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.

Click Here for More Information

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

RPA-1 Policy Board to consider TAP applications, Transportation Planning Work Program, TIP amendments at May 25 meeting

Posted: Wed, May 18, 2022

The RPA-1 Transportation Policy Board will discuss and award Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funds at its meeting on Wednesday, May 25th. The Policy Board will also consider approval of the RPA-1 Transportation Planning Work Program (TPWP) and amendments to the current Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The Policy Board meeting is at 11:00 a.m. and the Enhancement Committee (TAP recommendation) and Technical Committee (TIP amendment recommendation) will meet beforehand at 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., respectively. The meeting link is the same for all three of the meetings.

Visit the following web address to access the meeting:

tinyurl.com/5y792fea

Or call:    312-626-6799    Use meeting ID:     830 7977 6267

For details on the proposed TIP amendments as well as the draft TPWP, please click HERE.

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The UERPC May 2022 Newsletter is Here!

Posted: Tue, May 17, 2022

The UERPC May 2022 Newsletter is here!  https://uerpc.org/newsletters.html 

Highlights include:

  • UERPC's Detter Featured as Keynote for Regional Roundtable
  • Freedom Bank Donates to Housing Trust Fund 
  • Driving Electric in Rural NE Iowa
  • Postville 5-2-1-0 Year One Project Update
  • What Exactly is the "Infrastructure Bill"?
  • UERPC Notices
  • Employee Spotlight:  Lori Quam
  • UERPC May Work Anniversaries
  • City of New Albin Breaks Ground for New Wastewater Treatment Plant
  • Riceville Celebrates Earth Day with Walking School Bus Blitz Event
  • It's Mental Health Awareness Month
  • Annual UERPC Earth Day Trash Pick-up Event
  • May 5-2-1-0 Feature

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

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Special call for additional TAP funding; applications due April 30th, 2022

Posted: Tue, March 29, 2022

After an increase in funding targets resulting from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that was recently signed into law, RPA-1/Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) is seeking additional applications for Federal Funding through Iowa’s Transportation Alternatives Program (Iowa’s TAP). RPA-1 is expected to have an additional $440,000 available, which can be used on new or previously awarded projects in any of the next four federal fiscal years (FFY)—2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026—and in any combination of years, i.e. all funding in a single year, funding divided among two or more years, etc.

A document with additional nformation and instructions for this special call for applications is available below. The application form and full guidelines on Iowa’s TAP are available on the Iowa DOT's website here.

Applications are due by April 30, 2022. If you have any questions, please contact Aaron Detter at 563-419-6126 or adetter@uerpc.org.

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Welcome to the New and Improved UERPC Office!

Posted: Mon, April 18, 2022

With our move and consolidation complete, we thought it would be fun to give a sneak peek into our new and improved office in Decorah (located at 325 Washington Street)! The location may be new for some and improved for others, but bottom line is that we are all very excited to be working under one roof to better serve your needs. Stay tuned for information on an open house event in the near future!

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