09Sep 2022 by UERPC
Open house for Fayette County housing study Sept. 22 in Fayette

Open house for Fayette County housing study Sept. 22 in Fayette

Housing
UERPC wrapped up a housing study this summer for Fayette County in collaboration with Fayette County Economic Development and Tourism (FCEDT). The goal of this effort was to identify housing needs and gaps to assist local stakeholders in finding solutions to current and future housing challenges. All Fayette County stakeholders, residents, and community leaders are invited to join UERPC and FCEDT for an open house to learn about the completed study. The open house will be on Thursday, September 22, 2022, from 5pm-7pm at the Fayette Opera House in Fayette, Iowa. Attendees will have the opportunity to review the study and chat with representatives about how the study was conducted and how to best utilize the analysis for efforts to improve and expand housing in Fayette County communities.
Read More
01Sep 2022 by UERPC
UERPC announces grant awards for transportation projects

UERPC announces grant awards for transportation projects

Uncategorized
Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) today announces more than $3.5 million in federal transportation grants for local projects, supporting more than $6 million in total project investments in the region. UERPC is the designated Regional Planning Affiliation (RPA-1) for the northeast Iowa counties of Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek. Each year, the five-county region receives federal funding for diverse transportation projects that further the goals of RPA-1’s Long-range Transportation Plan. The RPA-1 Transportation Policy Board is responsible for evaluating grant applications and deciding which projects are awarded. Funding is typically awarded four years out (2026 for this round), but some projects received funding for 2023 and 2024 during this year’s application cycle. The grants can support a wide variety of projects. Some address needed maintenance of the rural…
Read More
12Aug 2022 by UERPC
Public meeting to discuss Iowa Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)

Public meeting to discuss Iowa Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)

Announcements, Meeting
AMES, Iowa – Aug. 5, 2022 – The Iowa Department of Transportation will hold a virtual meeting to accept public comments about the draft Iowa Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) from 2 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 16, 2022. A brief overview of the STIP and its development process will be provided beginning at 2 p.m. and will be followed by time for comments and questions on the STIP. Should discussion be ongoing at 2:30 p.m., additional time will be made available to accommodate all comments on the document.  The draft STIP identifies all projects proposed to be authorized for funding provided by the Federal Highway Administration or Federal Transit Administration during federal fiscal years 2023-2026. It includes projects for state, county, city, and federal transportation systems. Development of the…
Read More
12Aug 2022 by UERPC
NEIRHTF ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

NEIRHTF ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

Announcements, Open House
The Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund (NEIRHTF) is accepting applications for first time homebuyer down payment assistance and housing rehabilitation\improvement projects. Applicants must be low-moderate-income first-time homebuyers, homeowners, landlord/for-profit organizations, or non-profit organizations to promote and create affordable housing activities.  All applicants must be in one of the following counties of Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek. Eligible projects include rehabilitation and repair of existing housing, including, but not limited to: roofs, windows, siding, plumbing, electrical, energy efficiency, lead paint issues, and handicap accessibility. For more information on the NEIRHTF or to see if there is funding in your area, please contact Lori Quam with Upper Explorerland RPC, at 563-864-7551 or by email at lquam@uerpc.org.   Application You can also obtain an application online at http://uerpc.org/housing-trust-fund.html. 
Read More
13Jul 2022 by UERPC
RPA-1 Policy Board to consider TAP applications, Transportation Planning Work Program, TIP amendments at May 25 meeting

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

Meeting
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.
Read More
13Jul 2022 by UERPC
Special call for additional TAP funding; applications due April 30th, 2022

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

Announcements, Public Comment
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…
Read More
13Jul 2022 by UERPC
Welcome to the New and Improved UERPC Office!

Welcome to the New and Improved UERPC Office!

Announcements
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!
Read More
13Jul 2022 by UERPC
UERPC consolidating operations at Decorah location; offices temporarily closed April 4th through April 8th

UERPC consolidating operations at Decorah location; offices temporarily closed April 4th through April 8th

Announcements
Upper Explorerland is consolidating all our services and operations under one roof at our Decorah office location. We want our communities to know that, while we will no longer have a physical office in Postville after Friday, April 1st, we will continue to provide the same level of service to our communities in all five of our counties—Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek. The consolidation does require us to temporarily close our offices from Monday, April 4th to Friday, April 8th so we can move files and equipment and have everything set up and ready to open back up in Decorah on Monday, April 11th. We’ll host an open house at the newly expanded Decorah office in the coming weeks. Keep an eye out for details here in our newsletter,…
Read More
13Jul 2022 by UERPC
RPA-1 Policy Board to consider STBG, TAP applications at March 16 meeting

RPA-1 Policy Board to consider STBG, TAP applications at March 16 meeting

Announcements, Meeting
The RPA-1 Transportation Policy Board will discuss and award Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) and Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funds at its meeting on Wednesday, March 16. The Policy Board meeting is at 11:00 a.m. and the Enhancement Committee (TAP recommendation) and Technical Committee (STBG recommendation) will meet beforehand at 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., respectively. The Zoom meeting link is the same for all three of the meetings. Join Zoom Meeting link: http://us02web.zooom.us/j/81374664262 Or phone: 312-626-6799, and use meeting ID 813 7466 4262. For more information on STBG and TAP, click here.
Read More
13Jul 2022 by UERPC
Clayton County residents and visitors invited to take housing survey

Clayton County residents and visitors invited to take housing survey

Announcements, Public Comment
Clayton County Development Group (CCDG) has partnered with Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) to conduct a housing assessment to better understand the current status of housing in our area. The goal of this effort is to identify gaps and anticipate future housing needs in order to assist local stakeholders in finding solutions to current and future housing challenges. All Clayton County residents, as well as those who work in Clayton County or frequently visit, are invited to take an online housing survey. The survey does not require any personally identifiable information, and all responses will remain anonymous. The information gathered will assist UERPC, CCDG, and other community stakeholders in understanding Clayton County’s housing needs. The survey is available at the following web address: surveymonkey.com/r/CC-Housing People are encouraged to share…
Read More