ECIA Annual Report, FY23

East Central Intergovernmental Association

Annual Report FY 23

Kelley’s Message

Often when you think you're at the end of something, you're at the beginning of something else. My time is winding down as Executive Director and I am looking forward to the next chapter in my life. It is hard to believe but this is my last annual report article. I have been reflecting on my twentytwo-year journey with ECIA, but in reality, I have spent thirty years of my life with this organization starting when I was a baby at twenty-one! I may have quit twice and come back twice to ECIA, but I spent the best part of my life here and grew up with all of you. It has been my honor and privilege to work with so many city and county staff, mayors and city clerks, county supervisors, fellow Council of Government directors, clients we serve, and most importantly, the ECIA team members. We have made notable differences in the communities we serve and in the lives of their citizens. I am so proud of the team I have worked with, from those that have come and gone and to those that will carry on the mission and vision of ECIA after I retire. I couldn’t have done my job without each one of you.

Taking a step back in time…I remember so clearly as a college senior at Clarke University in 1984, Bill Baum, executive director called me and said I was not hired for the account clerk position. Yes, they hired someone else!

My sadness didn’t last too long, he called me a day or two later and offered me the job. The person they hired decided to stay at her current employer.

I think it was fate and meant to be! Here I am 40 years later retiring from ECIA a little grayer, a little heavier, and a lot wiser! I need to thank Bill Baum for taking that leap of faith and hiring a 21-year-old college senior!

With Bill passing away recently, I realized even more that he helped launch my career and I cannot thank him enough for believing in me.

I am very proud of the accomplishments throughout my years at ECIA such as the ECIA/RTA office building and bus garage; Asbury and Peosta Meadows developments; EIRUSS our rural utility; successfully managing the RTA; constructing and selling over 175 homes in our region after the 2008 and 2011 flood disaster; and of course, the baby…the Pocket Neighborhood. I will continue to look forward to following ECIA through the website and newsletters and watching ECIA continue to grow!

My future goals include seeing the world and spending more time with my loved ones. I’ll never forget my experience here, and I’m going to miss ECIA and my coworkers. I have no doubt the ECIA team will go on to do great things, and I eagerly anticipate hearing and seeing what the future holds.

Finally, I want to thank all of you that have touched my life but first and foremost, I want to thank my husband, Darrell, sister Vicky, my dad and mom, and my kids, for always supporting me and not complaining when I was consumed with work. They have been my rock and my strength.

Thank you to the ECIA team and ECIA Council for the memories, laughter, and friendships that have made this journey worthwhile. I cannot thank you enough for the love and support throughout my career. Life will be very different going forward, but I am ready for this next grand adventure to begin!!! Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with a chaise lounge, a Daquiri, and my husband and family! Cheers to retirement, where the only deadlines we face are deciding which exotic destination to visit next!

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Administration

City and Technical Services

Many cities do not have time nor the capacity, to do special projects outside of the daily scope of running a municipality. ECIA staff assisted with the following fiscal year highlights: • $450,000 Nonprofit Innovation Fund grant - Dyersville Food Pantry • $100,000 Community Catalyst grant - City of Colesburg, old stone building rehab • $67,000 DNR Derelict Building grant - City of Miles, abandoned building • $100,000 Wellmark Built Environment grant - City of Peosta, multi use path • Three city codes updated for Holy Cross, Lowden, and Welton

Community Solutions of Eastern Iowa (CSEI) ECIA staff facilitate the Rapid Rehousing program, Street Outreach, and Housing Hotline in an effort to provide homeless prevention resources for people in Delaware and Dubuque Counties. Fiscal year highlights include: • $240,000 Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)/Iowa Balance of State Continuum of Care (IA BoS CoC) grant for Rapid Rehousing • 3,216 hotline calls (an increase of 753 from FY22) • 77% of Rapid Rehousing participants entered into permanent housing • 72% of Street Outreach participants exited to a stable housing environment • New Facebook page and website

Keep Iowa Beautiful ECIA staff coached Cedar, Delaware, Dubuque, and Jackson County communities, assisting local groups with the following project types: fundraising, grant writing, events, project planning, recreational plans, historic preservation, recreational amenities, park improvements, logo and signage development, and green space development • 31 communities coached • Coaches assisted with the writing of 43 requests totaling $2,402,320 and securing $1,373,828 • 225 meetings attended by seven coaches to move community projects forward

