Check back often for the latest news.
-
Iowa gets another $125.3 million in federal aid
Nov 27, 2008 — The Gazette - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Business assistance will be channeled through a local chamber of commerce program.
-
State eases disaster aid rules: Contractor shortage can cause delays
Nov 27, 2008 — The Gazette - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
The state money does not have the same requirements. Under the block grant program, eligible homeowners can receive up to $60,000 for repairs or down payment assistance. Up to $3,000 is available in interim mortgage help. Previously, if a homeowner received block grant money, the entire home had to be brought up to code.
-
Penalty proposal headlines council meeting tonight
Nov 25, 2008 — Clinton Herald
The new language set forth by the IOC reads, "Notice of the City's intent to purchase cars, trucks, SUV's and ATV's will be sent to all local vehicle dealerships. New vehicle and used vehicle quotations will be sought for all purchases. New and used commercial vehicle quotations will be sought for all purchases.
-
State waiting for details of jobless benefit extension
Nov 25, 2008 — The Gazette - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
A conference call was scheduled for Monday afternoon with federal officials. Koonce said Iowans who still are receiving jobless benefits will automatically have their payments extended.
-
State waiting for details on jobless benefit extension
Nov 25, 2008 — The Gazette - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
A conference call was scheduled for Monday afternoon with federal officials. Koonce said Iowans who still are receiving jobless benefits will automatically have their payments extended.
-
BRIEF Economic development group using YouTube for promotion
Nov 24, 2008 — The Gazette - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
...-- IOWA CITY -- Iowa City Area Development wants local residents to boost its YouTube video boasting the area's employment opportunities and quality of life. Hoping to log 1 million views today, ICAD wants locals to e-mail links to its video to friends, family and professional contacts, said Joe Raso, the group's president. "The biggest challenge ahead for ICAD Group and the entire Corridor area is attracting qualified candidates to the region," said Raso. "We continue to...
-
Postville overwhelmed by sudden shutdown of Agriprocessors plant
Nov 23, 2008 — Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
The decision came exactly one week after workers found themselves suddenly broke with limited means to find a job or buy food. "We can't wait until tomorrow. We need some bigger players involved," he said. Radloff admits the city was not prepared to deal with sudden, mass layoffs. Cities plan for emergencies like natural disasters and fires, she said, not for this. "It's just basically reinventing the wheel of something nobody really had a plan for.
-
Mayors of flood-damaged cities tell state to get aid funds flowing
Nov 21, 2008 — Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
In Cedar Falls, he said, "we had 220 housing permits taken out in the flood plain by the end of September. On top of that, we also have lead abatement. "Our contention is there are people that have emergency needs we need to get to right away. Within INRCOG's own six-county area -- Black Hawk, Bremer, Butler, Buchanan Grundy and Chickasaw counties -- the agency has received 335 applications for residential flood assistants with state Jumpstart money.
-
Author Longworth says Cedar Valley on right track in effort to compete globally
Nov 19, 2008 — Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
He is a fellow of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
-
Council to discuss improvements list
Nov 15, 2008 — Ottumwa Courier
...skyway easement (Hofmann Building to Ottumwa Parking Ramp) with Parkview Plaza, Inc.). --Plans, specifications, contract and cost for the Water Pollution Control Facility's headwork overhead door modifications project. These are the resolutions the council will consider: --Interfund loans to cover the cost of two tax increment financing projects -- a hot-mix asphalt overlay (HMA) for the airport's terminal area and Terminal Avenue and an HMA overlay for the Wapello/Ferry...
-
Coralville officials study flood options
Nov 14, 2008 — The Gazette - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
That would include constructing a removable wall, other flood walls and a boardwalk by the Iowa River Power Restaurant.
-
OPINION Boy Scouts pickup of food is Saturday
Nov 14, 2008 — Creston News Advertiser
They even come with vegetarian dressing and meatless "giblet" gravy. The trade name for these birds is "Tofurky." I think I'll just stick with the regular bird this year! Rain, rain Go away. Plus, there were several red patches of highway as I headed over to Osceola.
-
Coralville zeroing in on flood plans
Nov 12, 2008 — The Gazette - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
That would include constructing a removable wall, other flood walls and a boardwalk by the Iowa River Power Restaurant.
-
Council discusses capital improvements
Nov 12, 2008 — Ottumwa Courier
Today's units won't move without a harness," O'Connor said. Caviness asked about the police department's request for downtown security cameras. Such a system would cost $250,000. Police Chief Jim Clark said no grant was currently available but Congressman Dave Loebsack is checking into the matter.
-
North Cedar vision could mean two new TIF districts
Nov 12, 2008 — Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
One example is the renovation of Black Hawk Village shopping center. Hagarty supports a TIF for Center Street. "If this would generate more business then I feel it's well worth it.
-
City to work with Aerial Services on relocation
Nov 11, 2008 — Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
The building will house headquarters for five businesses, all owned in full or in part by Darin Beck.
-
Land purchased for nothern Cedar Falls industrial park
Nov 11, 2008 — Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
The land would be bought from Linda and Jerell Janssen for $640,000. The city has slowly been preparing for the industrial park over several years. A sanitary sewer was added on Lake Street that will help serve the new development. That never happened as Waterloo was unwilling to sever the property from its city limits. Wieland said he had heard from citizens who questioned the timing of the industrial park project.
-
New Hartford residents look to the future
Nov 9, 2008 — Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
...pancakes and didn't realize after I made the pancakes I didn't have any syrup," Schipper said. "So I went to the neighbor's house. If he wouldn't have been home, I'd drive 10 miles to either Dike or Cedar Falls." In its prime, New Hartford was a hub of activity with grocery stores, a hardware store, a creamery, hotels, a skating rink, a theater and filling stations, said resident Vopal Youngberg. "Young people would come from other towns to little dinky New Hartford because it...
