The Cities of Washington and Wellman have received major grants for owner-occupied housing rehabilitation from the Iowa Dept. of Economic Development's "Housing Fund." On May 12, 2010, Gov. Chulver announced that 47 communities and projects received funding totalling $29 million to improve affordable housing in Iowa.
The Cities were assisted in writing the grant applications for these funds by ECICOG, a non-profit, 28E organization based in Cedar Rapids that covers 6 counties including Washington County. ECICOG will also administer the rehab programs for the Cities.
Washington received $218,234 to rehabilitate a minimum of 6 owner-occupied homes in a northside neighborhood. Homeowners may receive up to $25,000 in a forgivable loan to rehab their home, plus up to $8,000 to mitigate any lead based paint. The loan to the homeowner is forgiven after 5 years if they continue to reside in the home.
View Washington Housing Rehab Target Area in a larger map
The City of Wellman received $226,234 in funding to rehab a minimum of 6 owner-occupied homes in a west side neighborhood. Like Washington, these forgivable loans can provide up to $25,000 in rehab and up to $8,000 to deal with lead based paint.
View Wellman Housing Rehab Target Area in a larger map
Both cities plan to solicit applications from home owners in the target areas later in the Summer.
The funding for IDED's "Housing Fund" comes from the federal HUD, CDBG and HOME programs targeted to Iowa cities under 50,000 population.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
2 commercial projects move forward in Washington
Two separate commercial projects have taken steps forward with the Washington Planning & Zoning Commission and City Council.
View Proposed Mercy Family Medicine of Washington site in a larger map
Mercy Family Medicine of Washington, a merger of Mercy Iowa City and Family Practice of Washington medical clinic, is planning to build a new $4 million, 15,000 s.f. clinic building on South Iowa Ave. next to the Latter Day Saints Church. It is a few blocks from the clinic's current site at the Washington County Hospital and Clinics. The 8 acre site was purchased from the LDS Church a few years ago by developers looking to build a new assisted living facility and had it rezoned to R-5. Mercy has a purchase option on the parcel now and has asked it to be rezoned to R-4, which with a variance, will allow a medical clinic. The clinic will be a taxable property.
Mr. Greg Wiley submitted a preliminary plat of six parcels on the east and west sides on the newly opened Super Wal-Mart on Washington's east side. MMS Consultants of Iowa City developed the preliminary plat.
View Wiley Commercial Development in a larger map
On the recommendation of the P&Z, the Washington City Council, at its May 19 meeting, passed the Mercy rezoning on to the 2nd reading of the ordinance, and approved the Wiley preliminary plat .
View Proposed Mercy Family Medicine of Washington site in a larger map
Mercy Family Medicine of Washington, a merger of Mercy Iowa City and Family Practice of Washington medical clinic, is planning to build a new $4 million, 15,000 s.f. clinic building on South Iowa Ave. next to the Latter Day Saints Church. It is a few blocks from the clinic's current site at the Washington County Hospital and Clinics. The 8 acre site was purchased from the LDS Church a few years ago by developers looking to build a new assisted living facility and had it rezoned to R-5. Mercy has a purchase option on the parcel now and has asked it to be rezoned to R-4, which with a variance, will allow a medical clinic. The clinic will be a taxable property.
Mr. Greg Wiley submitted a preliminary plat of six parcels on the east and west sides on the newly opened Super Wal-Mart on Washington's east side. MMS Consultants of Iowa City developed the preliminary plat.
View Wiley Commercial Development in a larger map
On the recommendation of the P&Z, the Washington City Council, at its May 19 meeting, passed the Mercy rezoning on to the 2nd reading of the ordinance, and approved the Wiley preliminary plat .
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Lyon County awarded gaming license
Only Lyon County/Kehl Management was awarded a gaming license by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission at their board meeting today in Johnston. The reasons cited by each of the 5 Commissioners included:
Many of the investors in the Riverside Casino and Golf Resort are also involved in the new Lyon County venture.
- completeness and timeliness of their application materials,
- the high voter turnout last year to authorize gaming in the County.
