|
Primary Purpose of Position:
*The primary purpose of this position is to drive and operate vehicles to provide, on demand, rural public transportation services in Adair, Adams, Clarke, Decatur, Ringgold, Taylor, and Union Counties in Iowa. Services are provided in town, in county, out of county or out of area. Public transportation services are provided between 7:00 and 4:00 Monday through Friday.
Education and Experience:
*High school diploma or general education degree (GED), and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Five years driving experience required with at least three months of experience driving transit or passenger vehicles preferred.
Licenses and Requirements:
*Valid Driver’s License (chauffer or CDL with passenger endorsement)
*DOT Physical
*Pre-employment, random, and post-accident drug, and alcohol test
*Criminal background check
*Child abuse check
*Driving record check
|
|
|
The following are deadlines for popular grants our members and associated organizations should consider. The SICOG due date is a date when the applicant should have all relevant information to SICOG to finish the application on time. SICOG has the staff and experience to assist our communities submitting the best possible applications for these funds. There are many other sources, so if you have project, please contact us.
|
|
| Source/Program |
Funding Uses |
SICOG Due Date |
| FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program |
Hazard mitigation plans and projects, including tornado safe rooms, building and utility retrofits, minor flood control projects, elevations and relocations of buildings in flood hazard areas and storm water management projects (Eligible: local governments and some nonprofits) |
Floating (NOIs as soon as possible) |
| RISE Local Development Grant |
Funding to provide road/street access to expand business opportunities (Eligible: local governments). |
September 15 |
| Statewide Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) |
Provides IDOT funding for transportation-related projects that reduce auto transportation, such as trail improvements, cycling facilities, improvements to transportation corridors, wayfinding projects, and others. This grant is specifically for statewide impact projects or that cross multiple county boundaries. |
September 15 |
| IEDA Destination Iowa Program |
Destination Iowa is an ARPA $100 million pool of funds that consists of four funding programs. These are: Economically Significant Development Fund, Outdoor Recreation Fund, Tourism Fund, and Creative Placemaking Fund. The first three funds are more traditional in nature and include capital projects that address these three areas. The creative placemaking pool funds a small number of very large placemaking projects on a long-term basis (Eligible: local governments and certain nonprofits, with some exceptions). |
September 15 |
| Iowa Tourism Grants |
$2,500 to $10,000 grants to promote tourism in Iowa by funding tourism-related marketing initiatives, meetings, and events that benefit both local economies and the State’s economy – 25% match required. (Eligible: local governments, certain nonprofits, tourism related organizations). |
September 20 |
| Branching Out |
Tree planting projects in public spaces; grants up to $5,000 are available (Eligible: Cities served by Alliant Energy) |
September 30 |
| Wastewater and Drinking Water Financial Assistance Program (SEE ARTICLE) |
Grants up to $500,000 for water and wastewater projects that have a direct impact on the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, such as new treatments, storm water improvements, and related projects (Eligible: local governments, water and sewer operators, and IDNR permit holders) |
October 10 |
| IDNR Fish Habitat Program and Wildlife Habitat Promotion |
Programs and projects to improve fishing and wildlife habitat. (Eligible: County conservation boards) |
November 1 |
| IEDA CDBG Upper Story Conversion Program (SEE ARTICLE) |
Renovation/rehab of upper story space into affordable and mixed-income rental housing in downtown areas; up to 7 units owned by one developer or owner can be improved (Eligible: local governments, development agreement with a developer). |
September 15 |
| IEDA CDBG Downtown Revitalization Program (SEE ARTICLE) |
Grants up to $650,000 for renovation of exterior facades of at least 6 buildings (8 to get full grant amount) in downtown areas (Eligible: local governments). |
September 15 |
| CDBG Water and Sewer Program (SEE ARTICLE) |
Water and wastewater capital improvements: plants, mains, lagoons, pumps, towers, etc. (Eligible: local governments) |
October 30 (next quarterly round) |
| Iowa West Foundation |
Community development, economic development, education, and human needs projects (Eligible: local governments and nonprofits serving Adams and Taylor Counties) |
November 1 |
| IDNR Solid Waste Alternatives Program |
Program to encourage landfill alternatives – recycling, diversion, new technologies, new manufacturing processes, etc. (Eligible: local governments and certain nonprofits) |
November 1 |
| IEDA Enhance Iowa Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) Grant |
Funds for capital projects, such as trails, libraries, community centers, pavilions, entertainment venues, museums, recreational facilities, and more (Eligible: local governments and certain nonprofits). |
November 1 (if funds remain after July round) |
| IFA Iowa HOME Program (SEE ARTICLE) |
Housing Program for developers with 10 years of housing experience – ownership and rental, including new construction, rehab, and adaptive reuse; up to 80% of the area median income (Eligible: local governments, COGs, developers, non-profits). |
November 15 |
| IHSEMD Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program (SEE ARTICLE) |
