|  | |  | As always, SICOG provides an 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. There are many other sources, so if you have project, please contact us. | | |  | Iowa Home Repair Pilot Program Application Now Open New Program Page Link | Iowa Home Repair Pilot Program Partners:
IFA is pleased to inform you that the application portal for the Iowa Home Repair Pilot Program (HRPP) is now accepting applications. The application portal will remain open for applications through Jan. 31, 2024 at 4:30 p.m., subject to available funding.
You are encouraged to notify households in your area that need critical home repair assistance, including homeowners on your current program waiting lists, and encourage them to apply. Please remember that eligible households must have experienced a financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | | | HRPP Partner Updates and Information | Iowa Homeowner Assistance Fund Program OverviewDec. 20, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. This webinar will outline the framework and federal requirements of the existing Iowa Homeowner Assistance Fund Mortgage Reinstatement Program, which serves as the model for the new Iowa Home Repair Pilot Program (HRPP). IFA staff will discuss the program's eligibility criteria, application process and review procedures and how they compare to those of the HRPP. The session will also offer an opportunity to address any questions partners may have. | | |  |
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| Planner’s Desk – 10 Iowa Smart Planning Principles | In the coming issues of The Windmill, I’ll cover the 10 Iowa Smart Planning Principles, now codified in Iowa Code Chapter 18B. This month, we’ll cover the seventh one: Community Character. The Code reads as follows:
“Community Character – Planning, zoning, development, and resource management should promote activities and development that are consistent with the character and architectural style of the community and should respond to local values regarding the physical character of the community.”
Community character is the only planning principle that is also a specific planning element in the list of 13 Planning Elements. This is because community character involves various quality of life elements of the community and is a goal for the future of the community.
However, it can be difficult to define community character. Perhaps it is best defined as the feeling, values, and thoughts one considers when contemplating the city. It is manifest in the cultural and history, architecture styles, and community events. |
| Elements of the community character may not always be visible. Is the town welcoming? Does it practice democracy? Is it forward-looking? Does it wish to grow, or is preservation of the current situation a bigger concern? Planners writing the community character element of a plan often will use survey questions, observations, and community forums to determine what elements dominate the community character.
A plan may consider how to accentuate the identified community character through things such as community events, design guidelines, historic preservation projects, adoption of a community logo or motto, way finding signs based on a theme, and suggestions for engaging specific demographic groups that are part of the character but underrepresented. Community character can also impact zoning and other ordinances. For example, it can limit the height of wind turbines to address public concerns about aesthetics or housing to single-family homes to preserve neighborhood characteristics.
An often-confusing planning element is a very important part of the planning process with far-reaching impacts on the community. |
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| | Main Street Iowa Community Workshops | The Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Main Street Iowa program will host application workshops in 2024 for communities interested in applying for Main Street Iowa program designation.
The workshops (virtual) will provide an overview of the Main Street Approach™ and Main Street Iowa program, summary of expectations and benefits, the application, competitive designation process and strategies to complete the application. Communities interested in applying are required to pre-register five to ten community representatives for one of the virtual workshops scheduled from 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (12 p.m. – 1 p.m. lunch break) on Wednesday, January 31 or Monday, February 5. Only communities meeting the attendance requirement will be provided access to the 2024 Main Street Iowa application. Each person from your community interested in attending this workshop needs to complete the registration form. It is not required that all representatives registering from the same community register for the same workshop date. However, we recommend that local community leaders watch/participate in the workshop together in a single room. Upon successful registration, each individual will receive a calendar invite that includes a link to join the meeting on the date selected. To register for one of the virtual workshops, click on the date below that best works for you locally. | | | Iowa Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program | The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) just opened a new funding program to assist those interested in implementing community-driven strategies to reduce energy use and fossil fuel emissions through innovative energy efficiency measures or renewable energy deployment. The Iowa Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program is a competitive grant program to fund eligible local energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The first round of applications will be accepted until the deadline of March 18, 2024. A webinar will be held on January 17, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. to provide an overview of the program and application. There are two funding pools.
