O'Brien County Foundation Grant Awards

The O'Brien County Community Foundation (OBCCF) recently awarded grants totaling $97,315 to twenty-six nonprofit organizations in support of projects and programs throughout O'Brien County.

Since the first grants were made in 2006, over $366,000 has been awarded. Funding for the grant program is a result of County Endowment Fund legislation (HF2302) passed in 2005 which provides that a percentage of the state's gambling revenues is to be distributed among all Iowa counties that do not have a gambling entity.

"The OBCCF has had the opportunity to help various nonprofit organizations throughout the past few years. For example, we have awarded grants to help preserve the history of our county, for building updates to area fire departments, and to modernize daycare equipment in various communities." stated Ann Carpenter, OBCCF Advisory Board Chair.

The OBCCF was formally established in 2005 through affiliation with the Siouxland Community Foundation and is governed by a local nine-member advisory board composed of representatives from each of the communities in O'Brien County: Archer, Calumet, Hartley, Paullina, Primghar, Sanborn, Sheldon, and Sutherland; as well as one county-at-large member.

The mission of the O'Brien County Community Foundation is to enhance the quality of life in the communities served by encouraging permanent charitable giving to meet the needs of present and future generations.

For a complete list of grant awards:  http://www.obriencounty.com/community/organizations.htm

Value Added Agriculture

O’Brien County Economic Development Corporation Seeking Producer Register Participants

Primghar, Iowa, May 18, 2010 – O’Brien County Economic Development Corporation, in conjunction with the O’Brien County Value Added Ag Committee, is seeking to identify producers and their products. They would also like to gather information about farmers markets in O’Brien County. Kiana Johnson, Executive Director of O’Brien County Economic Development Corporation stated, “Our vision is to build a farm fresh food register linking farmers and consumers and offering consumer and producer services in order to improve food, health, quality of life and community.”

Producers in O’Brien County can register to participate by contacting the O’Brien County Economic Development office and leaving their name, address, phone number and email address. A form will then be mailed or emailed for them to complete. Anyone with information on our local farmers markets, such as location, dates and hours, contact person and products available, should also contact the O’Brien County Economic Development Corporation. The farm fresh food register will then be compiled, printed and distributed throughout the county.

For additional information on the O’Brien County Economic Development Corporation and O’Brien County Value Added Ag Producer Register, contact Kiana Johnson at 712.957.1313 or e-mail ocedc@tcaexpress.net .

Revolving Loan Fund Statistics

• Since 2005 the RLF Committee has made 17 loans totaling $931,547, creating a capital investment of $11,671,489.00; creating 174 jobs and retaining 132 jobs.

If you have a business idea and need financial assistance please contact our office and learn how our low interest, gap financing, can help your business idea become a reality.

MyEntre.Net

O'Brien County Economic Development has ended their second year of the MyEntre.Net program with success! Highlights of the annual report produced by UNI included:

10 business expansions
9 new full time equivalent jobs
106 total entrepreneurs engaged
$969,000 in new investments through personal and commercial loans

O'Brien County Tourism

O'Brien County Tourism was invited to make a presentation at the Hartley, Iowa Annual Chamber Meeting on February 1, 2010.  O'Brien County Tourism presented a power point show that detailed the history of O'Brien County Tourism, Tourism facts, O'Brien County Tourism accomplishments, and future plans.

Tourism in Iowa is a $6.4 billion dollar industry.  Tourism has helped O'Brien County Grow.

HARKIN ANNOUNCES OVER $6.6 MILLION TO EXPAND ACCESS TO BROADBAND INTERNET IN RURAL IOWA COMMUNITIES

http://harkin-press.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?gpiv=2100053131.540.32&gen=1

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that a total of $6,651,830 will be coming to Iowa for projects to bring broadband internet access to businesses and residents in rural communities.  The grants and loans are being provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and were funded in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  Harkin worked to secure these funds through his role as a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, which wrote the Recovery Act.

C-M-L Telephone Cooperative Association will receive a $1,519,225 grant and $1,519,225 loan.  Funding will provide services via a fiber optic network to rural communities with high speed internet exceeding 20 Mbps.  The Association is headquartered in the community of Meriden.  It is member owned and serves the communities of Cleghorn, Larrabee and Meriden in Cherokee County, and Archer in O'Brien County.  Along with these communities, it also serves approximately 225 square miles of rural Cherokee and O'Brien counties.

Barn Quilts of O'Brien County Cook Book

http://obriencounty.com/tourism/oc_bq_recipebook.htm

Revolving Loan Fund Meeting

The Revolving Loan Fund Committee met today to review and approve an application for financing.  Project Sponsor was Iowa State Bank of Paullina.  This project will be a great addition to the City of Paullina and the Revolving Loan Fund Committee is very excited to be a part of this new project.  Please check back for more details coming soon.

ENTERPRISE ZONE PROGRAM

O'Brien County is a designated Enterprise Zone helping businesses to Utilize and Rehabilitate Economically Distressed Areas.

Program offers a local property tax exemption, additional funding for training new employees, and a  refund of state sales, service or use taxes  paid to contractors during construction.

Next Enerprise Zone Commission Meeting is scheduled for January 8, 2010 at Primghar City Hall, open to the public.