Elma, IA

The proposed recreational trail from Elma through Riceville and McIntire to Taopi, MN received a major boost with the State of Iowa’s Vision Iowa Community Attractions & Tourism grant of $1,300,000. Upon completion of the trail, Elma will be connected to the Shooting Star Trail in south central Minnesota.

The trail was one of the priorities of Elma’s Visioning process of the Horizons Program. The trail will provide a safe opportunity for all to participate in outdoor activities. The Vision Iowa board chairman commented this has to potential to change this area with economic development.

Funding will be available in four equal amounts during the next four years. Elma’s trail committee collaborated with the Riceville
trail committee, Howard & Mitchell County Conservation, and Howard & Mitchell County elected officials.

Elma’s PTP is holding a “Back to School” picnic on Friday, August 15, at 5:30 P.M. The PTP project was identified as a need during the Elma Study Circle portion of the Horizons Program.

Funding for this event includes CPPC and the Northeast Iowa Food & Fitness/Kellogg Foundation initiative. Details of this event will be forthcoming.

The Elma Early Childhood Center board will host a grand opening of the new facilities on Tuesday, August 26 from 5:30 - 7:30 P.M.

Services have been provided since early June using Elma Elementary School rooms. The addition is now complete and will hereafter house the daycare program.

This project was the top priority for the Elma Horizons Program. Elma was fortunate to receive a USDA-RD grant for $50,000 and the Howard-Winneshiek School District paid approximately $140,000 to complete the structure. The furnishings and operating funds needed to begin the program were funded by the McElroy Trust ($15,000), Peoples Savings Bank of Elma ($10,000), the BRIDGE Organization ($7,000), Northwest Area Foundation - Horizons Program ($3,500), Howard County Community Foundation ($3,000), and Elma Area Community Foundation ($1,000) provided the majority of the initial funding. Other donations and fundraisers raised the remaining money needed.

Elma now has a quality, certified day care provider to serve the community.

Elma organizations are collaborating to purchase bike helmets for all Elma Elementary School students.

With Elma’s vision of a safe, caring and united community with opportunities and respect for all, the bike helmet project will provide a quality helmet (safe, caring) for each student. The helmets will be the same color (unity).

Partnerships for this project include CPPC, Elma Area Community Foundation, Northeast Iowa Food & Fitness/Kellogg Foundation, Parent/Teacher Partnership,
Regional Health Services of Howard County, the BRIDGE Organization, and the Elma Elementary School.

The project is scheduled for October, 2008.

Eight different efforts to beautify Elma this spring have been or are nearing completion. Some of the highlights of the projects include:

1. On May 23 “Join Hands Day” was celebrated at Colonial Manor/Afton Oaks with the planting of the flower beds around Elma’s nursing home and assisted/independent living facility. Students from the Elma Elementary Charter School joined the Colonial Manor Auxiliary in this beautification effort. Thrivent funded this project as well as hosted a pizza party upon completion of the project.

2. Elma Living Roadways Committee completed its recreational trail tree screening project with the spreading of nearly a semi load of mulch. The trees were planted in 2007. It appears all of the trees survived our harsh winter and hungry deer. Funding for this project include Trees Forever and Howard County Community Foundation. Besides the committee, Howard County Conservation, Howard County Equity/Innovative Ag Services, the Elma Boy Scouts, and the BRIDGE Organization collaborated in this effort.

3. Elma Living Roadways Committee continues working on its welcome sign project with a landscaping project at the west entrance sign. The committee laid landscape fabric and mulch around the evergreen trees planted late last fall. The final step for this project is the proposed purchase of benches or a picnic table and a bicycle rack. Funding for this project include the Elma Area Community Foundation, Howard County Community Foundation and the BRIDGE Organization, Inc. A community member donated the landscape fabric.

4. The Elma Girl Scouts planted flowers in over 30 barrels to improve the business area of Elma. The City of Elma moved the finished barrels to the front doors of participating businesses. The BRIDGE Organization funded this initiative.

A former Elma resident that returned for the Memorial Day festivities commented that Elma is looking better than ever!

The following is a summary of Horizons action items:

I. Visioning Committees

1. Elma Early Childhood Center - This committee has filed for 501c3 status, obtain funding for the building addition to the school, and raised over $40,000 for the purchase of equipment and initial operating expenses. The committee has begun hiring employees and will begin offering services on June 3, 2008.

2. Main Street/Busti Avenue Committee - This committee held the Elma Spring Extravaganza on May 2-3 with 27 vendors and approximately 700 participants. The objectives of this project include:
a. Increase awareness of goods and services available from local, home-based businesses.
b. Increase “traffic” for greater sales at existing Elma businesses.
c. Increase awareness of available business locations for entreprenuers in Elma.
d. Provide opportunity for networking among the vendors.

3. Recreational Trail Committee - This committee has been meeting with various partners and attended the Community Attraction & Tourism/Vision Iowa meeting in Des Moines on May 14. The committee is working on obtaining additional federal and state funding to complete this project.

