The Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments is a voluntary association of local governments established by state law serving the member jurisdictions in Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Chickasaw and Grundy counties. As a service and planning organization, it is responsible for coordinating, assisting and facilitating programs in Community and Economic Development that will benefit all governmental bodies in the INRCOG region. Emphasis is placed on intergovernmental communication and cooperation, accessing of funds, and the need for continuing, comprehensive planning.

Single Family New Construction (SFNC 4) Program
The State of Iowa recently announced a 4th round of the Single Family New Construction Program (SFNC 4). The objective of this program is to stimulate affordable new housing construction in communities by offering 25 percent down-payment assistance to income and credit qualified families who purchase a new home that is built as a direct result of this program. All homes to be built under this program must be under construction by March 15, 2013. All homebuyers must be at or below 80 percent of the County Median Income and all homes must have an all-inclusive purchase price of below $150,000.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) is requiring that INRCOG submit an individual development plan for each community that is interested in participating in the Single Family New Construction activity. INRCOG will put together the development plans from information provided by each participating community and collectively forward them to the State under one cover application. The Development Plan is due to the State by February 29, 2012. Consequently, we are requesting that communities who want to participate submit the necessary information to the INRCOG Housing Department no later than February 13, 2012, so we have time to format all of the material by the February 29th deadline. For more information, contact Jim Rodemeyer.

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Safe Routes to School Grants Awarded 1/26/12
The Iowa DOT Commision recently awarded two Safe Routes to School grants to the City of Waterloo. The first award for $92,000 is for the construction of a traffic signal at the intersection of Baltimore and W. 5th Streets in Waterloo to improve walking and bicycling conditions for students attending Irving Elementary School. The second award for $64,860, will construct sidewalk infill on Mobile and Quincy Streets and add school crossings on Newell Street at Mobile Street and at Mobile and Cottage Streets to benefit children attending the Dr. Walter Cunningham School for Excellence.

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The Introduction to Planning and Zoning for Local Officials Workshop
The Introduction to Planning and Zoning Workshop is a three-hour workshop designed to introduce the basic principles of land use planning and development management to elected officials, planning and zoning officials, and board of adjustment members without formal training in the subjects. Using case scenarios in a highly-interactive format, the workshop highlights issues frequently faced in the land use process. View workshop brochure or visit http://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/planningBLUZ/workshops/ for more information.

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INRCOG Awarded FHLB Affordable Housing Program Funds 11/29/11
INRCOG was recently awarded $150,900 from the Federal Home Loan Bank’s Affordable Housing Program to assist very low- or low-income homeowners with up to $12,000 five-year forgivable loans. The funds will enable homeowners to make repairs necessary to improve the safety, decency, sanitation, and/or energy efficiency of their residences. Examples of approved repairs include leaking roofs, general weatherization, plumbing or electrical deficiencies, and water heater installation. Eligible homes must be insured and located outside the 100-year floodplain. Residents in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area and communities with a population greater than 10,000 are not eligible. Contact Cindy Knox for more information.

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Partnership for Sustainable Communities Report Includes Case Study of the City of Waverly 11/29/11
Rural communities across America are working to strengthen their economies, provide better quality of life to residents, and build on assets such as traditional main streets, agricultural and working lands, and natural resources. The Partnership for Sustainable Communities, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), established a Rural Work Group to reinforce these initiatives and ensure that the four agencies’ spending, policies, and programs support rural communities’ efforts to be economically vibrant and environmentally sustainable. This report summarizes the Rural Work Group’s findings and creates a framework for the Partnership’s future work with rural communities. This report includes a case study of the City of Waverly's disaster resiliency through smart planning. View the full report...

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Notice of Funds Availability-Hazard Mitigation Grant Program 5/6/11
The State of Iowa will receive FEMA disaster funding under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) as part of Presidential disaster declarations DR-1977-IA (May 5, 2011) as a result of severe storms, tornadoes and straight-line winds that occurred in our State this spring. For more information click here.