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Welcome to Our Annual Report

Discover how Region 6 Resource Partners is connecting with our communities! Region 6 proudly serves member partners in Hardin, Marshall, Poweshiek and Tama Counties. Read on to learn about projects and services that are enhancing the quality of life for all. Be sure to Follow Us on Facebook to see updates about community development and exciting projects in your area.

Helping Improve Hardin County Park

Lots of great things related to recreation are happening up in Hardin County. In the coming years, the Iowa DNR will complete a dam removal in the Iowa River adjacent to Pine Ridge Park. In the dam’s place, a series of water features will be built in the river channel. In addition, the Iowa River’s Edge Trail finished a huge paving effort in the fall of 2022. Trail users can now ride from Eldora up to Pine Ridge Park. The park is optimally located next to both the new river features and the start of the Iowa River’s Edge Trail.

Given all of the momentum, Hardin County Conservation is seizing on the opportunity to undergo a complete redevelopment of Pine Ridge Park. New improvements include a large special events center equipped for events of up to 300 attendees, a new shower house, a dump station for RVs camping in the park, 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 to 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.

Wrapping Up Downtown Marshalltown Projects

The City of Marshalltown, with Region 6 Resource Partners guidance, is wrapping up the $500,000 CDBG Façade improvement grant. This project improved 8 facades across the downtown area. Improvements included brick work, wood façade items, windows, roofs, exterior doors, and some signage. Many of the properties had tornado and derecho damage to the buildings. The buildings all look significantly better than before the project. Boarded up windows, poor tuck pointing, broken facades, bad paint, bad doors, leaky roofs, and other problems were addressed with this project.

The owners committed 20% of the façade improvement costs. The CDBG share was $500,000, the City committed $500,000, and the Rebuild Marshalltown fund committed $200,000.

Iowa River Low Head Dam Removal in Alden

The Alden low-head dam exists on the Iowa River in the heart of downtown Alden. At ten feet tall, this structure is one of the taller low-head dams in Iowa. Because the water drops from such a great height, a significant “churning” effect is seen with the water currents below the dam. The current is quite dangerous for boaters, swimmers or anyone recreating in the water nearby. Since 1931, this dam has caused five fatalities. Most recently, two young men lost their lives in 2007.

In recent years, Alden was faced with the need to do something about the city-owned dam. Alden was about to start another large infrastructure project, the Alden bridge replacement, just a few hundred feet away from the dam. The bridge project would result in a large amount of crushed concrete. Rather than hauling this material away, it got the community thinking about how the material could be recycled and incorporated into their next large project. And so, the Alden Dam Modification Project was born.

Region 6 assisted the City of Alden in securing a $300,000 Iowa DNR Low-Head Dam Safety Grant. The project will remove the upper portion of the dam, gate, and gate wall and will build a rock arch structure to cover the remaining portion of the dam. A series of rock arch rapids will extend roughly 300 feet downstream. A path will also be built along both sides of the river for easy access to the rapids for recreation users. The dam modification project will begin in either 2025 or 2026. This project would not be possible without local in-kind contributions and the grant funding from the Iowa DNR.

Tama/Toledo 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count

Region 6 assisted Tama/Toledo in obtaining grant funding from the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) for the third straight year through the 5-2-1-0 – Healthy Choices Count! program. Tama/Toledo will receive $8,000 for the year 3 effort in the 5-2-1-0 program. 5-2-1-0 funded communities work to create environments that support healthy choices and reach children and adults where they live, learn, work, and play. In previous years, 5-2-1-0 funding has enabled exciting projects such as a swing set at Toledo Heights Park, soccer goals throughout the community, trail signage for the Tama-Toledo Recreation trail, and Gaga ball pits at the local elementary school and Tama 3rd Street Park.

