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STORIES
Olin Digs in to Build Community Garden With 5-2-1-0 Grant
The town of Olin has a brand-new community garden, thanks to the collaboration of individuals and several organizations who convened in...
Jul 28, 20231 min read
Hometown Pride Project Aims to Save Shellsburg Icon
The Shellsburg Hometown Pride Committee recently identified the restoration of the iconic Gold Medal Flour Mural as a top priority and...
Jul 28, 20231 min read
CDBG Grant Brings New Playground Equipment to Ainsworth
This spring, the City of Ainsworth installed new playground equipment with help from a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), which...
Jul 28, 20231 min read
ECICOG Welcomes New Environmental Specialist
Josh Ventling is joining the Environmental Services Department as an Environmental Specialist. Josh graduated from the University of Iowa...
Jul 28, 20231 min read
Don't Miss Out! Cedar Rapids to Host League of Cities' Annual Conference
The Iowa League of Cities will hold its annual conference and Exhibit on September 20-22 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids...
Jul 28, 20231 min read
PATCH Still Repairing Derecho-Damaged Housing and Winning Awards
As East Central Iowans were finding new ways to cooperate in devastated neighborhoods after the 2020 derecho storm, they did the same at...
Jul 26, 20233 min read
Help Us to Plan for Trails and Sidewalks in our Region
Do you want to see more sidewalks and trails for walking and biking in and around your community? ECICOG is working on a new Active...
May 19, 20231 min read
ECICOG Administering Johnson CountyHousing Rehabilitation Program
Johnson County recently contracted with ECICOG to administer a new Home Rehabilitation and Emergency Repair Program using funds...
May 19, 20231 min read
IEDA Downtown Forum to Be Held in Mount Vernon
The Iowa Downtown Resource Center, a program of Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), will offer four interactive downtown forums...
May 19, 20231 min read
Iowa Waste Exchange Finds Ways to Divert Usable Materials From Landfills
Iowa’s landfills already contain far too much waste that could have been reused, but thanks to the Iowa Waste Exchange (IWE), about 4...
May 19, 20231 min read
Middle Cedar Watershed Brochure Wins Content Award
ECICOG, along with Benson & Hepker Design of Iowa City, The University of Iowa, The City of Cedar Rapids, and Tru Art Color Graphics,...
May 19, 20231 min read
Let Your Voice Be Heard: Take the 380 Express Rider Survey
If you ride the 380 Express or wish it were available to you, ECICOG wants to hear from you! You can provide your opinions and tell us...
May 19, 20231 min read
Climate Action Plan to Make Funding Available for Pollution Reduction
ECICOG is applying to the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program (CPRG) for funds to develop a climate action plan for the Cedar...
May 19, 20231 min read
ECICOG Welcomes Two New Staff Members
In April, ECICOG added two members to the Housing team to keep up with new housing grants and growing interest in the nuisance...
May 19, 20231 min read
ECICOG Helps Small Communities Address Problem Properties
Many communities in our region have a zoning ordinance with nuisance regulations, which enable a city to take action to remove dangerous...
Apr 4, 20233 min read
$15 Million in Disaster Recovery Housing Grants Awarded
The Iowa Economic Development Administration (IEDA) recently awarded CDBG-Disaster Recovery funding that will create 129 new housing...
Mar 21, 20231 min read
Anamosa to Start Second Phase of Downtown Revitalization
The City of Anamosa will receive a $650,000 CDBG-Downtown Revitalization award for the second phase of their storefront remodeling...
Mar 21, 20231 min read
ECIHTF Receives $177,360 Housing Rehabilitation Award
The Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Des Moines’ Affordable Housing Program recently awarded a $177,360 grant submitted by the ECICOG...
Mar 21, 20231 min read
Deadline Approaching for Intent to Qualify for Broadband Intervention Zone
The application for the Intent to Qualify (ITQ) for designation of a Broadband Intervention Zone through the Iowa Office of the Chief...
Mar 21, 20231 min read
Additional Derecho Recovery Grants Now Available
This phase of the special CDBG funding for derecho recovery has three components: tree canopy and replanting (Linn and Benton counties),...
Mar 21, 20231 min read
Downtown Mentors Available
As part of the implementation of Envision East Central Iowa, several seasoned economic development professionals in our region have...
Mar 21, 20231 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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