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 participation in the Hometown Pride Program, a statewide initiative led by Keep Iowa Beautiful in partnership with the Iowa Economic Development Authority. In our region, the program is administered by ECICOG, which provides a dedicated coach to guide communities in implementing physical, cultural, and economic improvements that foster community pride.

In 2024 alone, these communities completed 14 Hometown Pride projects, engaging 98 volunteers who collectively contributed 3,888 hours of service. Through a combination of grants, fundraisers, and sponsorships, the communities raised $29,322 to support these initiatives. For more information contact Community Development Specialist Jessica Walker.