- the high "yes" vote in the referendum.
- the completeness of the financing package, the equity from Kehl Management, and the 400+ Iowa investors that made up the balance of the equity position.
- the out-of-state market that the casino could capture in South Dakota.
- the Commission's own studies pointed to Lyon County as the last viable market for additional gaming in Iowa.
Many of the investors in the Riverside Casino and Golf Resort are also involved in the new Lyon County venture.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
39 Washington County Non-Profits could lose Status
39 Washington County non-profit organizations are potentially at risk of losing their non-profit (and sometimes charitable) status if they do not file an annual report or notice. That is according to the National Center for Charitable Statistics at the Urban Institute.
The IRS database for Iowa has over 5,600 affected non-profits, and can be accessed through the NCCS web site by clicking here.
According to information from the accounting firm Terry Lockridge & Dunn:
Nonprofit organizations can complete their Form 990-N (e-Postcard) online with the IRS.
A search today through the IRS database for all Washington County non-profits came up with these 39 records. Some of these entities may already be in the process of filing and completing the required reports.
The IRS database for Iowa has over 5,600 affected non-profits, and can be accessed through the NCCS web site by clicking here.
According to information from the accounting firm Terry Lockridge & Dunn:
"In the past, only tax-exempt organizations with revenues exceeding $25,000 were required to file tax forms. Beginning in 2007, most tax-exempt organizations, other than churches, were required to file a yearly return or notice with the IRS. If an organization does not file as required for three consecutive years, it automatically loses its tax-exempt status."The IRS has a web page on the "Automatic Revocation of Tax-Exempt Status for Failure to File Annual Return or Notice - Frequently Asked Questions and Answers."
Nonprofit organizations can complete their Form 990-N (e-Postcard) online with the IRS.
A search today through the IRS database for all Washington County non-profits came up with these 39 records. Some of these entities may already be in the process of filing and completing the required reports.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Kalona among 25 Iowa Libraries chosen for Smart Investing grant
Congrats to the Kalona, Iowa Library and Librarian Ann Skaden for working to improve community financial and investing literacy! This media release is from the Iowa Data Center web site.
Libraries chosen for Smart Investing grant
25 rural Iowa libraries were chosen out of the 61 who applied for the Smart Investing @ Your Library grant.
Congratulations to the 25 libraries who will participate in the Smart investing @ your library® grant! The State Library received 61 applications from libraries throughout the state, all showing a keen interest in playing a greater role in improving their community’s financial knowledge. We are confident each of the 25 communities will benefit from their libraries’ participation and commitment to investor education during the life of the grant and far into the future.
The 18 month program includes a six-week course for each of three different age groups, $575 worth of investing materials for each library’s collection, training for their staff on a variety of investment resources, and tools to publicize the program.
Smart investing @ your library® is being administered jointly by ALA and the FINRA Investor Education Foundation (formerly known as the NASD Investor Education Foundation). The program supports public libraries in their efforts to meet investor education and protection needs at the community level. Participating libraries and their community partners are helping individuals access unbiased, quality resources and educational opportunities at library facilities, at home via the Web, at the workplace and at other locations throughout their communities. Reaching out across the community, these libraries ensure that their patrons can easily find the information they need to improve their financial decisions.
Participating public libraries include:
- Anita Public Library
- Bayard Public Library
- Buffalo Center Public Library
- Chariton Free Public Library
- Charles City Public Library
- Matilda J. Gibson Memorial Library (Creston)
- Norelius Community Library (Denison)
- Hamburg Public Library
- Hawarden Public Library
- Robert W. Barlow Memorial Library (Iowa Falls)
- Kalona Public Library
- Keokuk Public Library
- Lake City Public Library
- Le Mars Public Library
- Leon Public Library
- Marengo Public Library
- Ross & Elizabeth Baty Public Library (Monticello)
- Mount Pleasant Public Library
- New Hampton Public Library
- Oelwein Public Library
- Perry Public Library
- Pocahontas Public Library
- Bertha Bartlett Public Library
- Robey Memorial Library (Waukon)
- Winterset Public Library
Friday, May 7, 2010
Smart Conference in Des Moines
- Dave Hostetler, Hills Bank in Kalona
- Adam Mangold, Washington County Board of Supervisors
- Ed Raber, WEDG Director
- Dave Ross, City Administrator of Wellman
- Tina Thomas, City Administrator of Riverside
This years event had great speakers, and talked about economic development from different perspectives. There was a lot of talk about the new virtual world and "Web 2.0," and I think I'm starting to get it.
