Elma, IA

The most important and valuable outcome of the Horizons Program was the increase in volunteerism in Elma. New volunteers have come forward in four of the Visioning Committees.
Specifically, The recreational trail committee has six newly engaged members. The medical clinic committee is chaired by a new Horizons participant.

The Elma Early Childhood Center is chaired by a re-engaged citizen. Two other EECC committee members are new volunteers to Elma.

Finally, the Main Street/Busti Avenue Committee’s Elma Extravaganza provided opportunities for networking. One of the vendors has volunteered to help with the committee’s next project.

Ultimately, having additional volunteers will be the best outcome of Elma’s Horizons Project. It has reinforced the findings from an Iowa State Extension study of small Iowa communities that included Elma that people need to be asked to help.

During Study Circles, a concern regarding the lack of communication between the school and the community was identified.
During the Visioning process, the problem of poor communication between the city/community/school was determined to be a priority and a “Communications Committee” was formed.

The first initiative now underway is a Parent/Teacher Partnership committee. Teachers at the Elma Elementary School and parents from each grade are involved. Their first activity is a rummage sale and bake sale at the school on March 28. Proceeds will be used to fund such projets as the out-of-district field trips and a family game night.

The second initiative is the proposed formation of an Elma Wisdom & Wellness committee to ensure the long-term viability of the summer meal, fitness and education program. Because of Elma’s high free-and-reduced lunch population (2008 approx. 60%),
USDA funds a summer breakfast and lunch program. The Wisdom & Wellness program provides activities between the two meals. This initiative is to coordinate existing programs in and around Elma and provide for the financial sustainability.

Library, Museum, School, Trail establish endowed funds in Elma Area Community Foundation

Since September 1, 2007, four agency funds have been established with the Elma Area Community Foundation to sustain their missions of service to the Elma community. These endowments will provide greater financial security for the Elma Public Library, the Elma Museums, the Elma Elementary School, and the Elma Recreational Trail by providing a non-governmental funding source.

Matching funds (each fund received $1,000 from Peoples Savings Bank and $1,000 from the BRIDGE Organization, Inc.) provided an incentive for those interested in each of the agencies to proceed.

The Elma Area Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa (formerly the Community Foundation of Waterloo/Cedar Falls and Northeast Iowa.)