ECIA Annual Report 2010

ECIA Helping People, Strengthening Communities Fiscal Year 2010 Annual Report

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Fiscal Year 2010 Busier than Ever!

I have always been told that the older you get, the quicker the years go by. I am not admitting that I am getting older….but I will admit…the time is just passing me by quicker than ever before! Fiscal Year 2010 came and went before I knew it. I think all of us at ECIA agree we really never experience a down time and also agree that is good news. When we are this busy, we know the work we do is impacting the lives of the citizens that reside in the cities and counties we assist. For Fiscal Year 2010, departmental highlights include: • The Region 8 Regional Transit Authority was successful in securing a grant for a Mobility Coordinator. The Coordinator is the liaison between the social service organizations, medical providers and the RTA and assists in determining and then coordinating their transit needs.

• The Eastern Iowa Regional Housing Authority continued to focus on providing homeownership opportunities in the region. They were also able to maintain 100% lease up in its rental assistance programs serving 1,056 low to moderate income households in the region.

• Prosperity Eastern Iowa launched the Petal Project. A green business certification program with ten businesses participating for 2010. The Petal Project assists businesses in implementing green business practices and provides a framework to reduce their energy, water, and natural resources to benefit the environment and their bottom line.

• The Eastern Iowa Rural Utility Service System (EIRUSS) remained very active with Center Junction wastewater and Andover water systems up and running and six projects in the works.

• The employment and training programs remained busy with a Summer Youth program funded through stimulus funding during the summer of 2009 and again funded this past summer with State funding. Forty-four youth were assisted in Delaware and Dubuque Counties in 2009 and 13 more this summer.

• Loan approvals continued to rise in the Economic Development Department with 13 loans approved this fiscal year by the ECIA Business Growth Board of Directors.

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• The Transportation Department began working on their 2031 Long Range Transportation Plan for DMATS and for the RPA Region 8. Many of the grant opportunities this year have a focus on planning, sustainability and a tie to our economic development programs. • Finally, ECIA was the successful bidder on a contract for managing the Keyline Transit system for the City of Dubuque. Management began July 1, 2010. This is an opportunity for the RTA and Keyline to find partnership opportunities to enhance services to the general public.

ECIA continues to remain focused on providing excellent service to our members in the region and we look forward to 2011 being another successful fiscal year. Below is a chart that highlights the revenue for the ECIA fiscal year 2010 budget. Thank you to our members and our partners for your continued support!

FY 10 FUNDING SOURCES US Department of Commerce 1.7%

Service Fees & Assessments 4.8%

State Funds 1.9%

Business Growth 3.8%

Membership Fees 1.4%

IA Department of Natural Resources 0.4% LT Borrowing 0.6% US Department of Homeland Security (FEMA) 1.9%

US Department of Health & Human Services 4.0% Special Contracts 6.6% US Department of Transportation 4.5% US Department of Labor 9.0% US Department of Housing & Urban Development 59.3%

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From Waste to Reuse Two years ago, Tim and Lynn Greenfield recognized that the glass they were taking from existing commercial buildings when they installed new windows, was wasteful and environmentally unfriendly. The glass was ending up in the Dubuque Metropolitan Landfill, as it could not be re-melted and turned into new glass due to the color and the coatings on the glass. After several months of experimenting with mixtures and drying combinations, the idea for Green Field Products was born.

The new product, a countertop made from 100% recycled glass, includes used glass from beer and wine bottles supplied by local beverage distributors, and is an environmentally friendly alternative to granite and quartz countertops. The E.C.I.A. Business Growth, Inc. Board of Directors approved a $230,000 SBA 504 loan in September of 2008 for the ing add ddition and the purcha dd asee of equipment. The loan was clos sed construction of 7,500 sq. ft. building addition purchase closed on to this loan, the st tafff and Board of Direc ectors ooff ec and funded in August of 2009. Inn additio addition staff Directors kaged, reviewed, rev e iewed, and app pro oved 13 loans for $ 7,031, 1,5 1, 544, E.C.I.A. Business Growth, Inc. packaged, approved $7,031,544, obs this pa past fiscal year. resulting in 90 new or retained jobs

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Still Recovering With the region still recovering from the 2008 floods, property acquisitions continued in the last fiscal year. Eleven structures were deemed unsafe and demolished utilizing FEMA Public Assistance funds.

