2025 Annual Report
Community Solutions Start Here
Discover how Region 6 Resource Partners strengthens the communities we serve. Working alongside member partners in Hardin, Marshall, Poweshiek, and Tama Counties, Region 6 is advancing projects that make a difference in the lives of people who live, work, and play here. Read on for highlights from the past year and get an inside look at what’s ahead. For the latest updates and local success stories, follow us on Facebook.
Transforming Pine Ridge Park into a Premier Visitor Destination
Hardin County Conservation is seizing the opportunity to undergo a complete redevelopment of Pine Ridge Park near Steamboat Rock. New improvements include a large special events center equipped for gatherings of up to 300 attendees, new shower house, dump station for RV camping, sanitary sewer connection throughout the park to the City of Steamboat Rock, and demolition of the locally known “Boat Club” building that was once used for smaller events.
To make this project a reality, Region 6 helped secure a $650,000 Destination Iowa Grant. Hardin County has also contributed over $1.8 million in ARPA funds. Additional local funding and in-kind contributions are just over $300,000.
Major Sewer Upgrades Coming to Radcliffe
The old stormwater collection system in Radcliffe is allowing infiltration and inflow of too much ground water. This causes some system backups into basements. The flows also exceed the capacity of the wastewater treatment system. Radcliffe needs to complete a large wastewater lining and spot repair project. Region 6 helped the city secure a $500,000 CDBG grant and will be involved with the $800,000 SRF loan.
Montezuma Strengthens Water Reliability
The City of Montezuma currently relies on Diamond Lake, owned by the Poweshiek County Conservation Board, as its water source. The lake needs to be dredged to improve water quality. The city does not have a secondary source of water when this project is being completed. The city proposes to drill a Jordan Well and then improve the water treatment facility to accommodate this future change.
A $500,000 CDBG grant, secured with the assistance of Region 6, will help complete this project. The city will also have a SRF loan of more than $2,000,000 for this project. Upon completion, the city will have a reliable second source of water in case there is a problem with the lake.
Wastewater Improvements in State Center
The State Center wastewater treatment facility does not meet the current DNR wastewater treatment standards for ammonia and disinfection. Wastewater flows to the treatment system also exceed the capacity of the lift station. The city completed a large wastewater lining project across the city about 10 years ago to reduce wastewater flows. The city chose to phase in future improvements. State Center will be improving the lift station first and then make improvements to the treatment facility. They secured a $500,000 CDBG grant for the lift station. The estimated amount of the SRF loan will be about $700,000.
LeGrand Moving Forward with Completion of Water System Upgrades
The City of LeGrand relied on wells from the 1950s to 2005 as its water source. In 2004, a gas station along West Main Street, near the center of the application project area, had an underground petroleum plume that contaminated nearby public wells. After discovering this water contamination surprise, the city quickly pursued CDBG and USDA Rural Development emergency funds to connect to Central Iowa Water Association (CIWA). The CIWA source for LeGrand is Newton, Pella, and/or Marshalltown water.
Shortly after transferring the water source from the wells to CIWA, the new water chemistry caused a different set of problems, nearly as difficult as the petroleum contamination. Similar to the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, the new water chemistry affected the old water distribution system. The different chemistry caused 50+ years of solid buildup on the inside of the water mains to dissolve. This solid organic buildup is 1.5-2” in diameter around the inside of the mains and is orange/white in color.
Households, businesses, non-profits, and schools were upset that the water had substantial floating orange/white solids in the water. This buildup was dislodged from the old water mains. City Council meetings were well attended and people were very frustrated. The water also had a visible orange tint similar to “urine.” At times, the orange discoloration of the water was worse than others. The city and local residents had the water tested and it met the primary EPA/DNR standards.
The city completed a $750,000 water distribution improvements project covering most of LeGrand in 2007 and 2008. There is a smaller section of town that was not improved then and remains a problem. City leadership said in 2008 that they would complete this project in 2014, but that never happened. Years later, funding is secured to proceed with additional upgrades.
Region 6 helped the city secure a $500,000 CDBG grant to complete the improvements. The SRF loan will be around $600,000. Once completed, residents in the affected area will not have discolored water containing unsatisfying organic compounds floating in it.
Grant Supports Steamboat Rock Wastewater Planning
In recent years, Steamboat Rock has been discussing the possibility of a wastewater extension project to better serve the southwest area of town along South River Road. Currently, there are properties that are within the city limits but not connected to the city system. Region 6 assisted Steamboat Rock in obtaining a $30,000 USDA SEARCH grant to study the extension of their wastewater collection system into the southwestern area of town. The grant will allow the city to create a Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) to study project feasibility and to provide a draft project cost.
