Fy14annualreport8pagesforwebsite

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East Central Intergovernmental Association

ECI

empowering communities through sustainable partnerships Annual Report

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FY 2014

From the Executive Director-ECIA Celebrates 40 years Let’s reflect back to 1974 and the important events that shaped our country during the year ECIA opened its doors. The cost of a gallon of gas averaged 53 cents; the average cost of a new car was $3,750; the average unemployment rate was 5.6%; the average cost of a new house was $34,900. President Nixon was impeached in August, 1974 and resigned following the Watergate scandal.

A 55 mph speed limit was imposed nationwide to conserve gasoline. The Sears Tower in Chicago became the world’s tallest building. The Miami Dolphins defeated the Minnesota Vikings 24-7 in Superbowl VIII. Blazing Saddles was a top movie and The Waltons was a top rated television show.

Several major laws were enacted in 1974 that 40 years later remain important laws for the ECIA region. The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program was enacted in 1974 by President Ford through the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. It had bipartisan support, because of the shared goal of extinguishing poverty and urban blight. The Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 amended the Housing Act of 1937 to create Section 8 housing and authorized “Entitlement Communities Grants”. Section 109 of Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 was enacted.

Section 109 provides that no person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, national origin, religion, or sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity funded in whole or in part with Federal financial assistance. In November 1974, President Ford signed into law the National Mass Transportation Assistance Act of 1974, authorizing $11.9 billion over a six-year span for capital and operating expenses of the nation’s mass transit systems. It was the first time federal Congress had authorized funds for mass transit operating subsidies.

Fast forward to 2014....ECIA continues to operate the Section 8 program; the Community Development Block Grant program is a vital resource for public infrastructure, community facility and housing improvements in our region; transit assistance continues to play a vital role in maintaining and operating transit in both the Jule and RTA’s budgets; and Section 109 remains an important provision of every program we operate. While funding levels for these programs have varied throughout the years, the premise of the programs has not changed...to improve the quality of life of our citizens.

Fiscal Year 2014 was a lean year for ECIA. With the federal budget cuts in many of the housing programs and the reduction in funding for Community Development and Employment and Training programming, we had to buckle down and ride out the storm to get through the fiscal year.

While it was a celebration year for us, it was also a year to get back to the basics and provide the core services we do best. Our partners, our member governments, our ECIA Council and the ECIA staff all worked collaboratively to generate new revenue and to maintain our experienced staff. By mid fiscal year 2014, the outlook had shifted and was much brighter. Thank you to our ECIA Council and member governments for the support!

As we look forward to the future and another 40 years, ECIA will continue to respond to the needs of our member governments and find alternatives to bring new resources to improve the quality of life in the region!

Kelley Deutmeyer

Executive Director

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Southwest Arterial MOU

ECIA Annual Report

August 2013 A Memorandum of Understanding was made between the Iowa Department of Transportation and the City of Dubuque transferring jurisdiction of the Southwest Arterial from the City to the State.

FY 14 Highlights

EIMCO Becomes Petal Certified October 2013

ECIA’s Regional Economic Development and Sustainability Coordinator presents EIMCO staff with an award recognizing their achievment in earning all five petals: Energy Conservation, Waste Reduction, Pollution Prevention, Staff Education, and Water Conservation.

They were the tenth fully certified business.

Bee Branch receives $98.5MM December 2013

ECIA assists Dubuque in a $98.5 million Iowa Flood Mitigation Board award for the Bee Branch Flood Mitigation Project.

The Jule launches new routes January 2014 Lin

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ECIA manages the City of Dubuque’s Transit system, The Jule, and on January 6, 2014, a new route structure was launched with funding provided by the Iowa DOT. The new cross town express and looped service has faster bus transportation between downtown and the west end as well as new service areas, increased service for some areas, trip times shortened by up to 50% and extended service hours from downtown to west side locations.

1978

40years of service 1974

The ECIA is established with offices in the Fischer Building.

1975

Karl Biasi named Executive Director.

ECIA was designated an Economic Development District, making each member city and county eligible for EDA funds.

1981

In the ECIA FY 1982 budget, the annual postage estimate was $6,000. (In the FY 2014 budget, it was estimated at $32,000.)

1979

The Department of Housing and Urban Development approves applications filed by the Eastern Iowa Regional Housing Authority for the construction of 75 elderly and family public housing units in Dyersville, Manchester, Colesburg, Greeley, Bellevue, and Sabula.

1980

Larry Nagle promoted to Assistant Director after spending two years as circuit-rider management advisor.

