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STORIES
Learn How Innovation Labs Support Rural Entrepreneurs and Main Streets
Join us Thursday, September 22, at 10:30 a.m. to learn how your community can convert underused spaces into entrepreneurial hubs! ECICOG...
Sep 16, 20221 min read
Hometown Pride Program to Provide Community Coaching
In August, ECICOG officially formed a partnership with Keep Iowa Beautiful’s Hometown Pride program. Through this program, ECICOG will...
Sep 16, 20221 min read
New Federal Law Delays Regional Transportation Funding Applications
Typically, ECICOG announces the application cycle for regional transportation funding, including Surface Transportation Block Grant...
Sep 16, 20221 min read
ECICOG to Conduct Linn County Housing Study
ECICOG recently finalized a contract with Linn County to perform a study on the state of housing in Linn County. The project will provide...
Sep 16, 20221 min read
Kids Learn Landfill Lessons at Summer Reading Program
Children at thirteen libraries in our region learned about landfills and constructive deconstruction with the help of the ECICOG Summer...
Sep 16, 20221 min read
ECICOG Welcomes Two New Staff, Bids Farewell to Another
Jessica Johnson (left) joins the Community and Economic Development team as a Community Development Specialist. Jessica will devote half...
Sep 16, 20221 min read
Check Out ECICOG’s New and Improved Website
Want to learn more about ECICOG services? Check out our new website at www.ecicog.org! Thank you Vinton-based Monkeythis for helping us...
Sep 16, 20221 min read
Iowa Ideas Conference to be Held in October
Registration is now open for the October 13-14 Iowa Ideas Conference. This online event will connect fellow Iowans for two days of...
Sep 16, 20221 min read
University Heights ARPA Business Assistance Program Application Period Open Through September 30
The City of University Heights is launching a business assistance program to support the recovery of businesses negatively impacted by...
Sep 14, 20221 min read


"Homes for Iowa" Program Delivers Affordable Housing
Many Iowans have found that building an affordable home can seem like an insurmountable challenge, and the pandemic caused labor and...
Aug 24, 20222 min read
"Homes for Iowa" Webinar Available on YouTube
Does your community need affordable single-family homes? ECICOG recently held a webinar about Homes for Iowa – an innovative program...
Jul 16, 20221 min read
Draft of "Envision East Central Iowa" Plan Released
After months of creative collaboration among hundreds of East Central Iowa economic development stakeholders, the Envision East Central...
Jul 15, 20221 min read


Guiding to Goals
When the communities within the watershed of Indian Creek decided to form a management group to create a cleaner and healthier stream,...
Mar 29, 20221 min read


Belle Plaine Downtown Revitalization
The City of Belle Plaine received the state’s first award under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Downtown Revitalization...
Mar 25, 20221 min read


Preparing for the Future
In order to help the City of Lisbon prepare their upcoming Comprehensive Plan, ECICOG assisted the city in hosting an open house to allow...
Mar 24, 20221 min read


Funding Local Businesses
Brewhemia is a Cedar Rapids café “that encompasses a focus on quality beverage while embracing the community and neighborhood of New...
Mar 22, 20221 min read


Supporting Start-Ups
With her mother-in-law, who also has an entrepreneurial spirit, Blanche started making and selling traditional Filipino food at cultural...
Mar 21, 20221 min read


Commuter Solutions
"Just did a little math as I ride this morning: Between fuel and parking savings, your service saves me at least $11 per trip to Iowa...
Mar 18, 20221 min read


Teaching Sustainable Habits
The Davis County Community School District is located in Bloomfield, Iowa, in the southeastern region of the state. In 2016 and 2017 the...
Mar 16, 20221 min read


Providing Training
In 2016, ECICOG was awarded a USDA Solid Waste Management Grant to complete the first phase of a regional solid waste management project....
Mar 14, 20222 min read


Expanding Employment
The ECICOG Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) has had the opportunity to help businesses from all around our region. One of the more successful...
Mar 14, 20222 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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