Positive progress for the Jasper County Hometown Pride program, including two new grants, was reported to the Jasper County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
Jasper County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Chaz Allen spoke about the grants and work that is being done with the funds received.
“To date we have received almost $60,000 in grants that have come in for different projects whether in Baxter, Monroe, Sully, Colfax or Lynnville,” Allen said. “We’ve got a lot done.”
Along with a $30,000 in grants from the Prairie Meadows Community Betterment program, Hometown Pride received grants from the Diamond Vogel Paint Iowa Beautiful program for $1,500 and Yo-Ho Tools for $600.
“It’s not just your standard grants they are looking at, they are out looking for everything,” Allen said.
The Diamond Vogel funds will be put to use in Baxter for stain at the sports complex; for downtown holiday decorations, a welcome sign at the Interstate 80 interchange 164 and the mural at Manatt’s in Newton, at the recreation park complex in Monroe and to clear seal the Central Park bandstand stage in Sully. Proceeds from Yo-Ho Tools will go toward Quarry Springs Park in Colfax, Ballfield Park in Lynnville and the Sully Garden Club in Sully.
Additional work by Hometown Pride that is underway includes projects taken on by University of Iowa and Iowa State University students. Students in the UI senior civil engineering program are reaching several trail systems including the Lynnville-Sully recreation trail, Monroe trails and sidewalk network master plan and the Monroe to Mitchellville rail trail development. The group is also working on a redevelopment plan at Newton’s 30 Acre Park including off road bike trails, a jog park, restrooms and parking. In Prairie City, the storm water management plan will roll out strategies to mitigate storm water flooding on the east side of town.
Students from the Iowa State College of Design have taken on the project of developing options for upgrades and enhancements at Baxter Geise Park and the Chichaqua Valley Trail trail head design.
Hometown Pride is also looking forward to upcoming projects such as working with Mingo and Kellogg to join the program.
“Going forward, we are also trying to work with utilities and try to get a Jasper County housing market study to find out, as you go east, what is everybody is looking for,” Allen said.
Led by community coach Jeff Davidson in a partnership with JEDCO, Hometown Pride works to help improve local communities through providing five years of long-term technical and professional coaching assistance to implement sustainable plans and programs. Jasper County communities involved include Newton, Prairie City, Monroe, Baxter, Lynnville, Sully and Colfax.
In other business:
• Carol Ver Ploeg was named to the Library Board for the city of Sully. Shirley Dunsbergen was named to the Library Board for the city of Lynnville.
Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com