June 26, 2012
Harkin Announces Economic Development Funds for Iowa
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that six Iowa regional planning organizations
(Commissions) received a total of $367,000 in grants to establish comprehensive economic development strategies for their
area. The funding was made available through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development
Administration.
“A sound development strategy is key to increasing career opportunities and strengthening communities throughout Iowa,”
Harkin said. “This funding will help create a framework to give each region a boost.”
The funds support efforts to promote efforts supporting (projects will establish an economic development framework,
process, and strategy that support) private capital investment and job creation in the regions. The comprehensive economic
development strategy process is designed to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic
development roadmap to diversify and strengthen the regional economy.
Details of each grant are below.
Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission- $61,000 to support the development and implementation of a
comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) for the region served by the Upper Explorerland Regional Planning
Commission, which comprises Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek counties
North Iowa Area Council of Governments- $61,000 to support the development and implementation of a comprehensive
economic development strategy (CEDS) for the region served by the North Iowa Area Council of Governments, which
comprises the counties of Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Franklin, Hancock, Kossuth, Mitchell, Winnebago, and Worth
Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission- $61,000 to support the development and implementation of a
comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) for the region served by the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning
Commission, which comprises Des Moines, Henry, Lee, and Louisa counties.
East Central Iowa Council of Governments - $62,000 to support the development and implementation of a comprehensive
economic development strategy (CEDS) for the region served by the East Central Iowa Council of Governments, which
comprises Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn, and Washington counties.
Area 15 Regional Planning Commission – $61,000 to support the development and implementation of a comprehensive
economic development strategy (CEDS) for the region served by the Area 15 Regional Planning Commission, which
comprises the counties of Davis, Jefferson, Keokuk, Mahaska, Van Buren, and Wapello.
Iowa Northland Regional Economic Development Commission – $61,000 to support the development and
implementation of a comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) for the region served by the Iowa Northland
Regional Economic Development Commission, which comprises the counties of Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler,
Chickasaw, and Grundy.