Thirty properties were acquired and another twenty-seven remain in various phases of the acquisition process. In addition, flood funding was secured that provided downpayment assistance to sixteen households allowing them to acquire newly constructed homes in Dyersville.

Staff administered six sewer or water plant renovation projects, one community facility project, two homeownership assistance programs benefitting g ten households and three owner-occupied housing rehabilitation programs benefitting 20 households. Most off these projects included the installation of high efficiency furnaces, insulation, approximately 220 energy efficient windows and doors, and basic life safety equipment including smoke and CO detectors, new electric panels, and more.

Eastern Iowa Rural Utility Services System (EIRUSS) activities included design and administrative work on the Leisure Lake wastewater system. The project will serve 340 households in rural Jackson County. Other projects in progress include: A $1 million wastewater system to serve the Fairview community in rural Jones County, ultimately serving approximately 60 users; Elvira (19 users) in rural Clinton County, Petersburg (68 users) and Lake Delhi (900 users) in rural Delaware County and several other potential projects.

Other work in the department includes Asbury building code inspections, where 990 inspections were completed and 23 Hazard Mitigation Plans developed throughout the entire region for 23 communities.

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Planting Seeds Residents of the Tax Credit Communities make their community their own. wnn.

In FY 2010, staff implemented “Borrowed Beginnings” which offers gently ntly used clothing, toys, and books to individuals. Residents take and also regularly contribute items to this program. It is a recycling concept that att keeps the program successful.

Each site offers a community garden which tenants plant and maintain. They take pride in watching seeds grow and it not only provides them with fresh produce but also as a sense of ownership.

This year the resident families have joined together to provide a “Community Clean Up Day”, picking up trash and debris around the complex and sweeping the parking lot.

All of the above have given the tenants the opportunity to be engaged in their community which results in an overall positive neighborhood environment.

Through EIRHA’s Public Housing Home Ownership Program, y g low-income households are given the opportunity to purchase their public housing first-time home buying units. Of 16 publi thee 164 public housing units, 27 are single family scattered-site units loca cated ca in Dyersv located Dyersville, Manchester, DeWitt, Hopkinton, Preston, Worthington, a an d De elm At the present time, five families have purchased and Delmar. th the public housing units that they reside in; two units were located in the city of Manchester and three in the city of Dyersville. Since July 1, 2003, EIRHA has implemented a Housing Choice Voucher Home Ownership Program.

The plan states that EIRHA will assist 25 current voucher recipients with home ownership. To date, 18 families have been assisted with the purchase of their own home through the HCV home ownership program.

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An Awarding Year Prosperity Eastern Iowa had an award-winning year, receiving recognition locally, as well as at the national and international level.

The AccessMyFuture.com website that was featured in last year’s annual report received a 365 Impact Award as well as recognition by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) for Excellence in Economic Development in the category of special purpose website. AccessmyFuture.com continues entrep preneur ur resources to expand offering an interactive career exploration game, entrepreneur e et their start), and is host in a virtual garage (because that’s where small businesses get to 13 on-the-job videos of young professionals in the region. is The Buyer Supplier program has also grown and changed this past year adding the counties of the Northeast Iowa Business Network to its ranks. Businesses in 9 counties are now eligible to register and become part of the regional purchasing movement.

The Petal Project green business certification has worked with over 10 businesses to assist with greening their operations and providing recognition for their efforts. Businesses vary from small retail stores to financial and educational institutions and manufacturing operations. The Petal Project was recognized by the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) as a recipient of a 2010 Innovation Award in the category of sustainability.

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Smart Planning A major accomplishment in Fiscal Year 2010 through the Dubuque Area Transportation Study was the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announcement that Dubuque's Historic Millwork District Project was awarded $5.6 million in ARRA funding through the TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Discretionary Grants Program. The application was submitted by the City of Dubuque with support from partners including: Dubuque Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (DMATS), Region 8 Regional Transit Authority (RTA), East Central Intergovernmental Association (ECIA), and several more. The funds will be used for the implementation of the Historic Millwork District Multimodal Improvements, part of a comprehensive, integrated regional sustainable transportation strategy, which will serve as a model for U.S. communities with populations under 200,000.

