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STORIES


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 31, 20251 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 31, 20251 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 31, 20251 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 31, 20251 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 31, 20251 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 13, 20251 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 13, 20251 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 13, 20251 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 13, 20251 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 13, 20251 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 13, 20251 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 13, 20251 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 13, 20251 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


Belle Plaine Awarded Disaster Recovery Funding for Downtown Housing
The City of Belle Plaine was recently awarded $390,000 in CDBG Disaster Recovery funding to rehabilitate the upper story of the historic...
Sep 17, 20241 min read



ECICOG Local Government Recharge Day Set for May 14th!
ECICOG’s annual Local Government Recharge Day will be held on May 14 from 8:30am-4pm at Fireside Winery in Marengo. Sessions include: Legislative Updates with the Iowa League of Cities, ISU’s First impressions Program, Think Before You Act: IT Security and Fraud, Community Building in an Era of Disengagement and Distrust, and Creating Your Own Calm with Transformational Coach Kate Moreland and more! The $75 registration fee includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Don’t mi
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Welcome and Farewell: ECICOG Leadership Changes
ECICOG welcomed the following new board members in January: Doug Boddicker; City of Newhall Aaron Sandersfeld; City of Williamsburg Steve Dodson; City of Hiawatha Nicholas Gluba; City of Lone Tree Melanie Bimson; Washington Economic Development Group Megan Alter; City of Iowa City ECICOG would like to thank the following board members whose appointments ended in 2025: Mary Audia; Washington Economic Development Bruce Visser; City of Atkins Chris Hoffman; City of North Liberty
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ECICOG Receives $3.3 Million from HUD to Address Lead Hazard Mitigation and Other Safety Concerns in Homes
In December, ECICOG received notice from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development that a Lead Hazard Reduction Grant in the amount of $2,964,980 was awarded to ECICOG address lead-based paint hazards in pre-1978 housing throughout our region. A grant contract was executed in February. ECICOG is grateful to its partners, including the Housing Fund for Linn County, Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County, East Central Iowa Housing Trust Fund, the City of Cedar Rapids, an
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