Government Training Institute ECIA utilizes its USDA Rural Community Development Initiative grant to provide one on one and group trainings aimed at increasing the capacity of city and county officials and economic development groups in the region. Fiscal year activities include: • 53 trainings facilitated on the following: housing stability, brain health awareness, quality of life projects, homeless 101, recreation amenities, childcare solutions, small town messaging; just to name a few • ECIA received it’s 8th USDA grant, $120,000, to provide more training on quality of-life projects and economic development related assistance; business retention and expansion; supporting a rural workforce; and technology and innovation

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Rendering of multi use path in Peosta

CSEI’s Street Outreach team meets homeless individuals where they are to help meet any basic needs by connecting them with food, water, clothes, sleeping bags, blankets, tents, personal care products, and other items.

Flyer from past training

Maquoketa Summer Concert Series (KIB project)

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Community and Economic Development

Brownfields

ECIA provides technical and financial assistance (when available) in order to assess, cleanup, and reuse potential brownfield sites throughout ECIA’s fivecounty region. Fiscal year highlights include: • $1,000,000 - Awarded EPA Brownfields Coalition RLF Supplemental Funding • $1,000,000 - Awarded EPA Brownfields Coalition Assessment Grant • $300,000 - Utilized in RLF funds for two building demolitions • $222,336 - Provided to 12 properties in Assessment funding

E.C.I.A. Business Growth, Inc. Business Growth operates loan programs including SBA 504 and several Revolving Loan Funds and special # of Loans Closed Total Amount Loan Area grants. Loan activity this fiscal year includes: SBA 504 6 $3,174,000 Jackson Co-RLF 2 $149,092 Dubuque Co-RLF 1 $75,000

Community Facility, Grant Writing and Grant Admin ECIA helps communities navigate the complex world of Community Development Block Grants when they are faced with aging public facilities that need improvements or new construction. Staff writes and administers these grants and during the fiscal year: • Administered over $8 million in CDBG funds for food pantries, YM-YWCAs, community centers, wasterwater plants, water/sewer, facade improvements, downtown revitalization, and rental rehab

Home Repair Programs Making homes safe and livable is a priority for ECIA. The following programs assisted senior citizens and families: # of Inspections

# of Completed Homes

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$217,880

Lead & Healthy Homes Del/Dub Counties 19 Lead & Healthy Homes Five Counties 27 Older Adult Home Modification 39

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$1,015,156 $21,345 $43,063

Program Area Healthy Homes

Funds Spent

Prosperity Eastern Iowa (PEI) PEI is a partnership of economic development stakeholders that leverage financial and human resources to achieve efficiencies, utilizing natural, cultural, and physical assets to strive for the economic prosperity of the region. Fiscal year highlights include: • Hosted the Legislative event at Maquoketa Art Experience • Secured a $50,000 DRA grant for the Field of Opportunities Initiative. Staff conducted an inventory of assets and tourist destinations related to visitors going to the Field of Dreams, encouraging them to enjoy activities throughout the region.

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South 4th Street project Site (1000-1012 S 4th St) in Clinton and concept below

Legislators at the event in Maquoketa included: Carrie Koelker, Tom Determann, Chris Cournoyer, Chuck Isenhart, Norlin Mommsen, Penny Vacek (Grassley), Clare Gill (Hinson). And included the followin topics: Housing, Tax Increment Financing, Childcare, and Parks.

Lead mitigation project in rural Worthington

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How Far We’ve Come

Below is a list of programs, projects, initiatives that were completed or began under Kelley’s leadership over the past 22 years.

