Washington County November unemployment steady at 5%

Washington County's unemployment rate held steady at 5.0% from October into November, 2010.  This is the 2nd lowest unemployment rate in Eastern Iowa, behind Johnson County.  The total laborforce held steady at 12,200 with 11,600 employed persons in the County.

Of the estimated 600 Washington County unemployed persons, only 168 were drawing Unemployment Insurance benefits (down from 176 in November and 215 in September).  For 19 of those receiving Unemployment benefits, their last payment occurred in November, while 31 received their first Unemployment benefit payment.

The State and County data is from the Labor Market and Economic Research Bureau of the Iowa Workforce Development.

Federal Home Loan Bank awards 2 grants in Washington County for rehab and homeownership assistance

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines recently awarded $3.1 Million for 16 projects in Iowa through its Affordable Housing Program (AHP).

Two of the 16 projects are in Washington County.  Riverside Senior Village received $110,000 for energy efficiency improvements to 28 senior affordable apartments, through FHLB partner Freedom Security Bank in Kalona. Village manager, Don Yoder prepared the FHLB application. The Village was originally financed by the USDA 35 years ago.

The second grant was $58,000 to Washington County for assisting 10 households with home ownership, including rehab assistance. This grant application was prepared by the East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG), through FHLB partner Federation Bank in Washington. Washington County has received FHLB AHP funding for the past several years.

In addition to these two projects in Washington County, there were an additional 5 FHLB grants in the 6-County ECICOG region. This is a remarkable achievement!

"The FHLB Des Moines Affordable Housing Program provides private funding for the acquisition, construction or rehabilitation of lower-income affordable housing units. Each year FHLB Des Moines commits 10 percent of its annual net income to developing affordable housing. This year, $16.3 million was awarded to 57 projects [in 5 states]."

Washington healthcare leaders meet with Rep. Dave Heaton to discuss federal legislation

On Monday, several non-profit healthcare leaders met with Rep. Dave Heaton (R-District 91) of Mt. Pleasant about recently passed federal healthcare legislation and what it means in Iowa.  Rep. Heaton has served on the Iowa House - Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee for a number of years.

Rep. Heaton's comments and insights were helpful but there are still many unknowns regarding how the federal legislation will be affected by the upcoming Congress in 2011, and how the Iowa General Assembly will address upcoming milestones in the legislation.

Much uncertainly remains with few well understood costs or effects.

When the discussion turned to federal guidance on establishing new ways for communities to deliver healthcare and wellness services, Rep. Heaton noted that one successful community collaboration working toward better health and wellness is Healthy Henry County Communities.  Washington County businesses, organizations and institutions have started the first steps of working toward a similar approach to wellness by forming the SAFE Coalition in 2010.

The meeting was at Wesley Halcyon House retirement community in Washington, and a delicious lunch was served by Halcyon's Applewood Bistro.  The meeting was arranged by Tim Coffey of the Washington Chamber of Commerce and Ed Raber of the Washington Economic Development Group.

Washington County school leaders tour Kirkwood's Jones Regional Education Center to discuss future collaboration opportunities

School leaders from Washington, Mid-Prairie, Highland and Columbus School Districts, along with the Washington Economic Development Group, toured the innovative, new Kirkwood Community College - Jones Regional Education Center in Monticello, Iowa on Tuesday, December 7th.

Jones Center director Kristy Black and Kirkwood President Mick Starcevich gave an overview of how the $6 Million Center came to be.  Monticello school officials were also present to share their experience.

The development of the Jones Regional Education Center (JREC) took almost 10 years, and ongoing dialog and collaboration between 8 area school districts and Kirkwood Community College officials.  The JREC exists because - a need to create better opportunities for students, solve limitations of individual school districts, thinking outside the box, a shared willingness to collaborate and be flexible, and the will to commit for the long term.

The JREC hosts 230 high school students for part day academy classes that can earn students college credit and professional certifications.  It also serves area adults for Kirkwood credit and continuing education courses.

Thanks to all the area participants for taking the time to visit the new JREC and begin a dialog in Washington County.

• Mark Schneider, Superintendent at Mid-Prairie & Keota School Districts
• Chris Armstrong, Superintendent at Highland School District
• Dr. Mike Jorgensen, Superintendent at Washington Community School District
• Eric Buchholz, Washington High School Principal
• Eric Turner, Washington School Board President
• Tara Paul, Curriculum Director at Columbus Community School District
• Nancy Rash, Kirkwood Washington Center Director
• Ed Raber, Dir. of Washington Economic Development Group

5 Washington Commercial Expansion/Relocation Projects under construction

Five important commercial expansion or relocation projects in Washington are moving toward completion in 2011. These will add significantly to the Washington tax base and help these businesses to grow.

Mercy Family Practice of Washington - Part of Mercy Iowa City, this 17,000 s.f., $4 Million medical facility is scheduled for completion in late 2011 on South Iowa Ave.  The trusses being installed in the picture below were manufactured by Engineered Building Design, LLC in Washington. The facility will be heated and cooled with a geothermal system. The medical clinic is vacating about 8,000 s.f. of space in the Washington County Hospitals and Clinics facility a few blocks away.

Pizza Ranch -Washington Pizza Ranch is building a new 5,200 s.f. restaurant on Washington's east side on Wiley St., near the new Wal-Mart superstore. Dalhaze Development of Washington is the general contractor. Engineered Building Design, LLC supplied the wall panels for quick erection, as well as the roof trusses. The restaurant is scheduled to open in Spring 2011. The project is financed by MidWestOne bank and an SBA 504 loan from Iowa Business Growth Company. The restaurant is relocating from rented space on West Madison St.

Pierce Auto Body - Randy Pierce is building a new 6,500 s.f. auto body repair facility on East Washington St., next to Capper Auto. The facility was financed through West Chester Savings Bank in Washington and a SBA 504 loan through Iowa Business Growth Company. Ossman Construction is the general contractor, and HVAC is supplied by Armstrong Heating and Air, all of Washington. This is a relocation for the business from smaller facilities a few block to the west on Hwy 92.

Drahota Woodworking - Andy Drahota, owner of Drahota Woodworking purchased the last lot in the Washington Industrial Park in August and is now building a 2,400 s.f. workshop on part of the 1/2 acre lot. Tad Ross of Maple Grove Construction is the general contractor. The workshop should be completed in Spring 2011.  Drahota is moving out of rented space that is under new ownership.

Syngenta Seeds - Syngenta Seeds is building a 7,200 s.f. machine storage warehouse for its Project Development group on the north side of its campus on North 12th Ave. in Washington. The building project was designed and constructed by Greiner Buildings of Washington.

For more information contact the City of Washington's Building and Zoning Department at (319) 653-6584  Ext. 24.