Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative

Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative

Join the growing number of people in Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek counties working together to create vibrant communities where the healthy choice is the easy choice.

The healthy choice means that every day all people in NE Iowa have access to healthy, locally grown foods and abundant opportunities for physical activity and play.  Food and fitness is important  because no matter where we are, the places where we live, learn, work and play affect our health and quality of life.

For the past ten years, this effort has been a part of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Food & Community program.  Food & Community invests in community-driven policy and system change projects to transform our food and fitness systems.  NE Iowa was chosen as one of nine locations across the country for this project. For more information contact Ashley Christensen.

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Active Living Work Group

Ensuring that people use the natural and built environment for physical activity, play and active transportation

Active Living Work Group

"Active Living" means to integrate physical activity, such as walking and other active body movements, into our daily routine. Being physically active positively impacts our health, our community and our environment. From trails to parks to bluffs and beyond, Northeast Iowa provides an exceptional environment for physical activity.

The Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative's (FFI) Active Living Work Group aims to increase use of Northeast Iowa's natural and built environment by encouraging people of all ages and abilities to be active outdoors. The Active Living Work Group is made up of key individuals from multiple sectors working together to make the group's strategy a reality:  parks and natural resources, city engineering, physical therapy, county conservation, trail enthusiasts, public health, community and transportation planning and Safe Routes to School.

As the core partner invested in FFI's Active Living and Safe Routes to School efforts, UERPC convenes the Active Living Work Group. The work group meets quarterly and always welcomes new members! Please contact Ashley Christensen to learn more.

ALWG Meeting Minutes

News Headlines

UERPC May 2019 Newsletter

Posted: Mon, May 20, 2019

The UERPC May 2019 Newsletter is here! Check out the newsletter to learn about:

  • Congratulations to Jacki Schares of INRCOG
  • Community Teaching Kitchen Becomes a Reality
  • Iowa Invites People to Explore Iowa's Outdoors with "99 Counties, 99 Parks"
  • Emergency Action Plans for Cities, Counties and Businesses
  • Does Your City Code Need Updating? Let us help!
  • Employee Spotlight:  Kelly Hefel
  • Iowa Works:  Did You Know??
  • Calling All Allamakee County Clean Energy Enthusiasts
  • Progressive Walking Supper a Huge Success
  • Many Thanks to the Decorah Public Library
  • UERPC Offices will be closed Monday, May 27th in observance of Memorial Day
... [ Read More ]

Marketing Internship Opportunity with UERPC

Posted: Fri, May 17, 2019

Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) is offering a Marketing Internship opportunity for a student studying marketing, communications, public relations or other related field. The internship will focus on creating and implementing marketing efforts for UERPC. Contact Rachelle Howe with interest or questions:  563-382-6171 or rhowe@uerpc.org.

... [ Read More ]

Iowa DOT Now Accepting for State Rec Trails Funding Cycle

Posted: Fri, May 17, 2019

The Iowa DOT is now accepting applications for the annual State Recreational Trails program funding cycle. Applications shall be either received via email by 5:00 pm to peggy.riecken@iowadot.us or postmarked by July 1, 2019. An email submission must still be followed by receipt of a single signed color original of the completed application via U.S. mail. The appropriation for State Fiscal Year 2020 (SFY 2020) is $1.5 million. Please note, the application form has been revised for this year’s cycle. If you are working from a previously prepared application, be sure to update to the new format and questions before submitting.

All hardcopies shall be submitted via U.S. mail to:

State Recreational Trails Program
Iowa Department of Transportation
Systems Planning Bureau
800 Lincoln Way
Ames, IA 50010

Please contact Debra Arp, Grant Program Administration Team Leader, at debra.arp@iowadot.us, if you have any questions or concerns. The Iowa DOT web site is updated with this information:  https://iowadot.gov/systems_planning/Grant-Programs/-Federal-and-State-Recreational-Trails

... [ Read More ]

UERPC April 2019 Newsletter

Posted: Mon, April 15, 2019

The UERPC April 2019 Newsletter has hatched! Check out the newsletter to learn about:

  • Students Explore Local Career Opportunities
    at Networking and Opportunity Fair
  • Northeast Iowa Family STEM Festival a Big Hit
  • Progressive Walking Supper on May 1st in Decorah
  • Beat the Blues Winter Marathon Winner Announced
  • Three Years Later, Open Gyms are Better than Ever
  • It's Spring Walking and Biking School Bus Season!
  • Employee Spotlight:  Roxanna Kayode
  • Team-building at the Waukon Wellness Center
  • UERPC Offices will be closed on Friday, April 19th in observance of Good Friday
... [ Read More ]
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