Government Notes: Southwest Cedar Rapids trail plans advance

The Cedar Rapids City Council last week signed off on plans for an estimated $1.5 million trail and improvements along Wiley Boulevard from Williams Boulevard to 16th Avenue SW.

In addition to the trail, the project also includes modifications to curb ramps and traffic signals at major intersections. It will connect to previously improved pedestrian facilities along Williams Boulevard SW.

“This is an area that’s in much need of pedestrian accommodations, and this trail will do wonders for the area,” Capital Improvement Program Manager Tim Mroch said.

The project will be funded by general obligation bonds and federal dollars allocated through the Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Iowa Department of Transportation bid letting is scheduled later this month. Construction is slated to start next spring and wrap up in fall 2023.

Council member Ashley Vanorny, who represents District 5 which encompasses this area, said she and other elected colleagues recently attended a Westdale Area Neighborhood Association meeting, where they were told one of residents’ biggest needs was connectivity — specifically to grocers.

“It’s a pretty successful outcome for residents,” Vanorny said.

Iowa City funding capital grant program for nonprofits

Iowa City is looking to fund a grant program focusing on capital needs, using pandemic relief dollars, to help Iowa City-based nonprofits serve the community.

These grants are focused on facility improvements to expand an organization's ability to serve the community in coming years, City Manager Geoff Fruin said. City staff anticipates having $3 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars allocated for the program.

This is different from the $485,000 in nonprofit operating grants approved by the City Council that focus on emergent needs coming out of the pandemic, Fruin said.

“We’re turning our attention next to that capital side of things,” Fruin last week told the Iowa City Council. “This is really the effort to build capacity to serve.”

Funding requests could include land or property acquisition, as well as facility renovations or expansions, according to the request for statements of interest. One to three grants are anticipated to be awarded, with grants ranging from $1 to $3 million, Fruin said.

“If there’s one idea that stands above the rest, it may be that the council choose to fund that one idea with all of these funds,” Fruin said. The city is encouraging partnerships between nonprofits, Fruin added.

To be eligible, applicants must be considered a legacy agency, have a primary mission to serve the community in housing, food security, health care or youth services; meet the city’s legacy agency financial reporting standards; and be located in Iowa City.

Submissions are due by 4 p.m. Jan. 31. A committee in early February will look over the submissions before they are brought to the full City Council for consideration.

Government Notes is published Mondays and contains updates from area government bodies. Marissa Payne, Gage Miskimen, Izabela Zaluska and Grace King of The Gazette contribute.