Iowa Association of Councils of Governments

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and as a proud supporter of the 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! initiative, we’re committed to helping spread the word.

Take a moment today to care for your mental well-being—whether that’s stepping outside, enjoying a walk in nature, or simply pausing to breathe. A small step can make a big difference.

Homes for Iowa’s building site expansion will be complete this summer—nearly doubling capacity and strengthening the ability to meet growing housing demand across the state. Currently able to construct 24 homes at a time, Homes for Iowa will increase that number to 45 homes with the expansion.

The impact goes beyond construction: nearly 700 trainees have participated in the program, and 159 homes have been delivered since 2020.

ICOG is proud to support Homes for Iowa, and this momentum continues because of committed partners working together to expand housing opportunities across Iowa.

Learn more at https://vist.ly/54wif.

Homes for Iowa Homes for Iowa supports the growth and development of offenders through the construction of affordable homes for income-eligible families and individuals.

ICOG is a proud supporter of Homes for Iowa and wants to make sure cities, nonprofits, and developers are aware of an important upcoming deadline.

- Order by July 1 to lock in current pricing! Homes for Iowa’s board reviews pricing each June, and past years have typically seen a modest increase. Securing pricing now can provide greater certainty for your project budget.

- Submit orders soon to secure a spot in the 2026 production schedule. With an approximate six‑month build timeline, this is less about year-end delivery and more about aligning with your overall project timeline and planning needs.

Learn more at https://vist.ly/548s2.

Homes for Iowa Homes for Iowa supports the growth and development of offenders through the construction of affordable homes for income-eligible families and individuals.

Meet the North Iowa Area Council Of Governments (North Iowa Area Council Of Governments), serving the counties of Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Franklin, Hancock, Kossuth, Mitchell, Winnebago, and Worth as well as their 67 cities!

With 48 dedicated staff members, NIACOG is a regional leader in planning, housing, transportation, community development, and transit services.

2025 WINS🏆
- Provided 200,000+ rides to mostly elderly and disabled North Iowans which helped them to reach the doctor, work, grocery stores, and family and friends. Many riders comment that without Region 2 Transit, they would not be able to reach these key destinations!

- Awarded the third of three $2 million grants to renovate electric grids for the cities of Corwith, Bancroft, and Algona, which will greatly reduce monthly outages which had averaged as much as 1.25 per month in one community. This creates stability for business, those who work from home, and the elderly who rely on dependable electricity for their healthcare.

- Spearheaded the first North Iowa Housing Conference with 30 speakers, 150 attendees, 3 tracks of sessions, 27 participating on the inter-agency planning crew, and 10 meetings between cities and developers to initiate housing development projects.

COMING IN 2026 🔜
A $4 million Career Education Training Center will open in Hampton this fall, supported by a $3 million grant from the Economic Development Administration with NIACOG as grant writer and administrator. This center will train high schoolers (and adults) to work for local employers in need of workers and will help stabilize the population base, as 20% of young workers are being lost through out-migration.

CLAIM TO FAME 🤩
The NIACOG region is best known for:
- The last remaining hotel designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
- The world’s largest RV manufacturer (Winnebago Industries)
- "The Day the Music Died," when Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and "The Big Bopper" were killed in a plane crash after a concert at The Surf Ballroom

Keep an eye out—registration for the MINK Conference is opening soon! 📆

Get ready to join us in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on August 31 - September 2. We're bringing together Councils of Government from Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri for two full days of engaging content, collaboration, and connection!

Thank you to Kristin Prososki of KSU TAB - Technical Assistance to Brownfields for presenting at last week's ICOG Board of Directors meeting! 👏

We learned how brownfields—properties that are contaminated or potentially contaminated—can be challenging to redevelop, and how TAB supports communities through the laws, incentives, and technical assistance that make redevelopment possible in Iowa.

We especially appreciated seeing how Councils of Governments are already involved—and can continue to play a key role—in transforming these spaces into new opportunities for our communities.

We’re big fans of Homes for Iowa and thrilled to help spread the word about their upcoming career fair!

Register: https://vist.ly/4x2yp

Our April 2026 newsletter is now available!

Check it out on our website: https://vist.ly/4xmju

SAVE THE DATE: MINK 4-State Conference 📆

Mark your calendar for the MINK 4-State Conference, taking place August 31–September 2 at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa!

This year, we're bringing together Councils of Government from Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri for two full days of engaging content, collaboration, and connection.

More details—including the full agenda, sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities, and registration information—will be coming soon.

Stay tuned!

Meet the East Central Iowa Council of Governments (East Central Iowa Council of Governments)! 👋

Serving the communities of Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn, and Washington counties, ECICOG is a regional leader in planning, housing, transportation, and community development.

Team Size: 18 dedicated staff members

2025 Wins 🏆
- Completed a region-wide Active Transportation Plan
- Delivered the Pathway to Resilience Plan
- Finalized the Linn County Community Food Assessment Plan

Coming in 2026 📆
ECICOG is launching a $3.3 million HUD Lead Hazard Reduction in Housing grant, supported by several local partners—expanding its impact on safe, healthy homes across the region.

Fun Fact ✨
Over the past 5 years, ECICOG has helped secure funding to rehabilitate more than 500 homes for low-to-moderate income residents!

Learn more: https://vist.ly/4vmnz