1977

ECIA assists 12 municipalities in receiving over $3,800,000 through EDA’s Local Public Works program for projects such as street construction, city hall renovations, fire house updates, storm sewer upgrades, tennis court and pool construction, etc.

EIRHA expands to include Jones County to provide Section 8 rental assistance.

1997

2002

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1993

Email arrives at ECIA.

ECIA launches website.

2004

1996

Southwest Arterial Study Begins... and expected to be complete by close of 1997; next step - inclusion of the project in the IDOT Five-Year Program for construction.

2007/2008

ECIA’s rural transit division, Region 8 Regional Transit Authority, receives $702,269 from the Iowa Public Transit Infrastructure Fund for a maintenance and storage facility. ECIA and RTA build joint facility on Commerce Park.

1999

ECIA offers GIS mapping

2001

Bill Baum, Executive Director, retires after 26 years

ECIA assists DeWitt in a $966,000 EDA Public Works award to expand the Water Pollution Control 2001 Plant to accommodate Kelley Hutton Deutmeyer growth for existing industries becomes ECIA Executive and a new company Director, after a year as Assistant Director of Housing. locating to DeWitt.

MAQUOKETA FIRE DESTROYS DOWNTOWN 2010 BUILDINGS; 15 DEPARTMENTS BATTLE BLAZE Department of Labor awards a $2,060,000 Green Jobs grant to ECIA Business Growth, NICC, and a long list of other 2009 partners to develop three separate career ladders to connect ECIA assists Maquoketa in receiving a $200,000 EPA Brownfield grant to demolish and clean up fire debris from the January 2008 downtown blaze.

workers to green jobs in renewable electric power, energy efficient assessment, and energy efficient building.

2011

ECIA helps the City of Clinton obtain EPA funds to the tune of $868,000 for wastewater improvements in the Clinton area.

2012

1982

The Region 8 Regional Transit Authority was formed.

1986

ECIA assumes administration of the Job Training Partnership Act.

2005

ECIA partners with local economic development groups, cities, counties, other partners and is awarded $175,000 in State Collaborative Economic Development Marketing funds to begin the Prosperity Eastern Iowa initiative.

2006

ECIA to provide acquisition/relocation services for City of Dubuque’s Bee Branch Creek restoration construction project.

2014

ECIA receives a $150,000 USDA grant to conduct a Government Training Institute to improve the capacity of rural government leaders and economic development organizations.

ECIA’s EIRUSS program assists Leisure Lake in receiving a USDA RD loan for $2,656,000, a USDA RD grant for $1,000,000 and an Iowa Watershed Improvement Review Board grant of $500,000.

EIRHC Awarded Home Funds

March 2014

ECIA’s Eastern Iowa Regional Housing Corporation was awarded Iowa Finance Authority HOME Investment Partnership funds for $998,064 for Tenant Based Rental Assistance. Funds will provide rental and security deposit assistance for affordable, decent, safe and sanitary housing to qualifying families over a two-year period in Cedar, Clinton, Delaware, Dubuque, Jackson, Jones and Scott Counties.

Business Growth Assists in Funding New Building March 2014

A $742,000 SBA 504 loan that E.C.I.A. Business Growth, Inc. Board of Directors previously approved was closed and funded for a new building for Dardis, Inc. for a 25,000 square foot distribution center in Dyersville’s Industrial Park. Dardis has 18 employees.

RTA Partners to Create “Project Pass” June 2014

The Region 8 Regional Transit Authority and Project Concern partnered to receive a Women’s Giving Circle grant for $3,990 to fund approximately 133 trips for low income women and children to Iowa City for medical appointments. Project Pass was the top award winner.

April 2014

ECIA Partners in Youth Career Connect Grant

The U.S. Department of Labor Employment & Training Administration awarded a $2.7 million grant to the Northeast Iowa Pathways to Employment Project. The project will expand current college efforts to create additional concurrent options at regional high schools in high demand industries such as finance, healthcare, and technology. The grant will offer educational and experiential opportunities that enable students to graduate from high school and enter the workforce with industry credentials or begin their college education having already earned some college credits. The grant partnership consists of Northeast Iowa Community College, Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission, ECIA, Dubuque Area Labor Management Council, Keystone Area Education Agency, 23 northeast Iowa high schools, and a growing list of employers.