• ECIA moves from downtown to corner of Pennsylvania and NW Arterial(2002) • Dubuque Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (DMATS) expands boundary to include Peosta and Centralia (2002) • $750,000 USDA Regional RLF awarded (2003) • Evergreen Meadows complete, Eastern Iowa Regional Housing Corporation’s (EIRHC) first low income housing tax credits award of $2,064,000 (2004) • Public Housing Homeownership Program created (2004) • EIRHA assumes management of City of Maquoketa’s housing program (2004) • Asbury Building Code Inspections started (2005) • Prosperity Eastern Iowa formed (2005) • Eastern Iowa Regional Utility Service Systems (EIRUSS) formed (2005) • EIRHC awarded $3.62 million in tax credits for Asbury Meadows (2005) • Asbury Meadows completed (2006) • ECIA assumes Regional Transit Authority (RTA) management (2006) • Five homes sold to low to moderate income households (2006) • E.C.I.A. Business Growth, Inc record loan year of $9,035,000 (2006) • RTA receives $702,000 RIIF grant to construct combined facility with ECIA (2007) • ECIA and RTA build new offices and move to current location (2008) • Historic flooding occurs and ECIA is awarded $3 million to help communities (2008) • DMATS receives $2.9 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for SW Arterial (2009) • Regional Planning Affiliation (RPA) receives $4,291,730 in ARRA funds for 11 projects (2009) • Business Growth receives $500,000 in ARRA funds to recapitalize its loan program (2009) • ECIA assumes City of Dubuque transit management (2010-2015) • Fifty-four homes constructed through the New Production 3 program (2010) • The Jule (City of Dubuque transit system) wins most improved transit system (2010) • Smarter Travel Study (vehichle miles traveled) project started (2010) • Kelley receives Women’s Leadership Network Women of Achievement award (2011) • EIRUSS breaks ground on Leisure Lake wastewater treatment system (2013) • Eastern Iowa Regional Housing Authority (EIRHA) assumes management of Bettendorf’s public housing authority (2013) • ECIA designated winning workplace by the Telegraph Herald (2013) • ECIA assists City of Dubuque in receiving $98.5 million for Bee Branch Flood Mitigation project (2014) • ECIA receives first USDA Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) grant to start the Government Training Institute (2014) • East Central Development Corporation (ECDC) created with a focus on new housing options for LMI populations (2015) • New Production homes finished for a total of 126 in the region (2015) • ECIA awarded first Brownfield Assessment grant (2016) • ECIA and RTA install solar panels (2016) • Housing Trust Fund established (2016) • ECIA begins administration of the City of Dubuque’s HUD Resiliency program (2017) • ECIA awarded Brownfield RLF for $500,000 (2017) • Keep Iowa Beautiful Hometown Pride community coaching begins (2017) • Streets project born from Smarter Travel Study (2017)

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• ECIA/ECDC assumes management of the City of Dubuque Homeless program from Project Concern (2018) • ECIA/ECDC begin operating homeless hotline (2018) • Construction begins on pocket neighborhood in Maquoketa (2018) • ECIA launches nuisance abatement program (2019) • ECIA awarded $3,000,000 HUD Lead grant for Dubuque County (2019) • Community Solutions of Eastern Iowa (CSEI) created to manage homeless program (2019) • RTA bus storage facility in Earlville ribbon cutting (2019) • ECIA receives $400,000 CARES Act grant from EDA for project planning (2020) • Business Growth receives $2.2 million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to capitalize its Revolving Loan Fund (2020) • Keep Iowa Beautiful Hometown Pride community coaching expands in Cedar, Delaware, Dubuque, and Jackson counties (2021) • ECIA awarded $1,000,000 Older Adults Home Modification and $2,000,000 Healthy Homes grants (2021) • ECIA awarded $5,000,000 regional HUD Lead grant (2021) • Pocket neighborhood completed in Maquoketa (2022) • Pocket neighborhood wins the HousingIowa Single- Family Housing Development Award from the Iowa Finance Authority (2022) • Best Places to Work award (2023)

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Housing

Approximately 45 years ago, ECIA identified the need in the region to provide low and moderate-income families and elderly, access to safe, clean, and affordable housing. Working with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the US Department of Agriculture, and Iowa Finance Authority, the following are some of the ways staff are able to annually help families and individuals meet this basic human need: • 89 households helped through the Mainstream Voucher program • $498,359 awarded to Housing Trust Fund for lead reduction, owner-occupied rehab and rental rehab projects totaling $623,322 • Over 1,127 households benefited from the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance program with a total of $5,354,921 provided to landlords • 33 people working towards homeownership under the Housing Counseling program

When families have stable housing, they are more likely to thrive. Program participants have the opportunity to enroll in self-sufficiency programs which are designed to promote employment and offer them an opportunity to save money.

As a household’s income increases their earnings through employment, an amount equal to 30% of that increase is deposited into an escrow account. The account earns interest and is returned to the participant upon successful completion of their Family or Elderly Self-Sufficiency (FSS or ESS) contract. Below are the fiscal year highlights: • (FSS) Seven successful program completions among Section 8 households with an average escrow account of $3,564 • (FSS) Five successful program completions among Public Housing households with an average escrow account of $4,631 • (ESS) Seven successful program completions

success story

I have a sense of relief now that I’m not feeling like I am struggling to make a living. I would like to thank the FSS program and EIRHA Staff for the great opportunity to become a proud Iowa resident. Thank you for being a part of one of the best life changing decisions I have made.

