Agencies get economic development funding

Two Eastern Iowa regional planning organizations have been awarded funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration to help establish a comprehensive economic development strategy.

The East Central Iowa Council of Governments will receive $62,000 to support job creation and private capital investment in Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Washington counties.

The Iowa Northland Regional Economic Development Commission will get $61,000 to accomplish the same goals in Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Chickasaw and Grundy counties.

'Economic development in Iowa thrives on strong, long-term development strategies,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, in a statement announcing the funding. 'This funding will allow these communities to continue investing in sound, stable projects that create jobs and career opportunities.

'I hope that it will help create an economic development framework that will give a boost to these regions.”

Other Iowa regional planning organizations receiving a total of $304,000 include the Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Commission, which obtained $61,000 for Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Lyon, O'Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, and Sioux counties; the Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Area Planning Agency, $60,000 to serve the counties of Mills and Pottawattamie in Iowa, and Washington, Douglas, and Sarpy in Nebraska; and the Southwest Iowa Planning Council, $60,000 to serve the counties of Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Montgomery, Page, and Shelby.