 6 Resource Partners and Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission. Work is now beginning to hire a consultant to develop the plan that will improve roadway safety for all users. Communities and projects identified in the plan will automatically qualify for Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) construction funding in future y
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