Helping State Center Replace Water Treatment Facility

The City of State Center water treatment facility was constructed 43 years ago. The water treatment facility is at the end of its useful life. The aerator, filter, and most other treatment equipment need to be replaced. Nearly all valves and operator controls at the treatment plant had very limited functionality, due to the system age. All of this equipment is needed to provide compliant water service to the local residents and businesses. The equipment could fail quickly and without much notice. Aggressive action to replace the 1978 equipment is needed.

The needed improvements include:


●	Tearing out the existing water treatment equipment and controls,
●	Replacing the well head building around the Jordan Well,
●	Replacing the 200,000 gallon untreated water storage tank with an above ground tank,
●	Replacing all electrical controls and valves at the treatment facility building,
●	Installing a reverse osmosis treatment unit within the existing building, and
●	Making a few small updates to the treatment facility building – painting, replacement windows, replacement doors, and other similar items.

Staff helped them secure a $500,000 CDBG grant to help complete this project. We are also are involved with the SRF loan administration $2,768,000.

Ackey Wastewater Facility Now Meets DNR Standards

Like many Iowa communities, the Ackley wastewater treatment facility is not able to meet the new DNR ammonia standards in the winter time. They needed to install added treatment equipment to meet the standards. Staff helped them secure a $500,000 CDBG grant to help complete the project. We are also involved in the SRF $3,760,000 loan administration on the project. The project will help Ackley meet the new DNR treatment standards.

Helping Radcliffe Reduce Wastewater Treatment Flows

The old collection system in Radcliffe is allowing the infiltration and inflow of too much ground water into the system. This causes some system backups into basements. The flows also exceed the capacity of the wastewater treatment system. Radcliffe is needing to complete a large wastewater lining and spot repair project. This project will be bid out in the next few months. We helped them secure a $500,000 CDBG grant and will be involved with the $800,000 SRF loan.

Montezuma to Add Another Water Source

The City of Montezuma currently relies upon Diamond Lake as the water source. This lake is owned by the Poweshiek County Conservation Board. 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. This project will be bid out in the next few months. A $500,000 CDBG grant, with our help, was secured to help complete this project. The City will also have a SRF loan of around $1,500,000 for this project. Afterwards the city will have a reliable second source of water in case there is a problem with the lake.

Improvements for State Center Wastewater Facility

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. They will be improving the lift station first and then improving 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. This project will be bid out in the next few months.

Helping Legrand Improve Local Water Quality

The City of LeGrand relied upon wells from 1950s to 2005. In 2004, a gas station along West Main Street (near the center of this application project area) had an underground petroleum plume that contaminated the nearby City of LeGrand public wells. After discovering this water contamination surprise, the City quickly pursued CDBG and USDA Rural Development emergency water funds to connect to the Central Iowa Water Association. The Central Iowa Water Association water source for LeGrand is Newton, Pella, and/or Marshalltown water.

Shortly, after the City transferred the water source from the wells to rural water, the new water chemistry caused a different set of problems, nearly as difficult as the petroleum contamination. Similar, to the Flint, Michigan water crises, the new water chemistry affected the old water distribution system. The different water 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 the public school were upset that the water had substantial very visible floating orange/white solids in water. This buildup was dislodged from the old water mains. City Council meetings were well attended and people were very frustrated. The floating buildup was similar to the floaty gold products in “Goldschlager” liquor. Instead of gold shiny flakes, the products are orange icky looking products. The water also had a visible orange tint similar to “urine”. At times the orange discoloration of the water is 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 over most of LeGrand in 2007 and 2008. There is a smaller section of town that was not improved then and remains a problem. The City leadership said in 2008 that they would complete this project in 2014, but that never happened. Now in 2024, things are ready to go, nearly 20 years after the problem started.

We helped the city secure a $500,000 CDBG grant to complete the distribution system improvements. The SRF loan will be around $600,000. This project will be publicly bid in early calendar year 2025. Afterwards residents in this neighborhood will not have discolored water with unsatisfying organic compounds floating in it.