- FSS Participant 9

Happy new homeowners in Grand Mound

success story

I would like to take a moment to share how the FSS and housing assistance has benefited my son and I. First and foremost, housing has given me the opportunity to live in a place of my own, with affordable rent.

My son and I have lived in a housing duplex for 7 years and prior to that, we had assistance and lived in an apartment through a private landlord, for one year. While being able to have affordable rent, I was able to go to college. I attended Northest Iowa Community College for 3 years and graduated with an AA degree.

I graduated in May 2018. That fall, I transferred to the University of Northern Iowa. I graduated in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in Psychology and a minor in Criminology. The support and encouragement I received from the FSS program was above and beyond.

I am currently working part time and saving for a new reliable vehicle to allow me to work fulltime in a larger town and be able to utilize my degree and follow my career goals. The escrow check, that my son and I will be receiving, could not be coming at a better time.

I will be able to pay off two loans, pay ahead on bills, purchase necessities and save money to put towards a new vehicle. To be quite honest, things have become somewhat difficult for us financially, and this will put us back on our feet and catch us up and put us ahead with our finances. I will never be able to express my level of gratitude for the FSS program and housing.

- PH FSS Program Participant

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Transportation

Region 8 Regional Transit Authority (RTA)

If you have ever wondered how people who don’t have a vehicle or a friend or loved one to give them rides for appointments and other destinations, rest assured that the RTA is providing this critical service for all people in the cities, communities, and rural areas of Delaware, Dubuque and Jackson Counties.

In FY 23, the RTA provided 90,430 rides to the elderly, disabled, and the general public. Since the pandemic, rides have increased by 33%. This increase in ridership is due to the RTA Board approving free rides for people 15 and under.

Transportation and Planning This ECIA department staffs the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Dubuque urbanized area and Regional Planning Affiliation 8 (RPA) in Iowa. It also assists communities with assessments, plans, ordinances, grants and grant writing, mapping, modeling, GIS, and studies related to transportation as well as recreation and housing. Fiscal year highlights include: • Awarded Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant for $500,000 • John Deere Dubuque roundabouts construction in completion stages • Maquoketa’s Platt Street construction in completion stages • Maquoketa Water Trail complete and open • Completed Delaware County Zoning Ordinance and trained County staff on implementing it • Worked with Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities (IISC) students on Clinton’s Liberty Square Plan • Completed the following plans • Mauqoketa’s Housing Plan • Asbury Parks and Trails Plan • Preston Comprehensive Plan • Dubuque County Trails Plan • Mechanicsville Comprehensive Plan • Conducted IMPLAN analysis for Dubuque’s successful $3,000,000 Destination Iowa grant for the Schmitt Island redevelopment • Administered the Rural County Transportation Program (RCTP): • Awarded grants to 21 communities in Clinton, Delaware, Dubuque, and Jackson Counties • Projects totaling $1,185,346 requested $463,066 • $280,000 total grants awarded

Bellevue’s RCTP project , before and after

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Clinton’s Liberty Square redevelopment concept

Maquoketa’s Platt Street (nearly complete) reconstruction, funded by a 2018 Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Discretionary grant

Jean has been a bus driver for 37 years!

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Administration

Staff

Sarah Berning, Support Services Manager Kelley Deutmeyer, Executive Director Christine Efferding, Administrative/Special Programs Assistant Denise Hefel, Finance/IT Coordinator Linda Murray, Receptionist Marla Quinn, Grants and Municipal Coordinator Steve Stoffel, Director of Finance and Administration Lisa Weinhold, Finance Accountant

Community/Economic Development Amanda Dupont, Grant Specialist/Inspector Craig Elskamp, Rehab Specialist/Building Code Inspector Kim Glaser, Community Development Coordinator Kyle Finke, Project Manager/Inspector Mark Jobgen, EIRUSS Project Manager Elizabeth Kemp, Rehab Specialist/Building Code Inspector Angela Koppes, Lead Inspector Dan LoBianco, Project Manager/Inspector Christine Mergen, Finance and Documentation Specialist Walter Nims, Lead/Building Code Inspector Roseann Sabers, Documentation Specialist Matt Specht, Director of Community/Economic Development Katie Steffensmeier, Community Outreach and Economic Development Coordinator