New Generators Boost Wastewater System Resilience in Tama and Dysart
The Iowa Economic Development Authority specified Marshall, Tama, Benton, and Linn County were eligible for special disaster CDBG derecho funds. Backup power generators was one of the eligible places to use the funding. The cities of Tama and Dysart applied for the funding, with Region 6 assistance, to install two new generators for the wastewater treatment systems. Both cities were awarded $100,000 grants for the generators.
Critical Upgrades Coming to Laurel Wastewater Facility
The Laurel wastewater treatment facility was built in the early 1990s. Haverhill and Ferguson are also connected to this facility. The treatment facility does not meet the NPDES permit requirements. Region 6 staff helped them secure a $500,000 CDBG grant to convert the aerated and wetland system over to controlled discharge lagoon. The process to evaluate sites for the treatment facility took at least 10 years. Land for a larger lagoon was purchased which allowed this project to move forward. In 2026, construction should commence on about a $2.5 million project.
Modernizing Chelsea’s Wastewater Treatment Facility
The Chelsea wastewater treatment facility was built in the late 1980s. The treatment facility does not meet the NPDES requirements. The best solution for Chelsea is to convert the system to LEMNA and add UV disinfection. The project cost is above $2 million. Region 6 staff helped the city secure a $500,000 wastewater treatment financial assistance program grant and a $500,000 CDBG grant for this project. The project should go to construction in 2026.
Montour Wastewater Infrastructure Enhancements
Montour has an aerated lagoon wastewater treatment system that was constructed in 1992. This system does not comply with the NPDES permit. The city will need to install a LEMNA system with UV disinfection. The project construction construction cost is about $2 million. We helped the Montour secure a $500,000 CDBG award. A $500,000 WWTFAP award from the State of Iowa is still pending.
Albion Secures Funding for Sewer Lining Project
The City of Albion wastewater collection system was constructed in the 1970s. The collection system allows too much inflow and infiltration to reach the treatment plant which is periodically overloaded. The city’s treatment system also does not comply with new NPDES standards. The first step towards compliance is reducing the wastewater flows through a sewer lining project. This project is estimated to cost $1.5 million. We helped the City secure a $500,000 CDBG award for the lining project. After this lining project is done and flow readings are monitored, the city will need to complete a large wastewater treatment improvements project.
Disaster Funds Support Tree Replanting in Marshalltown
The City of Marshalltown sustained a large derecho event in 2020. The Iowa Economic Development Authority set aside funds for Marshall and Tama counties to assist with derecho recovery efforts. Tree replanting in public areas was one of the eligible projects. We worked with the City of Marshalltown to use $200,000 of federal CDBG disaster funds to plant trees in the north side of Marshalltown. This will help replace some of the lost tree canopy.
Marshalltown Adds Affordable Housing with Disaster Funds
The Iowa Economic Development Authority specified that Marshall, Tama, Benton, and Linn counties were eligible for special disaster CDBG derecho funds. A developer, Huegerich Construction, pursued this funding.
The developer completed a 30 unit rental project in Marshalltown with a $2,346,000 grant. The grant stipulates that 51 percent of the units need to be set aside for low and moderate income families. This project creates needed quality affordable housing units for the area.
Blight Removal Program Sparks Housing Renewal in Grinnell
The State of Iowa, through the Iowa Finance Authority, established a pilot program for improving blighted properties with the federal American Rescue Plan funds. Staff worked with the City of Grinnell to submit a $1 million application for these funds, the maximum allowed. This project was awarded funding.
The City of Grinnell, with our administrative guidance, has completed eight home rehabilitations with $115,675 of the ARP funds and $60,750 of city funds. Work included new siding, roofing, windows, and similar exterior improvements. All the homes were near the downtown area of Grinnell.
The Beyer Building in downtown Grinnell was also in very poor condition. Exterior walls needed to be rebuilt, floors rebuilt, and then units constructed into the vacant space. This project includes $884,325 in ARP funds, $270,000 in City of Grinnell funds, and $150,000 in Region 6 Housing Trust Fund support. The developer has additional funds invested in the project. This project has seven affordable rental housing units. All the units need to be rented to low and moderate income households.
These projects preserve and expand affordable housing and restore old properties into productive use.
City of Toledo Adds New Upper Floor Downtown Housing
The City of Toledo has many blighted and vacant properties around the downtown. Finding a good use and interested buyers has proven to be a lengthy challenge. Several years ago, Toledo Community Development Inc (TCDI) expressed interest in revitalizing the downtown buildings, including the former Masonic Temple, located at 132 E High Street, and a corner building located at 134 E High Street. Region 6 staff assisted with multiple funding applications and steps to convert the upper floors into residential apartments.
We were successful in helping the city obtain a $300,000 American Rescue Plan funded grant through the State of Iowa for downtown upper floor housing. The Region 6 Housing Trust Fund also provided $150,000. The funds were used to improve the 134 E High Street building into three apartments. The project was completed in the Summer of 2025.
