News
City of Ottumwa and Greater Ottumwa Partners in Progress, Inc. are pleased to announce the award of $142,347 from a Rural Business Development Grant issued by USDA. The grant, which was submitted March 2, will be used for curb modifications at the intersection of N. Court St. and Fox Sau...
CHIARA ELENA ROMERO • COURIER STAFF WRITER
OTTUMWA: Sieda is accepting applications for the Tenant Based Rental AssistanceProgram. Sieda Stabilization Director Ned Van Nostrand said the program provides subsidized housing for tenant-based housing. According to Sieda's website "it is a rental subsidy that helps make up the difference between what ...
CEDAR RAPIDS — It’s not shaping up to be the year she anticipated, but Iowa’s economic development director is confident the state will not only survive the coronavirus pandemic, but see opportunities as the crisis passes.
“We’re in a very stressful time, but there is a light at the end o...
CHIARA ELENA ROMERO • COURIER STAFF WRITER
OTTUMWA: On Tuesday county supervisors agreed to write a letter of support for the city's application for funding from the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant.
This is a grant program affiliated with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The city, according t...
Council backs grant application
May 7 2020MATT MILNER • COURIER MANAGING EDITOR
OTTUMWA: Council members approved an application for a federal BUILD Grant to remake the area around the historic train depot and Ballingall Park.
Discussions of major projects have been tough in recent weeks as the scale of the financial hit created by the COVID-19 pandemic begin...
'Sesame Street' launches 2020 census starring the Count to remind families Everyone Counts
May 5 2020(reprinted from USA TODAY March 9, 2020 by Hannah Yasharoff)
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — No other age group was under-counted more during the last once-a-decade census than children under age 5, researchers say. Sesame Street is hoping to use Count von Count to change that.
The Muppet best known as the Count is joining Elmo...
Travel Iowa is excited to announce its partnership with Bandwango to launch a digital Gift Card Marketplace to Iowa locations in an effort to drive cash flow to visitor-related business in the coming months. Greater Ottumwa Convention & Visitors Bureau encourages travelers to Let Ottumwa Surprise You when it is safe...
CHIARA ELENA ROMERO • COURIER STAFF WRITER
OTTUMWA: Local small businesses experiencing financial hardship because of COVID-19 may qualify for some aid. The Ottumwa Regional Legacy Foundation used $100,000 to create and manage the Wapello County Small Business Impact Fund to assist local businesses.
ORLF President Steve Dust said creating the fun...
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Recognizing Economic Developers in May
May 4 2020May 4-9 is International Economic Development Week (EDW). It’s an opportune time to reflect on the importance of local economic development efforts in building a vibrant and sustainable community. In Ottumwa, economic vitality starts at Greater Ottumwa Partners in Progress.
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) created EDW in 2016 t...
Communities across the country have responded to the COVID-19 crisis by implementing various stages of stay-at-home practices and shutdowns of nonessential businesses. While those practices seem to have directionally reduced the feared spikes, they leave less money for local governments to pay for expected services such as public safety, tras...
OTTUMWA — Local small businesses experiencing financial hardship because of COVID-19 may qualify for some aid. The Ottumwa Regional Legacy Foundation used $100,000 to create and manage the Wapello County Small Business Impact Fund to assist local businesses.
ORLF President Steve Dust said creating the fund was important.
“It is obvious t...
The country recommended people stay in their homes; airlines are grounding flights, the state has implemented shutdowns on schools and entire industries. Your customers are being told to only leave for necessities; your employees are working from home, and you’re looking around an expanse of open space in what use...
Monday, March 16th, the House and Senate worked all day and passed around midnight – a resolution suspending the session until April 15th and a bill (SF 2408) that contained the following provisions:
Supplemental appropriations of $525,000 for the processing of COVID-19 testing kits at the State Hygienic Laboratory, $89 millio...
USDA Grant Submission Culminates Helgerson Flats Certification
USDA Rural Business Development Grant money in the amount of $142,347 is being sought by City of Ottumwa officials as part of the finishing touches to Helgerson Flats, Iowa's 23rd Certified Site in Ottumwa. At its very core, this s a collaborative project tha...
Empower Rural Iowa Program Announces Housing Assessment Grants
Offered through the Center for Rural Revitalization/IEDA/Empower Rural Iowa
The Rural Housing Assessment Grant Program requires eligible communities to invest $5,000 cash match to be awarded an additional $10,000 that will be dedicated to improving the quality, access, or affordability of housing in thei...
Lemonade Day- from curbside stand to small business
First, some history:
America was built on the back of small business. Entrepreneurs take risks, believing they can realize their dream if they work hard, take responsibility and act as good stewards of their resources. Today’s youth share that optimism but lack the life skills...
ONE Community, ONE Voice, ONE Ottumwa
Celebrating diverse cultures and thinking, we all share the same ambition- for Ottumwa and our people to thrive. We are always stronger, and will accomplish more with a united effort, supporting one another and everything our community offers. We all play a vital role in honorin...
Technology Association of Iowa Announces Roadshow in Ottumwa
Ottumwa's own Tyler Wyngarden, VP of Development for Iowa Technology Association would like to welcome one and all to the first annual IT Roadshow, presented by US Cellular. Mark your calendars now to attend the event, Tuesday, April 28th at The Hub Auditorium...
The Ottumwa Ambassadors officially kicked off the opening of the 2020 Home and Garden Show on Saturday, February 29, 2020
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And welcomed NEW Ottumwa business 641 Treasures located at 1110 N. Quincy Ave., Unit 54, on Thursday, February 13, 2020.
Entrepreneurship center draws startups
Mar 6 2020CHIARA ELENA ROMERO
COURIER STAFF WRITER
OTTUMWA: Indian Hills' Regional Entrepreneurship Center launched in 2014. AJ Gevock, the center's director, said it has grown as a program and has helped several startups and businesses.
The REC provides resources to small businesses in the community. It is broken down into three categories: business advising...
VILLEDA CONSTRUCTION THRIVES IN BUSINESS
Mar 4 2020CHIARA ELENA ROMERO
COURIER STAFF WRITER
OTTUMWA: Jorge Villeda was 18 years old when he came to America from El Salvador. He wanted a chance for a better life and more opportunities.
He came to Missouri first and then moved to Ottumwa. He attended and graduated from Indian Hills in 2008 and starte...
Downtown Streetscape to resume soon!
Feb 28 2020Streetscape project set to resume soon
MATT MILNER • COURIER MANAGING EDITOR
OTTUMWA: Spring is coming. So is construction season. The second year of the downtown streetscape project should kick off sometime in early March, according to Public Works Director Larry Seals.
Work stopped late last fall as winter approached. Much of th...