Another major activity was assisting City of Dubuque engineering staff y in completing the Intermodal Facility Phase I study. The study provided site location with environmental e approval. The study will also provide an economic impact analysis and draft requirements for the facility.

The study will help to address the needs for rail, transit and other modes of transportation within the facility as it considers the interconnectivity among the various modes.

Other activities during the fiscal year included: • Developing Safe Routes to School plans for Western Dubuque and Jackson County School districts • Receiving a SRTS grant to do planning for Clinton County and Delaware County School systems • Facilitating the addition of bike racks on KeyLine transit buses • Completing the East-West Corridor study • Working with KeyLine Transit in implementing a medical loop funded by the Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program • Continuing work on DMATS and RPA 8 Long Range Transportation Plans • Creating an air quality task force in the Dubuque Metro area • Assisting with the ECIA proposal to merge Keyline • Beginning the LRTP 2035 update

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Exceeding Expectations In a year where public transit systems experienced increased demands with limited resources and declining subsidies, the RTA managed to increase ridership by as much as 9% in 2010. The additional 15,000 riders were primarily concentrated in RTA services to Sheltered Workshops in Delaware, Dubuque and Jackson counties, transporting developmentally disabled adults to employment worksites.

The increase in ridership was also accompanied by a decrease in operating expense, due largely in response to a sharp decline in State Transit Assistance. In spite of losing more than $30,000 in budgeted subsidies due to a sluggish economy, the RTA reduced its operating budget by $60,000 (4%) through tighter scheduling efficiencies and lower maintenance expense. Dispatchers worked closely with service providers to coordinate more efficient schedules without compromising customer service. The reduction in maintenance was a direct result of the acquisition of six new light duty buses thanks to grants from the FTA 5309 program and the Stimulus Funding. In addition to reduced fuel and maintenance costs, the g with wheel chair needs fleet improvements also allowed the RTA to better serve p passengers orting up to four passengers iinn whe h elchairs at with each bus capable of transporting wheelchairs e tthe capacity on mos st RT RRTA Ab usses, one time. This is more than double most buses, ntly ly deliver d passenger es and allows drivers to more efficiently passengers ng to their destinations without making multiple trips.

Marketing expanded into partial al bus wraps that promoted regional programs while generating new revenue for transit services and partial wraps with the private sector. The wraps, a collaboration of ECIA programs and staff, generated increased awareness of the RTA and have e stream created a completely new revenue d transit services. Wh hilee to support existing and expanded While tain as thee past yyear, ear, tthe he the year ahead may be as uncertain RTA has worked to be in a stronger position to meet demand amidst any future adversity. Aggressive fundraising efforts will continue throughout the year to further promote the RTA’s ability and desire to expand to meet growing demand for this valuable service.

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Change for the Better Program year 2009 was a year of tremendous change for Region 1 and the Employment and Training Department. While the year included many challenges in terms of the economy and employment opportunities it also included some very exciting developments in the areas of workforce system development, grant opportunities and “green” initiatives. Although the area unemployment percentage remained at a level not seen for years, the local Workforce Investment Act service providers, along with our partners in the workforce system, experienced many successes in helping job seekers prepare for and obtain employment.

Using a new Service ed Integration Model resulted in a large increase in the ants number of WIA participants and in the number of job seekers receiving servicess through the WIA adult and dislocated worker programs. The number off people enrolled in WIA rose by 1,577 between 2008 (475) and 2009 % (2,052). This was a 432% increase!

The implementation of this model proved to be a microcosm of the entire year. While there were many challenges in executing a change of this magnitude, it has also been a very exciting process and has already yielded many positive results in terms of the quantity and quality of services provided.

Customers of the center have embraced this change and have responded enthusiastically. Examples of customer feedback include the following: “Great customer service, I can’t say enough good things”; A customer stopped into our office to let us know she found the job she was looking for and was grateful for all the help she received; “Thanks for putting me in the position to be rehired. You guys are great!!!”; A customer came in and was very thankful for the help he got with his resume. He has now found two jobs that are in his field; A public assistance recipient wrote a note thanking us for helping her to obtain her Certified Nursing Assistant certificate. “You rock!” she wrote.