Community Services Dawn Danielson, Development Coordinator/Brownfields Project Manager Shelby Eipperle, Community Service Advocate Ashley Noonan, Regional Homeless Coordinator Jennifer Walker, Director of Special Programs

Housing Ben Cooper, Maintenance Manager Maria Elgin, Housing Support Specialist Michelle Huseman, Housing Support Specialist Debbie Maier, Housing Support Specialist Mindy Meyers, Family Support Specialist Kristi Oberhoffer, Family Support Specialist Leonard O’Connell, Maintenance Manager Carl Reimer, Homeownership/Housing Development Specialist Michelle Schnier, Director of Housing & Support Services Jenny Schrobilgen, Family Support Specialist Caitlin Siemionko, Housing Support Specialist Mindy Wiley, Housing and Grants Development Coordinator

HR/Program Development Holly McPherson, Director of Human Resources and Prgram Development Dylan Michels, Technology and Program Support Specialist Tricia Wagner, Grants and Program Development Coordinator

Transit/Transportation Laura Carstens, Senior Planner Dan Fox, Senior Planner Amber Kelley, RTA Dispatcher Gail Kuhle, Transit Operations Manager Chandra Ravada, Director of Transportation and Transit Services Stacie Scott, Transit Operations Manager Susan Shaull, RTA Dispatcher Jack Studier, Planner I

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Cedar County

Brad Gaul, Supervisor, Board of Supervisors Jeff Kaufmann, Supervisor, Board of Supervisors (Alternate) Roger Laughlin, Mayor, City of West Branch Rod Ness, Executive Director, Cedar County Economic Development Andrew Oberbreckling, Mayor, City of Mechanicsville Derek Olberding, Vice President, Fidelity Bank (Executive Committee) Brian Wagner, City Manager, City of Tipton (Executive Committee)

Clinton County

Erin George, Supervisor, Board of Supervisors Steve Hasenmiller, Mayor, City of DeWitt Brian Kelly, President, Clinton Community College/Eastern Iowa CC Steve Lindner, City Administrator, City of DeWitt (Alternate) Scott Maddasion, Mayor, City of Clinton (Executive Committee) Shannon Sander-Welzien, Executive Director, YWCA Clinton Don Thiltgen, Retired Mayor (Alternate) Jeremiah Wiese, Mayor, City of Wheatland (Executive Committee)

Delaware County

Connie Behnken, Mayor, City of Manchester (Executive Committee) Elise Bergan, Director, Edgewood Economic Development Linda Gaul, City Clerk, City of Earlville Shirley Helmrichs, Supervisor, Board of Supervisors Jeff Madlom, Supervisor, Board of Supervisors Sarah Maurer, Mortgage and Consumer Loan Officer, GNB Bank Timothy Vick, City Manager, City of Manchester (Alternate)

Dubuque County

Beth Bonz, City Manager, City of Asbury (Executive Committee) Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager, City of Dubuque (Alternate) (Executive Committee) Brad Cavanagh, Mayor, City of Dubuque (Executive Committee) Annette Ernst, City Administrator, City of Peosta Wayne Kenniker, Supervisor, Board of Supervisors (Alternate) Jason Neises, Community Development Coordinator, CFGD Chuck Niehaus, EIRHA/EIRHC Board Chairperson (Executive Committee)

Jackson County

Council & Executive Committees

Joshua Boldt, City Manager, City of Maquoketa Tom Messerli, Mayor, City of Maquoketa (Alternate) Roger Michels, Mayor, City Bellevue Tom Roth, City Council, City of Bellevue (Alternate) Don Schwenker, Supervisor, Board of Supervisors (Alternate) Mike Steines, Supervisor, Board of Supervisors Matt Tranel, 1st VP, Mgr Real Estate Lending, Maquoketa State Bank Teresa Weinschenk, City Manager, City of Bellevue Jack Willey, Retired Board of Supervisor/Business Owner (Executive Committee) 14

Delaware

Dubuque

Jackson

Clinton Cedar

ECIA

East Central Intergovernmental Association 7600 Commerce Park, Dubuque IA 52002 - 563-556-4166 www.ecia.org