-
'Sleep Out for Homelessness' raises funds, awareness Annual event scheduled for Nov. 14
Nov 7, 2008 — Ottumwa Courier
The Upper Room project fundraising has been under way for three years, and construction is nearing completion. Hiring a good shelter manager will also be key, said board member Marty Schmidt. Donations can be dropped off there or at the OCOM, 325 E. Main St., in downtown Ottumwa. When temperatures drop below freezing, Spurgeon says, it's heartbreaking to send someone out into the cold.
-
County supervisors hear recommendation for bonding road improvements
Nov 7, 2008 — Clinton Herald
... Following the board's bond issuance in October, Kinney prepared an economic impact study and submitted it to the county's bonding adviser, Springsted Inc., for review. On Thursday the board heard from Bruce Slagle, a client representative from Springsted, who suggested that the county look at preparing an urban renewal plan in order to proceed further with the bonding process. Slagle noted the board has the authority to issue bonds to fund road maintenance and improvements...
-
EDITORIAL: Selling park land among city studies OUR OPINION
Nov 5, 2008 — Ottumwa Courier
Nov. 5, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Ottumwa's City Council members have notebooks full of studies to do. The issue arose following complaints that the Elbow Room downtown was allowing underage people to drink. The moratorium would allow more time to draft a proposed ordinance. A new issue also popped up at the last council meeting.
-
For the vets Early Veterans Day program to inform, thank
Nov 5, 2008 — Creston News Advertiser
I'm hoping that some of them will come and at least inqure." Healthcare for veterans is also a major concern for Wilson. Kids need to know their freedoms came at a cost." Wilson and Spencer agreed participating in a Veterans Day program will prove extremely valuable to Downing's students.
-
EDITORIAL: Ottumwa ready for RAGBRAI Our opinion
Nov 1, 2008 — Ottumwa Courier
Nov. 1, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Attention, RAGBRAI! Ottumwa is ready to have you all stay here overnight.
-
Ottumwa City Council to consider after-hours moratorium on Tuesday
Nov 1, 2008 — Ottumwa Courier
The subdivision has one lot, which is the location of Building No. 52. --The final plat of the airport's Subdivision No. 4, which has four lots.
-
Candidate forum draws large crowd to City Hall
Oct 31, 2008 — Ottumwa Courier
Only the auditor's race does not feature an incumbent seeking re-election. Wapello Co. Supervisor Voters may have flashbacks to the Democratic primary when they look at the ballot for county supervisor; the candidates in November are the same. Siegel said the county has few legal options for increasing money available for the county's roads.
-
Postville plant fined $10 million Plant down to 200 workers from 900
Oct 30, 2008 — The Gazette - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Tyson Foods (NYSE:TSN) representatives had been spotted in Postville, presumably to evaluate a possible acquisition of the Agriprocessors plant, a Tyson spokesman said he had no knowledge. "I am not aware of any interest in the plant at Postville," said Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson. Mickelson said Tyson is not currently in the kosher meat business, although IBP, a company later acquired by Tyson, once operated a kosher plant in Minnesota. – Contact...
-
School Board discusses workforce program
Oct 30, 2008 — Clinton Herald
...development program that will offer job training and experience to students. Presented to the Clinton and Camanche school districts during a recent meeting hosted by Clinton Regional Development Corp., the program would work with local businesses to prepare high school students for employment upon graduation. Board President Thea Engelson and Superintendent Richard Basden presented the idea to the School Board during this week's Committee of the Whole meeting. Engelson...
-
County supervisor candidates discuss zoning, health issues
Oct 29, 2008 — Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
...-- WATERLOO -- Candidates for the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors were quizzed on high-profile zoning issues and public health concerns during two forums this week. The six candidates were asked by the Rotary Club Monday about their thoughts concerning a proposed Monsanto (NYSE:MON) seed corn operation, which moved to Independence after county zoning board members recommended against a zoning change for a site south of Waterloo, and the controversial coal-fired Elk Run Energy...
-
OEDC seeks public-private partnership to develop housing Local government can help by allowing development in parks
Oct 29, 2008 — Ottumwa Courier
The most dramatic of the options may well be the proposal to allow development in Ottumwa's park property, with Memorial Park and Wildwood Park being the most obvious options. That led Supervisor Steve Siegel to question whether Gaumer was suggesting governments engage in land speculation. TIFs, tax increment financing, are an option, but Gaumer spent little time discussing that possibility.
-
Housing shortage, problems: Council hears report by OEDC group
Oct 28, 2008 — Ottumwa Courier
That's where the two parks come in.
-
GCVA to survey businesses broadband use
Oct 26, 2008 — Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
Such connectivity is crucial to the city's economic development efforts. The individual responses from participating businesses will be confidential.
-
Affordable housing on agenda Housing a priority in attracting new residents and business opportunities to town
Oct 25, 2008 — Ottumwa Courier
Few, if any, new housing developments are planned. The committee report says the city should consider development of housing at Memorial Park and Wildwood Park, as well as adjacent to the school district's offices. Recent history, including disputes over development at Sycamore Park, suggests any move to allow development at a park will be controversial.
-
EDITORIAL: Vote Leichty for supervisor Our endorsement
Oct 25, 2008 — Ottumwa Courier
Oct. 25, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Steve Siegel has served 12 years as a member of the Wapello County Board of Supervisors.
Get involved in the issues that affect our companies and quickly
contact your elected officials. When there is a legislative alert,
we will post it here.