Eligible applicants to the Community Fund include city and county governments. Eligible projects include: Building energy assessments or audits. Building energy efficiency retrofits. Upgrading wastewater or water supply facilities for energy efficiency. Replacing traffic signals or streetlight lamps with high-efficiency bulbs to improve energy efficiency.
Eligible applicants to the Innovation Fund include local governments, nonprofits and for-profit entities. Eligible projects include: The Iowa EECBG Policies & Procedures Handbook provides details on program requirements, eligibility, application process, evaluation criteria and reporting requirements. Find more information or register for the webinar at www.iowaeda.com/iowa-energy-office/energy-block-grant/.
Please contact Jeff Geerts, program manager, with any questions at jeff.geerts@iowaeda.com or 515.348.6211 or contact Jeremy or Terry at your SICOG office. | | Preparing for Housing as Spring Approaches | It may be cold now, as a winter storm passed through our state, but spring will be here soon, and there will be numerous housing programs accepting applications in the coming months. I want to summarize and outline some of them.
Iowa Workforce Housing Tax Incentive – This program will be opening soon and will remain open until June. This program funds mid-range and affordable housing development, both rental and ownership and both single-family and multi-family. A local government needs to be involved, but the application is open to private and non-profit developers of housing. Those awarded funds receive a partial rebate on sales taxes on materials and an income tax deduction. The income tax portion can be transferred (sold) to another taxpayer who has income tax liability. A $1 million project can gain up to around $150,000 or more in incentives. There is no strict income limits, rental limits, and environmental or Davis-Bacon requirements for this project.
Federal Home Loan Bank Affordable Housing Program – This is a competitive grant available to local governments, non-profits, and for-profits that develop and/or rehab housing. It can also be used for down payment and closing cost assistance. This program funds affordable and low-income housing as well as housing with services. It is available for both rental and ownership and both single-family and multi-family. Projects can be a single-unit or many units. The grant has limits on the subsidy per limit, but it is a great program for making housing more affordable for various income ranges and can fund 50% or more of the project cost. There are no environmental or Davis-Bacon requirements for this project. |
| IEDA Upper Story Conversion Program – This program is likely to open this summer rather than spring, but now is the time to plan for it. This grant can fund up to $550,000 for affordable and low-income upper story housing in a downtown building. The existing space must need considerable renovation and have been vacant or unused for housing for many years. The subsidy can be over $250,000 per unit, making it a great source for property owners with limited resources but that want cash flow for the building. Upper-story housing brings a downtown area alive at all hours. Quality housing helps make the area a destination. This grant is limited to rental units, but it can be scattered sites up to a total of 7 units in the program. There is no minimum unit number threshold. Developers must apply through a local government. If your downtown has buildings that could be good housing, it is helpful to share program information with owners. This grant is federal, so it has income and rent restrictions and environmental and Davis-Bacon requirements.
Please contact Jeremy or Terry at SICOG about any of these grants and any other housing resources. Don’t forget we still have Housing Trust Fund money available. Contact Beth, SICOG Executive Director, for assistance. Grants can stack, so don’t hesitate to explore options. |
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| | Leon 5-2-1-0 Projects Funded | This past week, SICOG was notified that both of Leon’s projects submitted to the Iowa Department of Public Health’s 5-2-1-0 Healthy Eating Active Living Program will receive funding from the program.
Two projects were submitted for funding. One project involves a partnership between the Leon Chamber of Commerce and the city of Leon to replace, update, and revamp signage to identify parks throughout the city of Leon. The second project is a partnership between Friends of Little River Scenic Pathways and Decatur County Conservation Board. This project is to add solar powered, flashing lights to existing trail crossing signs where the trail crosses over Little River Lake Road, as well as a bench. This is Leon’s third and final year in the 5-2-1-0 program. |  |
| Iowa Department of Public Health’s 5-2-1-0 program is currently a 3-year program where small communities are chosen to participate in the program. Local school systems, libraries, and park departments are among some of the organizations who are able to participate and propose projects for funding. This program strides to promote a lifestyle for local youths by funding programs that help ideals such as five servings of fruit and vegetables per day, two hours or less of screen time, one hour plus of physical activity, and zero sugary drinks.
To date, three communities in the SICOG region have been selected to participate in the program: Leon, Mount Ayr, and Winterset.
