Washington County Mini Bus is a step closer in getting a new facility.
The Washington City Council approved an agreement to sponsor an application for a Public Transit Infrastructure Grant from the Iowa Department of Transportation. The grant could fund up to 80% of the facility renovations if awarded. Council Member Danielle Pettit-Majewski voiced her excitement for this advancement, citing several years she has served on the mini bus board. City Administrator Brent Hinson mentioned that the council previously approved an agreement for the same grant two years ago, but did not get funded because there was a higher scoring application from Benton County, and the DOT typically only funds one project per region, “So the reason that we have to be involved here is minibus is a private non-profit and for this grant there has to be a governmental sponsor, so we become that governmental sponsor. I don’t think it does anything as far as risk for the city. Theoretically, where this coul
IOWA CITY The city of Iowa City helped 27 small businesses a majority of them owned by women or people of color stay afloat during the pandemic.
The city awarded the businesses $360,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant dollars allocated through the CARES Act, money made available by Congress to alleviate the pandemic’s effects, according to a news release.
The businesses 22 of them owned by women or persons of color were required to be in business as of Jan. 1, 2020, have $1 million or less in annual gross revenue and 25 or fewer employees.
In allocating the funds, the city prioritized the financial impact of COVID-19; how much federal, state or local funding had been awarded to date; and if the business qualified as a Minority of Women Business Enterprise.
Those seeking to buy a home in Washington County are eligible for financial assistance through the East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG).
Through the Community Development Block Grant program ECICOG is offering five homebuyer assistance program loans of up to $24,999 in Washington County. These funds would be awarded as a receding forgivable loan to go toward someone’s down payment, property inspection, or closing costs. Homes eligible for this loan include single family properties, condominiums, existing and newly constructed homes, and those outside a 100-year floodplain. Washington Economic Development Group Executive Director Mary Audia is excited to get the word out to county residents about this program, “Part of what I’m hearing now, and I’ve only been in the position now for a little over a month, is we have such a housing shortage. So folks are looking to hire people, specifically in the Washington County area, and if and when they find those folks they
But city not planning to increase transit tax levy
The 2:13 p.m. departure 380 Express bus pulls away Tuesday after waiting for riders at the Ground Transportation Center in Cedar Rapids. The Iowa City-to-Cedar Rapids service, launched in 2018 because of interstate construction, has seen a sharp drop in ridership during the pandemic. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Driver Ron Wiebke waits for riders Tuesday before departing from the Ground Transportation Center while driving the 380 Express route. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
The interior of one of the 380 Express buses is empty Tuesday while it waits for passengers at the Ground Transportation Center in Cedar Rapids. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)