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STORIES
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
Iowa Energy Office Seeks Input on New Grant Program for Energy Efficiency Projects
The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) is conducting a survey that will aid in the development of the Energy Efficiency and...
Mar 21, 20231 min read
ECICOG Receives NADO Impact Award for Watershed Innovation
In 2016, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded Iowa a $97 million grant through the National Disaster...
Mar 13, 20232 min read
Iowa City “Thinks Big” in New 5-Year Strategic Plan
Last year, the City of Iowa City’s leaders realized that rapidly changing economic and social conditions demanded a more rigorous...
Feb 28, 20233 min read
Up to $250,000 Available in Loans to Organizations or Entities for Linn County Housing Initiatives
The Board of Directors of the Housing Fund for Linn County (HFfLC) is making up to $250,000 available in loans to for-profit or nonprofit...
Feb 21, 20231 min read
Hometown Pride Program Helps Communities Build on Their Unique Strengths
Five communities recently became the first in our Region to take on a new program of self-assessment and planning called Hometown Pride,...
Feb 16, 20233 min read
Scoring Success on the Course
Stephen Kahler had all the experience needed to make a success of the Amana Colonies Golf Club when it came on the market. He had golf in...
Feb 7, 20234 min read
CDBG Derecho Recovery Applications Top $22 Million
On January 12, ECICOG’s Housing Department submitted 11 applications to the Iowa Economic Development Authority for more than $22 million...
Jan 26, 20231 min read
Washington Awarded $400K Home Rehabilitation Grant
The City of Washington will receive a $400,000 share of a $4 million grant from the Home Rehabilitation Block Grant Pilot Program made...
Jan 26, 20231 min read
ECICOG to Offer In-Person Open Meeting Training
A new state law adopted in 2025 requires all newly elected officials and those appointed to governmental bodies to complete a training on the responsibilities and requirements for open meetings and open records laws. This includes county supervisors, city council members, library boards, planning and zoning commissions, boards of adjustments, landfill commissions, entities created through 28E agreements and more. The training must be completed within 90 days of an official ta
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IEDA Releases 2026 CDBG Programs
The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) released their 2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) opportunities in December. Continuing programs include downtown revitalization (now called commercial façades grant), water/sewer(including stormwater), upper story housing and community facilities. New programs include: Pocket Parks – rehabilitation or construction of a small park/recreation area. Maximum award of $150,000 with 25% match required. Streetscapes – Eligib
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Central City Awarded $1.4 Million to Replace Pedestrian Bridge
Congratulations to the City of Central City on their recent statewide Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program (TAP) award. The city received a grant of $1.4 million for their $1.75 million project to replace the unrepairable pedestrian portion of their Main Street Bridge with a separated 320-foot pedestrian bridge providing a safe route for students accessing Central City Community Schools. ECICOG assisted the city by writing the TAP application. The TAP program is a fe
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