By Stephanie Rottinghaus

As members of the Iowa League of Cities, we recently had the privilege of attending their annual event (held in person again)! The conference brings together hundreds of city officials and administrators from all over the state of Iowa to network, and we truly enjoyed seeing people face-to-face again!

CGA hosts a booth at the event each year to showcase our engineering, land surveying, and GIS services, but more importantly, the conference gives us an opportunity to gain valuable insights into what is important to Iowa communities. This year, representatives from 39 Iowa municipalities filled out our survey form. Although not all answered “What is your biggest public issue that needs to be addressed in the next 12-24 months”, of those that did respond, the top two issues continue to be water and wastewater infrastructure, and streets/street repair.

Issue One: Water and Wastewater Infrastructure

Municipalities are consistently concerned about the time and costs associated with upgrades to their water systems. Whether it is maintaining existing infrastructure or constructing a new treatment facility, keeping the water flowing both in and out is no small feat. Do you know where to start? If you don’t have a maintenance plan in place, these repairs are likely to cost you more in the long run. CGA can help you prioritize your repair and replacement plan, as well as get a handle on the location of your existing infrastructure.

Issue Two: Streets and Street Repair

Street repair has been a top issue during the three years we have been tracking our survey results! Our design and construction administration teams have extensive experience with resurfacing projects; several of which are highlighted here. The CGA team also has a long-standing relationship with the Iowa DOT.

 

Bonus Solution: Funding

Did you know that you might also be eligible for funding to make street repairs? Contact our team so we can go over options with you – now’s the time to get your projects on the list for spring 2022 – don’t delay! In addition, if you haven’t already reviewed this new funding opportunity from the IEDA (Iowa Economic Development Authority), there are competitive funds available for communities with a population under 20,000:

• Rural Innovation Grant Program
• Rural Housing Assessment Grant Program
• Rural Child Care Market Study Grant Program
• Rural Return Program

Applications for FY 2022 are currently being accepted via iowagrants.gov and are due by December 1, 2021. Click here to read more: https://www.iowaeda.com/iowa-news/gov-reynolds-announces-funds-available-to-support-rural-communities/

Want more info like this on a regular basis? Opt into our email list here.