Iowa Falls Protects Critical Facilities from Floods

The City of Iowa Falls secured a $518,400 US Economic Development Administration disaster grant to floodproof the water and wastewater treatment facilities. Both were threatened with an ice jam on the Iowa River about 5 years ago. The ice jam could have disabled a wellhead and the wastewater treatment system. This project protects both facilities from future weather related problems. This project should be completed soon.

Helping Steamboat Rock with Engineering Study Funding

In recent years, Steamboat Rock had been discussing the possibility of a wastewater extension to better serve the southwest part of town along South River Road. Currently, there are properties that are within the city limits but not connected to the city wastewater collection system. Region 6 assisted the City of 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 along South River Road. The grant will allow the city to create a Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) to study project feasibility and to provide a draft project cost. The PER should be completed in early 2025.

New Backup Generators for Dysart and Tama

The Iowa Economic Development Authority specified that 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.

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. Both projects should be completed in early 2024.

Marshalltown Adds New Quality, Affordable Housing

The Iowa Economic Development Authority specified that Marshall, Tama, Benton, and Linn County were eligible for special disaster CDBG derecho funds. A developer, Huegerich Construction, pursued this funding. Three projects in the City of Marshalltown were awarded funds. A total of about $4,346,000 in CDBG funds were awarded to 3 projects.

The biggest project in Region 6, with this funding, is a 30 unit rental project with a $2,346,000 grant. 51% of the units need to be set aside for low and moderate income families. This project is currently being completed. The units will be leasing up in early calendar year 2025.

The other two projects are building 6 townhome units on South Street and N 4th Avenue in Marshalltown. Each of these projects has about a $1,000,000 grant to help lower the purchase price for each unit. The South Street units should be available in Spring 2025. The N 4th Avenue project may be done in Fall of 2025.

All these projects will create affordable housing units for the area.

Helping Grinnell Improve Blighted Homes & Buildings

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 8 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 Funds. The developer has additional funds on the project. This project will have 7 affordable rental housing units. All the units need to be rented to low and moderate income households. This project will be completed in late calendar year 2024.

These projects preserve old affordable housing units and restore an old building in a productive use.

Toledo Improves Downtown Buildings for Rental Housing

The City of Toledo has many blighted and vacant properties around the downtown. Finding a good use and buyer, has been a lengthy problem. Toledo Community Development Inc (TCDI) several years ago showed interest in getting involved with two buildings on the East side of downtown the old Masonic Temple (132 E High Street) and a corner building (134 E High Street). Region 6 staff have assisted this group 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 is also providing $150,000. These funds will be used to improve the 134 E High Street building into 3 apartments. The State Bank of Toledo is taking a lead role on this project. The project will be done in the Spring of 2025.

New Truck Route Completed in Marshalltown

The City of Marshalltown has long relied upon Marion Street to provide access to JBS for incoming and outgoing pork products from Highway 14. Improving this route has been a discussion item for around 25 years. Since JBS was affected by the tornado event and the City of Marshalltown was badly damaged with that event, the City was eligible for special US Economic Development Administration disaster grant funds. We helped the city with the administration of this $2,956,849 award for improving Edgewood Street. This project also had $1,640,342 of IDOT RISE funds for the road improvements.

This project now provides an improved truck route into or out of JBS. A lot of the pork products come in from Hardin County which uses this route.

Helping Grinnell Improve Safe Routes To School

The City of Grinnell has a city wide goal of improving sidewalks, to especially school locations. One of the areas with poor sidewalks is Washington Ave which is a connection to an elementary school and the middle school. We helped the City secure an IDOT Safe Routes to School grant in the amount of $581,891. The city is providing a $145,473 cash match. This project will improve approx 0.6 miles of sidewalks along Washington Ave.