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ECIA Staff Administration and Support

Employment and Training

Kelley Deutmeyer, Executive Director 1 Lisa Weinhold, Director of Finance/Human Resources 2 Jenna Soyer, Municipal Relations Coordinator Marla Quinn, Grants and Development Coordinator 3 Jennifer Walker, Project Manager Sharon Nesteby, Executive Assistant 4 Gail Kuhle, Supportive Services Manager Christine Mergen, Finance Assistant Denise Hefel, Finance Assistant 5 Stacey Carpenter, Administrative Assistant Sarah Berning, Administrative Assistant Bob Krayer, Special Projects

Ron Axtell, Manager of Employment and Training 16 Joanne Kipper, Employment and Training Assistant Ami Johnson, Employment and Training Assistant 17

Transit

Lori McKinley, Manager of Transit Operations 18 Stacie Scott, Dispatcher/Scheduler Debra Brandel, Dispatcher Bridget Bartlett, Mobility Coordinator Candace Eudaley, Director of Transit Operations, The Jule Jodi Johnson, Transit Operations Supervisor 6

Community Development; Transportation and Planning Mark Schneider, Director of Community Development/Public Works 6

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Tim Crabb, Housing Rehab Specialist/Building Code Inspector Darwin Polk, Project Manager 7 7 Matt Specht, Project Manager Chandra Ravada, Transportation Director Dan Fox, Transportation Planner Ben Milum, 3D and Web Designer

ECIA Staff

Housing Services

circa 1974

Michelle Schnier, Director of Housing & Support Services 8 Jenny Schrobilgen, Housing Coordinator 9 Carl Reimer, Homeownership/Housing Development Specialist 10 Maria Elgin, Housing Manager 11 3 Lori Joester, Housing Manager Debbie Maier, Housing Manager 12 Mindy Meyers, Family Support Coordinator/Site Manager 13 Mindy Wiley, Family Support Coordinator/Site Manager Michelle Huseman, Housing Specialist 14 Tom Simpson, Maintenance Manager Leonard O’Connell, Maintenance Manager Sean O’Malley, Maintenance Manager

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Economic Development

Jerome Schroeder, Economic Development Director 15 Holly Kueter, Regional Economic Development/Sustainability Coordinator 14 18 17 12

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ECIA Council - FY 2015 Elise Bergan Edgewood Chamber/ Economic Development

Brad Gaul Cedar County Board of Supervisors

Beth Bonz City of Asbury

Linda Gaul City of Earlville

Donna Boss (Alternate) Delaware County Economic Development

Dave Heiar Jackson County Economic Alliance

Roy Boul (Exec only) City of Dubuque DMATS

Shirley Helmrichs Delaware County Board of Supervisors

Wayne Breckon Dubuque Bank and Trust

Patti Hoffman Preston Growth & Development

Judy Carr (Alternate) City of Maquoketa Tim Cottle Clinton Community College Wayne Deerberg Cedar Co. Board of Supervisors Wayne Demmer (Alternate) Dubuque County Board of Supervisors Steve Flynn (Alternate) Jackson County Board of Supervisors

Larry “Buck� Koos, Chair Jackson County Board of Supervisors Steve Lindner (Alternate) City of DeWitt

John Staszewski Clinton Co. Board of Supervisors

Jeff Madlom Delaware County Board of Supervisors

Donald Thiltgen City of DeWitt

Amy Moore City of Maquoketa

Peggy Kedley (Alternate) City of Lowden

Matt Muckler City of West Branch

Shirley Kepford City of Tipton

Chris Nosbisch City of Tipton

Abby Kisling Tipton Economic Development

Orville Randolph (Alternate) City of Bennett

Daryl Klein Dubuque County Board of Supervisors

Ray Stephan, Vice Chair City of Peosta

Don Recker (Alternate) City of Sageville

Paul Konrardy City of LaMotte

Bill Rediger EIRHA/EIRHC

Milt Kramer City of Manchester

Peggy Sellnau City of Charlotte

Rod Tokheim Mercy Medical Center Michael Van Milligen City of Dubuque Jim Vermazen Regional Workforce Investment Board Timothy Vick (Alternate) City of Manchester Mark Vulich City of Clinton Brian Wagner City of Maquoketa

Serving Member Governments for 40 Years ECIA by the Numbers Community Development Block and flood related grants = $141 million; EIRHA grew from 126 in 1978 to 950 Section 8 Certificates with over $3.5 million annually in rental assistance; Business Growth has approved 289 loans since 1983 totaling over $90 million creating 3,700 jobs; The Regional Planning Affiliation has programmed more than $17 million in STP funds and DMATS has programmed more than $28 million in road and trail funding; Through the original Job Training Partnership Act, over 5,000 participants have met with our Region 1 staff and through the Workforce Investment Act program that number increased to over 7 15,000.