The day started with an address on “Becoming a Pro-Business State” by Brent Pollina of Pollina Corporate Real Estate, Inc. in Park Ridge, Illinois. He said the State of Iowa and local governments need to regroup to figure out how to package better incentives to attract and land projects to Iowa. Here are his top state's for 2009.
2009 Top 10 Pro Business Rankings
| 1 | Virginia | 6 | South Dakota | |
| 2 | Utah | 7 | Kansas | |
| 3 | North Carolina | 8 | Georgia | |
| 4 | Wyoming | 9 | Florida | |
| 5 | South Carolina | 10 | Nebraska |
The luncheon keynote by New York author and commentator David Rushkoff called "Digital Nation: Living and Learning on the Virtual Frontier” was a plea for focusing on growing local business and helping entrepreneurs to thrive. He pleaded for us to focus on people that know how to actually make things, rather than outsourcing.
In my own little world, without lots of big financial resources, I tend to gravitate toward the focus on interesting entrepreneurs, and try to help them develop their business. An interesting array of businesses and entrepreneurs are attracted to Washington County and Southeast Iowa. I can hardly keep up and its always a challenge.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Washington attends 3rd Annual STEM Symposium at U of I
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) is a growing movement in K-12 education to expose students to how science and engineering affect our world and community.
Ms. Erin Suter, a TAG and science/math teacher, Mr. Dave McLaughlin, Industrial Technology, and four students from the Washington Junior High School attended the 3rd Annual STEM Symposium at the University of Iowa on May 4, 2010. WEDG Director, Ed Raber also attended as a "community partner."
The Symposium's emphasis this year was on middle school students in order to start getting students interested while they are developing their class plans before entering high school.
Washington Junior High School is starting a "Gateway to Technology"course to help students explore math, science, and technology. The Washington School District has begun a "Project Lead the Way" program at the High School, and continues to build science and math programs around it.
Great sponsors and partners in Iowa's STEM education and programs include:
Ms. Erin Suter, a TAG and science/math teacher, Mr. Dave McLaughlin, Industrial Technology, and four students from the Washington Junior High School attended the 3rd Annual STEM Symposium at the University of Iowa on May 4, 2010. WEDG Director, Ed Raber also attended as a "community partner."
The Symposium's emphasis this year was on middle school students in order to start getting students interested while they are developing their class plans before entering high school.
Washington Junior High School is starting a "Gateway to Technology"course to help students explore math, science, and technology. The Washington School District has begun a "Project Lead the Way" program at the High School, and continues to build science and math programs around it.
Great sponsors and partners in Iowa's STEM education and programs include:
- Jacobson Institute for Youth Entrepreneurship at the University of Iowa. They have great opportunities for summer camps for 4-9 grade students at the U of I.
- Iowa Math & Science Coalition at the Univ. of Northern Iowa- Bringing together leaders in business, government, education and communities to positively impact and influence science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in Iowa.
- The Corridor STEM Initiative is a regional effort in the Technology Corridor around Cedar Rapids/Iowa City to promote STEM education.
- The University of Iowa College of Engineering's K-12 Outreach Program which coordinates great educational partnerships and programs like Summer Robotics Camp for 6-10th graders, Project Lead the Way, and the First Tech Challenge.
- The Workplace Learning Connection is a joint Kirkwood Community College/Grant Wood AEA initiative that works to develop our future workforce by connecting business & education in relevant, work-based learning activities for k-12 students and teachers.
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