Helping Reopen 5th Street In Tama

The Lincoln Highway bridge on East 5th Street has been a steadily falling apart for many years. East 5th Street is a truck route and an elgible federal aid assistance route for the Region 6 Surface Transportation Program funds. The project bridge engineer has stated that there is not enough structural components remaining to easily rehabilitate the bridge. The bridge has been closed for a while now due to the unsafe condition of the bridge. The City has been struggling to find a good solution.

After reviewing options the City has decided to leave the bridge as is for now and then re-route 5th Street around the bridge location. The estimated cost of this change is $452,000. The Region 6 STP funds will cover $362,000 of that estimated cost. Hopefully in 2025 this project is complete and this important road is reopened.

Helping Improve Safe Routes to School in Tama/Toledo

Region 6 staff worked with the Tama/Toledo Visioning Committee, the City of Tama and City of Toledo on Safe Routes to School application and project. This project planning started around 20 years ago with a Safe Routes to School planning grant that was not implemented. About 3 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. This project totaling $752,856 was recently funded from the IDOT Transportation Alternative Program Safe Routes to School account. Another pending Highway Safety Improvement Program application for a pedestrian beacon is still under review.

Trail Segment Improvements Across the Region

The Region 6 Resource Partners has approved more than $1.7 million of recreational trail improvements with regional federal transportation alternative program funds. The projects include:


●	Replacing 4 bridges on the Iowa River’s Edge Trail NW of Marshalltown.
●	Paving the Grinnell Area Recreational Trail from Wal-Mart to near I-80.
●	Improving the Iowa River’s Edge Trail from Eldora to Gifford area in Hardin County.
●	Paving the gravel road crossings from Marshalltown to Melbourne on the Hwy 330 trail.

Improving More than 18 Miles of Roads in 2024-25

The Region 6 Resource Partners has approved more than $8 million of Federal Transportation Funds for road improvement projects across the region on eligible roads. The 2024 program included 14.48 miles and the 2025 program has 3.74 miles. Projects are located in Tama County, Grinnell, Marshalltown, Poweshiek County, Tama, Ackley, and Victor (Poweshiek County side). This spring Region 6 will seek applications for eligible projects across the region from FY 2026 to 2029. All eligible applicants are encouraged to submit applications.

Peoplerides Provides Over 42,000 Public Transit Rides

One of the most rewarding services that Region 6 Resource Partners provides is our Peoplerides regional transit system rides. All of the 42,221 rides that we provided in FY 2024 did not have other good forms of transportation. We are essentially transportation as a last resort for most of these clients. Our top 5 ridership categories include:


●	Medicaid – 40% of rides.
●	CIRSI – 13% of rides.
●	City of Grinnell – 12% of rides.
●	Marshalltown Paratransit – 10% of rides.
●	Access Inc – 6% of rides.

Each ride that we provided in FY 2024 cost nearly $26/ride. The total operating cost was $1,088,660. State and federal transit sources totaled $632,000. This included some final federal pandemic funding. Passenger revenues were $89,000. The balance of funding $367,660 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 Unity Point.

After waiting on delivery for more than 2 years and a large price increase we finally had the delivery of 4 new non-CDL busses for the fleet. The total cost was more than $450,000.

PeopleRides Partnership with Enterprise Vanpool

In August 2024, we started a new vanpool partnership program with Enterprise. That support is subsidy for up to 6 vehicles from August 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025. We were recently successful in receiving a $115,000 IDOT Clean Air Grant to offer up to 20 vanpool units from 10/1/25 to 9/30/26. 5 of the 6 vanpool units are currently operating from Cedar Rapids to Iowa Premium in Tama.

With the vanpool program one of the workers drives an Enterprise Commute vehicle for no compensation. Other people from the same area ride the vehicle for a fee. Region 6 then reduces the cost per ride by $500/month/person. These are all considered as public transit rides and we can count them for our formula. The amount of state and federal public transit funding will increase some as a result of these rides.

Learn more about Region 6 and how we can assist you.

Visit our website at www.region6resources.org

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