Welcome to Q3!

The UCDA has had a busy start to Q3 - which is why we are publishing this newsletter almost a whole month into it! We are so excited to share all of the fun things we've been up to. Before we dive in, let's do a little trivia! The title might've given this one away, so we'll add to it. You can find the answer at the bottom of the newsletter!

True or False: Union County is the only county in Iowa that starts with "U" and is NOT named after a person.

Union County Awarded & Recognized

Union County was selected as one of two recipients for the BOOST Grant, a new program of the Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Initiative that aims to provide a team of experts to assist passionate community and business leaders in developing intentional plans for next step growth. The BOOST Grant will provide a team of experts from IEDA to help navigate and prioritize the efforts. The UCDA's Discover UC committee has been working on Creative Placemaking efforts, focusing primarily on the Uptown District. By the guidance of the IEDA team and the funding for the professional fees associated with this type of planning, this grant will help devise a solid plan that will serve as a road map for development and a solid understanding of the next steps needed to make responsible progress. The BOOST Grant team visited Creston on Tuesday, June 20th and toured the Uptown. They concluded with a round-table discussion to help them put together a plan for next steps.

We were honored to host the Iowa Rural Development Council & Governor's Empower Rural Iowa Initiative in Union County on Wednesday, July 12th. During the visit, around 80 people from rural Iowa communities came to Union County, where we did a walking and driving tour of our community. This event consisted of over 30 volunteers to make sure the day ran smoothly. It was a great day to showcase our community to engaged professionals from across the state! See some pictures of our day below hearing from Iowa Rural Development Council Executive Director, Bill Menner, and visiting the Creston ECC STEM classroom.

Meet our summer interns!

We have completed another summer of our Intern It UP program with a total of 6 interns from area businesses. Not pictured: Ananya Sivashanker with BUNN. The UCDA is working on a directory for internship opportunities that we will add to our website for next summer's Intern It UP program. More details coming soon!

A Message from the Mayor

Agnew Lofts will rehabilitate two commercial spaces and create 12 affordable apartments on the 100 block of North Maple Street in Creston. The $2.1 Million project will be managed by UR-GE, a non-profit focused on uptown revitalization and housing in Creston, and is expected to generate $20-30,000 per year to be reinvested in the community. The project cannot access various funding sources without first completing demolition and abatement on the buildings, estimated to be around $250,000. Once this is complete, a final construction estimate can be used to obtain the bridge loan and commercial loan, and the project can commence.

Without community support, these buildings will likely need demolished at taxpayer expense in the not-too-distant future, similar to the building at 120 N. Maple (likely cost of over $1 million). Let's come together and save our history, create affordable housing, and support our small business community!

- Gabe Carroll, Mayor, City of Creston

You can donate here.

Creston Chamber Small Business Partnership

The Creston Chamber of Commerce & UCDA are excited to announce a partnership to offer start up small businesses a grant opportunity once they have been operational for 3 months. Once this program is launched, UCDA will seek partnerships with all communities in Union County. Stay tuned for more details!

Investor Spotlight: B Rooted

Hi! I’m Jenny, the face behind B Rooted Charcuterie Boards. B Rooted is built on a foundation of family legacy and entertaining. Growing up, my parents would entertain often at their home and had unique touches to make each gathering memorable, with food being the center. Whether it was themed napkin rings, delicious appetizers or vintage china, my Mom thought of everything. She passed her love of entertaining onto me and I'm blessed to have this opportunity to help make your gatherings just as special.

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The B Rooted logo is more than just what meets the eye. "B" represents my son Brock - who is a great sous chef!  "Rooted" represents strength, stability and being grounded. My parents' farm logo, Guhde Farms is incorporated into the B.  I know they are smiling down on me, as I share the Guhde passion for entertaining with our community.

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At B Rooted we're passionate about making every gathering - big or small - memorable with a customized grazing option to fit your needs. If you are looking for a unique twist to a board, don't hesitate to reach out!

Check out B Rooted's website here!

This is why we Choose UC

"I grew up in the busy heart of Guatemala City, Guatemala, and my wife, Elizabeth, grew up in Union County. After starting our family, we decided Union County was a smaller community and closer to family, where we wanted to raise our sons. Union County has been a great place to raise our children, build our professions and pour into our community. With a small town, the potential for growth is endless, and we are blessed to be able to play a small role in adding to that growth and look forward to the future of what Union County can be. "

David Marroquin, Creston, Iowa Resident

The City of Creston is accepting applications for the position of Director of Housing Development. This position will oversee the City's housing development initiatives. A link to the complete job description outlining duties and minimum requirements can be found below.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume and employment application to:

City of Creston

Attn: City Clerk

PO Box 449

Creston, IA 50801

or e-mail to lwilliamson@crestoniowa.org

Applications will be received through August 24, 2023.

Job Description.

Employment Application

Trivia Answer: True

Want to feature a job opening or young professional in our next newsletter? Email us at Marketing@UnionCountyIowa.com.