4. Memorial Hall Improvement Committee - This committee has held various fund-raisers and has received a commitment from the City of Elma for $50,000. The project cost is approximately $300,000. This project, when completed, will provide a safe, modern facility for social and meeting needs of Elma.

5. The Medical Clinic Committee - This committee has worked with ISU Extension to develop a preliminary needs assessment. They have met with stakeholders, including the Mennonite
community of rural Elma, and has scheduled a meeting with a potential medical services provider on May 29.

6. Parent/Teacher Partnership - This committee has evolved from discussions during Study Circles as to the need of a local committee to improve communications between the school and the parents. PTP has held a fundraiser as well as held three events: Moms & Muffins, Dads & Doughnuts, and a Bike Safety Seminar.

Among other projects without Visioning Committees that have been completed include:

1. 2007 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

2. Welcome Baskets

3. Elma Bucks to retain dollars in the Elma economy

4. 2007-2008 Head Start.

The following is a list of collaborative efforts between outside entities and Elma’s Horizons projects:

1. Internal Revenue Service and ISU Extension for the VITA program in Elma.

2. Northeast Iowa Community College, ISU Extension and Peoples Savings Bank for the “Planning to Stay Ahead” financial education class.

3. Wapsi-Great Western Line Committee of Riceville, Howard County, Howard County Conservation, Mitchell County and Mitchell County Conservation are partners with the Recreational Trail Committee.

4. Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation and Howard-Winneshiek Community School District for the Elma Head Start program.

5. Decorah Public Library partnered with the Elma Public Library in establishing the Toy Lending Library.

6. Helping Services of Northeast Iowa and Mentoring Youth of Howard County for the mentoring program in Elma.

7. Community Partnership for Protecting Children for the Christmas Gifting Program.

8. Howard County Economic Development partnered with the Main Street/Busti Avenue Committee for the Elma Spring Extravaganza.

A number of new financial resources have been secured for various Horizons Projects. The following is a summary of these financial commitments:

Elma Early Childhood Center and the Elma Early Childhood Center, Inc.

1. USDA-Rural Development committed $50,000 for the building of the Elma Early Childhood Center.
2. Howard-Winneshiek Community School District committed $140,000 for the building of the Elma Early Childhood Center.
3. McElroy Trust granted the Elma Early Childcare Center, Inc. a $15,000 challenge grant for the purchase of equipment and for initial operating expenses.
4. The BRIDGE Organization committed $3,500 per year for two years for the Elma Early Childhood Center, Inc. for the purchase of equipment and for initial operating expenses.
5. Elma Area Community Foundation granted $1,000 for the Elma Early Childhood Center, Inc. for the purchase of equipment and for initial operating expenses.
6. Peoples Savings Bank has committed $17,000 for the Elma Early Childhood Center, Inc. for the purchase of equipment and for initial operating expenses.

Total financial resources for the Elma Early Childhood Center - building $190,000
Total financial resources for equipment and initial operating expenses $ 40,000

The Elma Memorial Hall Improvement Project

1. City of Elma has committed $50,000 through a debt service levy.
2. Elma Memorial Hall Board has committed $50,000 through a proposed loan program with proposed energy savings funding the debt payment.
3. Miscellaneous fundraisers have raised $6,000.
4. Elma Area Community Foundation has granted $1,000 for the project.

The Recreational Trail Project

1. US-DOT $2,300,000
2. Mitchell County - $200,000
3. Howard County - $280,000
4. Howard County Conservation - $20,000

Other projects have also received funding from BRIDGE and the Elma Area Community Foundation, including $3,500 from these entities for the Leadership Plenty mini-grants,
$1,050 from CPPC for the Christmas Gifting and Wisdom & Wellness programs.

Two community breakfasts were held at the Elma Elementary Charter School recently to bring students and their families together for food and fellowship. The events were organized by the Parents & Teacher Partnership group (P.T.P.), which recently formed as a result of a community involvement effort through the Horizons program. The first breakfast event, “Moms and Muffins” took place on April 23rd with 63 students and 36 moms/auts/grandmothers as well as student siblings and school staff attending. Participants received muffins, fruit, milk, juice, or coffee paid for through P.T.P. fundraising proceeds as they mingled in the school cafeteria. The second event, “Dads and Doughnuts” took place on May 7th with a similar menu and hosting 64 students, 41 dads/grandfathers/uncles as well as student siblings, teaching staff and even a few moms. Together the two events provided free meals to 204 community members.

The Elma Early Childhood Center committee has announced three significant developments during the past month.

The committee has hired a full-time director. The director will be introduced to the community at the May, 2008 Horizons Visioning Committee meeting.

The committee has announced the scheduled opening for childcare services will be June 3 at temporary facilities at the Elma Elementary School. The completion of the center’s new facilities is expected during the summer.

The committee was awarded a $15,000 McElroy Trust challenge grant. The community must raise a $15,000 match to ensure receipt of this challenge grant.

The Early Childhood Center was determined the highest priority for Elma during the Study Circle phase.