On March 24, 2010 at the Arrowwood Resort and conference Center in Okoboji, the Iowa State University Extension will be offering the workshop, ‘Introduction to Planning and Zoning for Local Officials.’ Please refer to the flyer New* Planning and Zoning Workshop for Local Officials for the complete information about the workshop and to fill out the registration form. Please call Steve Hallgren, Planning Director or any of the NWIPDC Planning staff at 712-262-7225 for assistance.

Please refer to the link *NEW* - Grant Alert - Potential Funding Sources under the Resource Center to learn about potential funding sources for water and wastewater infrastructure. If you have any questions or would like more information, please call Steve Hallgren, Planning Director or any of the NWIPDC planning staff at 712-262-7225 for assistance.

Please refer to the “CDBG GRANT ALERT” under the resource center, if your city, county or non-profit organization sponsored by a city or county is considering a water, sewer, community facility or housing project. These Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds may be available to assist your community with financing a portion of the project. Projects that are typically the most competitive are those that demonstrate sound planning principles, show strong local commitment and make an impact to a maximum number of benefiting low to moderate income persons. In order to meet the fall deadlines and eligible to apply for CDBG funds, projects must demonstrate benefit to low and moderate income persons verified through an income survey process. Cost estimates and preliminary engineering or architectural reports must be completed prior to applying.

Please join in the webinar for the CDBG September 2, 2009 from 8:30 to noon, to find out more information for your community. Again please refer to the “CDBG GRANT ALERT” under the resource center for more information for viewing the webinar.

If your city, county or non-profit organization is considering applying for a CDBG project or would like more information, please call Steve Hallgren, Planning Director or any of the NWIPDC Planning staff at 712-262-7225 for grant writing assistance.

Welcome to our new Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Commission web site. We have tried to develop a more useful and user friendly site that not only provides information about our organization such as who we are and what we do, but also provides you with direct access to information and links to many valuable sources and agency partners as well.  On here you'll find census information, contact information for our cities and counties, information on services and programs we deliver,  and many useful links to organizations that may be of assistance to you, plus much more.  The new site also enables us to post recent project news, maps and documents, and we will be adding these as time progresses.  I hope you like the new NWIPDC page and find it very useful.

In addition, we are resurrecting our agency newsletter and it will be available very soon.  Its new format will be entirely electronic and it will be sent directly to  all who have requested it.  The newsletter will also be posted directly on the new webpage as well.  Please enter your email address as directed on the web page to receive the newsletter directly.  Please enjoy the website and contact us with any comments or questions you may have, or if we can help you or your organization in anyway.

Best Regards,

Ted Kourousis

Executive Director

The Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Commission is a regional governmental organization whose mission is to provide community and economic development and job training services for a nine county area. The agency's full time, professional staff assists the member counties and municipalities in such areas as community planning and zoning, federal and state.