Housing Funds Improve Owner Occupied Homes Across the Region
The State of Iowa set aside some of the American Rescue Plan funds to improve owner-occupied structures. Nine qualifying homes were approved in the Region 6 area. The amount spent was $317,575.
A total of $290,000 from the Region 6 Housing Trust Fund was expended to improve 15 homes. Homes were completed in Ackley, Iowa Falls (2), rural Marshall County, Haverhill, Garwin, State Center, Marshalltown (3), Brooklyn, Montezuma, and Grinnell (3).
Funding Fuels Stella Housing Project
The Stella project in Grinnell received $100,000 to help create new rental units. The primary funding source was the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program. There was still a funding gap for this new development, after that funding, so the Region 6 Housing Trust Fund provided gap financing assistance.
Restoring Vacant Downtown Housing in Iowa Falls
We helped the City of Iowa Falls secure a $600,000 CDBG grant to improve old, derelict, and vacant apartment units above the Princess Café. This project will also receive a $50,000 Region 6 Housing Trust Fund award for the enhancements. Project construction is underway and will be completed by Summer 2026. The two new apartments will be available for low and moderate income family renters.
Investing in Safe Routes to School for Tama and Toledo Students
Region 6 staff worked with the Tama/Toledo Visioning Committee, the City of Tama, and City of Toledo on a Safe Routes to School application and project. This project planning started around 20 years ago with a Safe Routes planning grant that was not implemented. About three years ago, a private citizens group received an IDOT Visioning grant. The focus of this effort was on sidewalks and safe routes to schools.
After another engineering study and several collaborative meetings, the local area decided on a core Safe Routes to School approach that includes 0.44 miles of trail improvements and 0.46 miles of sidewalk improvements. The project, totaling $752,856, was recently funded from the IDOT Transportation Alternative Program Safe Routes to School account. Another $180,000 was secured from the IDOT Highway Safety Improvement Program for a pedestrian activated beacon for safely crossing Highway 63 at 15th Street in Tama.
Region 6 Launches Next Phase of Road Funding Program
Region 6 Resource Partners approved more than $11 million of Federal Transportation Funds for road improvement projects across the region. The 2025 program included 13 miles and the 2026 program has 17 miles. Projects are located in Hardin, Marshall, Poweshiek, and Tama counties, Grinnell, Marshalltown, Tama, Ackley, and Victor (Poweshiek County side). This spring, Region 6 will seek applications for projects across the region from FY 2026 to 2029. All eligible applicants are encouraged to submit applications now.
Transportation Funds Expand and Improve Regional Recreational Trails
Region 6 Resource Partners has approved more than $1.4 million of recreational trail improvements with regional federal transportation alternative program funds. Projects include:
- Replacing four bridges on the Iowa River’s Edge Trail northwest of Marshalltown.
- Paving the Grinnell Area Recreational Trail from Walmart to near I-80.
- Improving the Iowa River’s Edge Trail from Eldora to the Gifford area in Hardin County.
- Paving the gravel road crossings from Marshalltown to Melbourne on the Highway 330 trail.
Special Funding for Vanpool Program
Region 6 Resource Partners applied for IDOT Iowa Clean Air Program funds to start a vanpool program in the region. We received a $115,200 federal grant for this project. Peoplerides will provide $28,800 of local match.
A vanpool is where one of the commuting employees drives the vehicle with other employees. We teamed up with Enterprise to provide the service. We had four vehicles operating from Cedar Rapids to Tama, but that discontinued. We have not been able to find another partner place for this service, but have done substantial outreach. We need at least four employees to make the vanpool program work for one vehicle. With this funding, we can subsidize the cost of operating a vehicle with commuters.
Peoplerides Regional Transit Update
One of the most rewarding services Region 6 provides is our Peoplerides regional transit system. We are essentially transportation as a last resort for most clients. Our Top 5 ridership categories include:
- Medicaid – 34% of rides
- Enterprise Commute Vanpool – 24%
- City of Marshalltown Paratransit – 13%
- CIRSI – 12% of rides
- City of Grinnell – 7% of rides
The Enterprise Vanpool program was operating until the Summer of 2025. There were four vanpool shuttles operating from Cedar Rapids to Iowa Premium in Tama, Monday through Friday. This program had more than 10,000 rides. This service has not been running since Summer of 2025, due to no demand.
Each ride provided in FY 2025 cost over $29 per ride. The total operating cost was $1,312,675. State and federal transit sources totaled $502,459. Passenger revenues were $111,440. The balance of funding, $623,000, was from the following sources from high to low: Medicaid, City of Marshalltown, City of Grinnell, CIRSI, City of Iowa Falls, County Social Services, Access, Central Iowa Community Services, Northeast Iowa 3A, and UnityPoint Health.