Funding from FEMA to support the development of hazard mitigation projects, mostly related to flooding but also including other activities (Eligible: local governments, some non-profits). |
November 15 |
| Community Catalyst Building Remediation Program |
Grants to communities for the redevelopment, rehabilitation or deconstruction of buildings to stimulate economic growth or reinvestment in the community. Strong applications will show the potential of catalytic economic growth in the community; improve appearances & safety; make use of underutilized property, exhibit appropriate design standards; and be well-funded (Eligible: local governments who apply on behalf of private property owners). |
November 30 |
| Theater Catalyst Grant |
Provides IEDA Catalyst Grants specifically to renovate and revitalize former or operating theaters, including movie and live show theaters. This is a specific set-aside to address the detrimental impacts of COVID and a changing economy ((Eligible: local governments who apply on behalf of private property owners). |
November 30 |
| IEDA CDBG Comprehensive Neighborhood Development Planning Grant (SEE ARTICLE) |
This is a new program using State CDBG funds. This will result in grants up to $25,000 to hire a consultant to prepare a plan addressing specific deliverables that can be used toward the eligibility for CDBG Neighborhood Development Funds in 2023 for multi-disciplinary projects, such as sewer, water, housing, and other investments in a targeted area (Eligible: local governments). |
Ongoing, until funds run out |
CDBG Community Facilities and
Services (SEE ARTICLE) |
This annual competitive program offers grants to assist communities for a variety of projects including day care facilities, senior centers, vocational workshops and other community services such as storm water projects. (Eligible: local governments) |
Ongoing, until funds run out |
| Iowa Historic Preservation Tax Credits – small projects |
Up to 25% of project cost in the form of a State tax credit to offset the costs of the building rehabilitation or restoration. Project must affect a designated historic building on the National Register of Historic Places. Projects can have eligible costs up to $750,000 (Eligible: property owners – governments can partner to mobilize the project). |
Ongoing |
| ITC/ IRDC "Power of Connection" Community Grant Program |
Grants up to $5,000 for capacity building, strategic planning, studies or assessments for a variety of community programs and issues (Eligibility: rural communities) |
Ongoing |
| Highway Safety Improvement |
Provides grants for low-cost, systematic safety improvements in the $10,000/mile range, focusing on lane departure crashes. (Eligible: local governments) |
Ongoing |
Traffic Engineering Assistance
Program (TEAP) |
Provides 100 hours of engineering assistance for operations and traffic safety issues. (Eligible: local governments) |
Ongoing |
|
|
|
As always, SICOG provides this un-exhaustive list of grants to generate ideas about possible projects and provide funding guidance. Grant funding sources are increasingly interested in creative solutions to problems and many are willing to support not just construction but also operations. If your community has a problem that outside funding might address, then please contact your SICOG office. We would be glad to help and can attend a local meeting at no cost to discuss the project or idea.
|
|
|
Importance of Adequate Record-keeping and Following Procedures
No one wants to talk about record-keeping and procedures, but it is vitally important. Recently, I was working on updating a zoning map for one of our cities, and my task was to take the 20-year-old official map and make a new one with all the changes made in the past 20 years. The information supplied by the new city clerk had some glaring problems:
- Incomplete files, with things like maps and documentation of approval missing;
- Lack of documentation that the city council reviewed the planning and zoning commission’s recommendations;
- Lack of correspondence between staff and elected officials;
- Incoherent descriptions of zoning requests.
Needless to say, creating an accurate zoning map from this information was a challenge and could only be done with the caveat that the zoning map is the best representation of amendments presented.
The issue could have been prevented had the city staff at that time maintained good records that included all forms, maps, and correspondence related to each request so that future staff could recreate the process later. Instead we have a zoning map which contains zoning changes that appear to never have been approved by the City Council, as there is no record in past council minutes. These changes technically are illegal, yet development has occurred according to what was proposed.
The solution is for local planning staff to create a filing system that includes standard forms and files that future staff and elected officials can easily find and use. A zoning amendment filing system, for example, may include (for each amendment request) files for: a) the existing zoning map, b) the written zoning amendment proposal, including a drawing or map of the area involved, c) written report from zoning administrator upon reviewing the request and visiting the site, d) planning and zoning agenda with the project listed, e) minutes from P&Z meeting, f) public hearing documents, including proof of publication and notices to people in the project area, g) council meeting agenda, h) council meeting minutes, i) correspondence with applicant about the results of the process, including building permits, and j) a statement showing the change textually and even on the map. A consistent file system like this will make map updates and enforcement much easier to complete.
|
|
|
|