In the future, communities that receive funding from IDPH will be able to spend the funds on different projects over a 4-year period.
Contact Terry Niestadt at SICOG (niestadt@sicog.com or 641.782.8491) if interested in the program. |
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| | SICOG Partnerships 2023 | Platinum ($2,500) *Creston City Water Works *Clarke County Development Corporation *City of Osceola *John Wayne Birthplace Society, LTD of Winterset
Diamond ($1,500) *First National Bank of Creston & Afton *Iowa State Savings Bank of Creston & Lenox *Lenox Municipal Utilities
Gold ($1,000) *Corning Municipal Utilities *Garden & Associates, LTD of Creston & Oskaloosa *Greater Regional Health *PCSB of Clarinda, Corning, Creston, Lenox and Mount Ayr
Silver ($500) *American State Bank of Lamoni, Osceola & Winterset *JEO Consulting Group of Ankeny *North Stone Apartments & Corkrean Construction of Winterset *Snyder & Associates, Inc of Ankeny & Atlantic *Southwest Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative of Corning, Mount Ayr & Stanton *Tyler Insurance Services of Creston & Mount Ayr *Veenstra & Kimm, INC of West Des Moines |
| Bronze ($250) *Adams Community Economic Development Corporation *Afton Development Corporation *Akin Building Center of Corning & Creston *City State Bank of Mount Ayr *Clarke County Hospital *Clarke Electrical Cooperative of Osceola *Community Development Corp of Greenfield *Farmers & Merchants State Bank of Orient, St. Charles & Winterset *First National Bank of Osceola *FNB of Fontanelle & Greenfield *Grundman Insurance Agency of Corning *Lenox Chamber of Commerce *Lenox Development Corporation *R Realty of Creston *Rainbow International of Winterset *Ringgold County Development Corporation *Saylor Realty, LLC of Osceola *Southwestern Community College *State Bank of Brooks of Corning *Subway of Corning *TS Bank of Treynor in Corning *Union County Development Association *Union State Bank of Greenfield *Union State Bank of Winterset |
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| Interested in becoming a partner?! Call us today at (641) 782-8491 or go to the Partnership page on the SICOG website and fill out the form at the bottom of the page! | | | SICOG Executive Board Minutes- December 5, 2023 | Chairman Jerry Walker called the meeting to order at 1:02p.m. at the SICOG office. The following members were present: Akin, Fitch, Friday, Geist, Holmes, Leners, Pantini, Walker, and Wengryn.
Staff present: Waddle, Brimm and Comstock.
Guest present: Jonathan Bladt, Representative for Senator Chuck Grassley.
Wengryn made a motion to approve the agenda. Akin seconded the motion, all ayes. Motion carried.
Fitch made a motion to approve the minutes with changes of the November7, 2023, meeting. Wengryn seconded the motion. All ayes. Motion carried. |
| Leners made a motion to approve the financial reports as presented for the month of November. Holmes seconded the motion. All ayes. Motion carried.
Other items discussed included: grant report, building mold issues, audit, by-laws, legislative, miscellaneous and next meeting date.
Wengryn made a motion to adjournthe meeting at 1:20 p.m. Leners seconded the motion, all ayes. Motion carried.
Minutes Submitted by Comstock
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| | SICOG Executive Board Meeting- Tuesday, February 6 SICOG Executive Board Meeting- Tuesday, March 5
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| | SICOG Executive Board Jerry Walker, Chairperson, Adair County Diane Fitch, Vice Chairperson, Madison County Karen Zabel, Secretary, Taylor County Scott Akin, Treasurer, Adams County Randy Dunbar, Clarke County Sam Wengryn, Decatur County Colby Holmes, Ringgold County Rick Friday, Union County Doug Davidson, Private Sector VACANT, Private Sector Raelynne Risser, Private Sector Jodie Geist, Private Sector Wayne Pantini, Member-At-Large |
| SICOG Staff Beth Waddle, Executive Director Judy Brimm, Finance Director Jeremy Rounds, Regional Planner Jessica Hagen, Transportation Planner Terry Niestadt, Regional Planner Kendra Comstock, Planning Tech |
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