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Administration and Support

Kelley Deutmeyer, Executive Director Lisa Weinhold, Director of Finance/Human Resources Marla Quinn, Grants and Development Coordinator Sharon Nesteby, Executive Assistant Gail Kuhle, Supportive Services Manager Stacey Carpenter, Administrative Assistant Christine Mergen, Finance Assistant Denise Hefel, Finance Assistant Jenna Ernst, Finance Coordinator Bob Krayer, Special Projects

Employment and Training

Dave Leary, Regional Area Coordinator/ Director of Employment and Training Ron Axtell, Assistant Director of Employment and Training Lori McKinley, Promise Jobs Supervisor Michelle Huseman, Employment and Training Specialist Susann Voelker, Employment and Training Specialist Kathy Baker, Employment and Training Specialist Joanne Kipper, Employment and Training Specialist Ken Voorhees, Promise Jobs Administrative Assistant Ami Johnson, Administrative/Financial Assistant Julie Ehlinger, Youth Coordinator

Community Development ; Transportation and Planning

Mark Schneider, Director of Community Development/Public Works

Transit

Mark Munson, Director of Transit Operations Stacie Scott, Dispatcher/Scheduler Gary Wagner, Dispatcher/Scheduler Bridgett Bartlett, Mobility Coordinator Barbara Morck, Director of Keyline Transit

Larry Nagle, Manager of Government Relations Nicole Turpin, Regional Planning Coordinator Tim Crabb, Housing Rehab Specialist/Building Code Inspector Darwin Polk, Grants & Public Works/Project Manager Ryan Walter, Project Manager Jennifer Walker, Project Manager Michelle Schnier, Director of Housing & Support Services Chandra Ravada, Transportation Director Jenny Schrobilgen, Housing Coordinator Jake Ironside, GIS Specialist Carl Reimer, Homeownership/ Dan Fox, Transportation Planner Housing Development Specialist Maria Elgin, Housing Manager Jerome Schroeder, Economic Development Director Lori Joester, Housing Manager Candace Eudaley, Regional Economic Development/ Debbie Maier, Housing Manager Holly Specht, Housing Manager Sustainability Coordinator Mindy Meyers, Family Support Coordinator/ Matt Specht, Business Development Coordinator Site Manager Mindy Wiley, Family Support Coordinator/ Site Manager Tom Simpson, Maintenance Manager Leonard O’Connell, Maintenance Manager 11 Sean O’Malley, Maintenance Manager

Housing Services

Economic Development

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2010-2011 Merrill Smock, Chair, Dubuque County * Rodger Holm, Vice Chair, Clinton County * Elise Bergan, Delaware County Doug Boldt, Cedar County Donna Boss, Delaware County Roy Buol, Dubuque County ** Judy Carr, Jackson County (A) Wayne Deerberg, Cedar County Stacy Driscoll, Jackson County Steven Flynn, Jackson County (A) Linda Gaul, Delaware County David Gaylor, Dubuque County Dave Heiar, Dubuque County (A) Mike Hein, Cedar County (A) Shirley Helmrichs, Delaware County Peggy Kedley, Cedar County (A) Shirley Kepford, Cedar County Paul Konrardy, Jackson County Larry "Buck" Koos, Jackson County * Milt Kramer, Delaware County * Steve Lindner, Clinton County Jeff Madlom, Delaware County Neil Morehead, Jackson County Eric Newton, Cedar County

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Mike Reynolds, Clinton County Donna Smith, Dubuque County John Staszewski, Clinton County Ray Stephan, Dubuque County Roger Stewart, Jackson County Donna Sweeney, Dubuque County * Donald Thiltgen, Clinton County * Rod Tokheim, Clinton County Michael Van Milligen, Dubuque County Jim Vermazen, Delaware County ** Timothy Vick, Delaware County (A) Brian Wagner, Jackson County Dennis Weih, Cedar County (A) *Also a member of the Executive Committee **Executive Committee only (A) Alternate

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