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STORIES
Surface Transportation Block Grant Application Available Now
The Region 10 Regional Planning Affiliation (RPA 10), which is staffed by ECICOG, recently announced the opportunity for local...
Jan 26, 20231 min read
Walker Completes Goal Setting and Capital Improvement Plan
On January 4, the City of Walker completed a goal setting and capital improvement plan with help from ECICOG. The project began in...
Jan 26, 20231 min read
Housing Trust Funds Receive Record Awards
In December, the Iowa Finance Authority awarded a record $11 million to the state’s 26 Local Housing Trust Funds, two of which are...
Jan 26, 20231 min read
Check Out Our 2022 Annual Report
The ECICOG 2022 Annual Report is printed and available online. This year’s report focuses on the projects and grants administered by each...
Jan 26, 20231 min read
Welcome New ECICOG Fellow Justice Inkoom!
In January, Justice Inkoom started in the position of ECICOG Planning Fellow. Justice has a doctorate from the University of Bonn...
Jan 26, 20231 min read
A Fresh Look for Main Street
(Google Street View images) Four years ago, the City of Anamosa was looking for ways to leverage its history and architectural assets by...
Nov 28, 20223 min read
ECICOG Receives NADO Impact Award for Watershed Work
ECICOG was recognized by the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for its work with the Iowa Watershed Approach over...
Nov 16, 20221 min read
Washington County Minibus Facility Renovation Complete
Washington County Minibus facility hosted a ribbon-cutting and open house in October to celebrate an extensive renovation, which was...
Nov 16, 20221 min read
Iowa City Completes Five-Year Strategic Plan
In March, the City of Iowa City engaged ECICOG to assist with the development of a five-year strategic plan. The multifaceted planning...
Nov 16, 20221 min read
$412,105 EDA Grant to Expand Rural Ideas Network
In partnership with ECICOG, the Rural Ideas Network has been awarded a $412,105 grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA)...
Nov 16, 20221 min read
Kirkwood Awarded $792,848 Grant to Remodel Hangar for Training Future Aircraft Mechanics
Kirkwood Community College received a grant from the Economic Development Administration to renovate a hangar at the Eastern Iowa Airport...
Nov 16, 20221 min read
Swisher, Oxford and Anamosa to Start Comprehensive Planning Process
ECICOG has begun work on a comprehensive plan update for Swisher and will start similar work in Oxford and Anamosa over the next few...
Nov 16, 20221 min read
Watch This Webinar to Learn How Innovation Labs Support Rural Entrepreneurs and Main Streets
On Thursday, September 22, we learned how communities can convert underused spaces into entrepreneurial hubs, when ECICOG hosted a...
Sep 26, 20221 min read
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
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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