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.

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

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.

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.

Included in the festivities are:

Parade (Saturday morning)
5k Run/Walk (Saturday morning)
Softball Tournament (Friday evening thru Sunday afternoon)
Mud Volleyball Tournament
Music in the Park (on Friday and Saturday nights)
Breakfast (Elma Sportsmen on Saturday, Knights of Columbus on Sunday)

Profits from the various events go to community betterment projects, including the park improvement project and the proposed trailhead project.

The increase in volunteerism, and especially the increase in those willing to take on leadership roles, may be the most important result of the Horizons Program.

A short review of the Horizons Program included the Study Circle’s vision of Elma as a “safe, caring and united community with opportunities and respect for all.”

Erin Ludwig, co-facilitator for the Leadership Plenty phase gave a short talk on this phase.

The Visioning Committees gave short verbal and/or written reports on their activity. The Elma Early Childhood Center obtained its 501c3 status, is operating in temporary facilities, and is planning on moving into the new addition to the Elma Charter Elementary School in August.

The Recreational Trail Committee reported it has collaborated with the Wapsi-Great Western Line Two County Committee. A Community Attraction & Tourism grant application has been submitted to the State of Iowa. Thirteen Elma residents attended the presentation meeting at Des Moines in May. Negotiations between the state and the two county committee is expected to begin in July.

The Memorial Hall Improvement Committee reported it has made significant financial strides towards its goal of $300,000. This committee has refocused its planning during the past three months to ensure its vision, mission, and proposed project are compatible.

The Busti Avenue/Main Street Committee reported its successful completion of the Elma Spring Extravaganza. The event showcased mostly home-based businesses to increase the awareness of goods and services available locally. The committee will host a fall event and then plans to transfer the responsibility to another organization so that the Busti Avenue/Main Street Committee can concentrate on its larger objective of revitalizing Elma’s business district.

The Medical Clinic Committee reported it has been in contact with the New Hampton Hospital regarding a clinic at Afton Oaks. The process continues with the next step being a survey of interest in the area for such a clinic.

The Parent/Teacher Partnership reported it has successfully organized and has held five events thus far. It is their intent to hold monthly activities. They have been successful in obtaining some funding for its programs, including the holding of a bake sale/rummage sale.

The Communications Committee reported it has been meeting every-other month with city officials to provide interaction between the city and the general community.

The meeting continued with a presentation by Brenda Ranum and Ann Mansfield of the Northeast Iowa Food & Fitness Initiative regarding this initiative that will affect Elma. They presented the process NIFF is undergoing. A question and answer session followed.

Those in attendance then discussed the allocation of the $8,500 in anticipated funds from the Northwest Area Foundation. After discussion, the consensus was the following allocation:
$3000 to the Elma Early Childhood Center
$3000 to the Elma Memorial Hall Improvement Project
$1000 to the Wapsi-Great Western Line Project
$ 500 to a Movies/Music in the Park Project. This was the second most important item during the Study Circles and but not yet been implemented.
$1000 to the Elma Medical Clinic if this initiative proceeds. If not, Elma’s community betterment group is to use these funds for a medical-related initiative.

The group also discussed the allocation of the $1000 mini-grant from the Northeast Iowa Food & Fitness Initiative. The consensus was to allocate this money as follows:

$250 to the Elma 5k Run/Walk for the purchase of locally grown or processed food for its breakfast.
$250 to the Parent/Teacher Partnership for the purchase of locally grown or processed food for its programming.
$250 to the Elma Roller Skating Program for the purchase of new roller skates.
$250 for the purchase of fitness equipment targeted for use by the elderly.

The meeting concluded with thank-yous to those that helped Elma through this process, with special thanks to our community coach, Brenda Schmitt, and our county director, Charlie Baier.

The collaborative effort between Mitchell County, Mitchell County Conservation, Howard County, Howard County Conservation, and the Cities of McIntire, Riceville and Elma is the first local effort to work for a common cause. Elma has traditionally been self-reliant and not active in partnerships across county lines.

This collaboration has resulted in a $2,300,000 federal grant and has applied to the State of Iowa for a Community Attractions and Tourism grant of over $2,000,000. The total project cost is over $6,000,000.

This phase of the trail will connect Elma to the Minnesota trail near Taopi. This phase, nearly 30 miles, will join the Minnesota trail of 30 miles. Plans include extension of the trail south of Elma to Waterloo/Cedar Falls and onto Cedar Rapids.

This project will provide a free and safe opportunity for recreation. This is especially important to Elma’s low-income families.

A completed trail will expand job opportunities (food, bike repair, transportation, lodging, camping) to local unemployed people and summer jobs for youth. This will reduce poverty.

The unprecedented financial commitment of the federal, state and local governments will boost Elma’s economy and provide opportunities for further collaboration with our neighboring cities and counties to the south.

Elected city and county officials will be invited. Our community coach will be here as well.

We are expecting 50 to attend.