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

The UERPC January 2021 Newsletter is Here!

Posted: Tue, January 19, 2021

The UERPC January 2021 Newsletter is here! https://uerpc.org/newsletters.html  

 

Highlights include:

  • Call for Applications for Multimodal Transportation Grants
  • SBA and Treasury Announce PPP Re-Opening and Issue New Guidance
  • ICOG Legislative Update - January 14, 2021
  • NICC Virtual Training Opportunities
  • The 411 on UERPC's Housing Programs
  • UERPC is Open
  • NOTICE:  UERPC office will be closed on Monday, February 15th for Presidents Day
  • Employee Spotlight:  Katelyn Peterson
  • Hotline to Housing Event at West Union Library on Jan. 27th
  • Rural North Waukon Broadband Project Receives Funding
  • Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) Still Available
  • Iowa Safe Routes to School Conference Happening in January
  • January SRTS Monthly Motivators:  New Year New You!
  • January 5-2-1-0 Feature:  'Water' You Drinking This Year?

Want to receive our newsletter in your inbox? Sign up here:  https://uerpc.org/newsletters.html  

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Draft RPA-1 Public Participation Plan (PPP) available for public review

Posted: Fri, January 15, 2021

The Public Participation Plan (PPP) of the Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) Transportation Policy Board is now available for public review and comment. The document will be available for public review for a minimum of 45 days prior to adoption, and will be considered for adoption at the Board’s March 2021 meeting.

The PPP is developed and used to define a process for providing the public with reasonable opportunities to be involved in the transportation planning process for the five-county region of northeast Iowa consisting of Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek Counties.

For more information and to review the PPP, please follow this link: http://www.uerpc.org/public-comment.html

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Call for Applications for Multimodal Transportation Grants

Posted: Fri, January 15, 2021

The Transportation Policy Board of Regional Planning Affiliation 1 (RPA-1) in northeast Iowa is pleased to announce the call for applications for Iowa’s Transportation Alternatives Program (Iowa’s TAP) and Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) funding for diverse transportation projects in our region and communities.

Eligible projects for Iowa’s TAP funding include construction of walking and bicycling infrastructure such as sidewalks, ADA-compliant curb ramps, bicycle facilities, and paved multi-use trails, as well as certain community improvement and environmental mitigation activities. STBG funding can be used for all of the previously mentioned Iowa’s TAP eligible projects, as well as construction and reconstruction of roads, streets, and bridges. Because all projects eligible for Iowa’s TAP funding are also eligible for STBG funding, applicants for Iowa’s TAP eligible projects may apply to both programs for the same project. Applicants may also apply to both programs for a single eligible project that would include funding from both sources if awarded.

Eligible applicants include all public agencies and local governments within RPA-1 that have jurisdiction over public rights-of-way for transportation (including walking and bicycling facilities); public transportation agencies; and agencies with transportation planning responsibilities. The RPA-1 geographic region includes the Counties of Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek.

The current application cycle is for funding in federal fiscal year (FFY) 2025, which begins on October 1, 2024. RPA-1 is expected to have approximately $2.2 million in STBG and $179,000 in Iowa’s TAP funding available for distribution. Applications for both programs will be accepted beginning January 31, 2021 and are due by February 28, 2021.

For full eligibility criteria and information on how to apply, please contact Aaron Detter at adetter@uerpc.org or 563-419-6126.

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Hotline to Housing Event at WU Library on 1/27 at 6pm

Posted: Fri, January 15, 2021

Are you struggling to find enough money for housing repairs? Find out how you can benefit from local programs that have helped hundreds of Northeast Iowa homeowners make needed repairs to their homes. City of West Union and Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) invite West Union residents to “Hotline to Housing,” a free event on Wednesday, January 27th at 6:00pm at the Heiserman Room of the West Union Public Library, 210 N. Vine Street in West Union.

UERPC has decades of experience providing assistance to communities and homeowners to preserve housing stock, increase property values, bring investment into communities, and helping people make the repairs they need in order to stay in their homes. The housing department at UERPC manages the Housing Trust Fund, Homeowner Rehabilitation Program, and Owner-Occupied programs, all of which help qualified homeowners in the area make critical repairs to their homes. Roofs, siding, electrical upgrades, windows, and doors are among the most popular repairs.

At “Hotline to Housing,” residents can find out how to qualify for home repair assistance, what types of funding are available, program processes and steps, and more. For additional information, call UERPC at 563-864-7551.

**MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING WILL BE REQUIRED AT THE EVENT.**

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