Elma, IA

Elma’s CPPC committee has been discussing the implementation of a “Tools for School” project for the Elma Elementary. During the Study Circle phase of Horizons a teacher commented that some of the students did not have the recommended school supplies until the school year was nearly over.

The lack of disposable household income during these times of economic hardship requires the community to offer a helping hand. The students cannot be expected to “compete” with others if the “tools” needed for success are not available.

The committee may decide at its July 2 meeting if funds are available from its current year budget. If all goes well, this will be implemented in late July and early August.

CPPC and the Elma Horizons Project have completed the community assistance brochure. This was one of the items discussed during the Study Circle phase of Horizons. However, it was not chosen as an action item.

The brochure will empower Elma’s residents with contact information, including elected officials and city contacts.

Funding for this project was from the initial Horizons grant from Northwest Area Foundation and the Elma Area Community Foundation - Horizons mini-grant.

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.

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 Girl Scout Program is expanding in Elma with the addition of a new troop leader, Edith Lenehan. Edith has recently joined the Girl Scout program and is heading up the Brownie Troop #488, which consists of area girls in grades 1-3. Inital troop organization offered a meet-n-greet event with snacks and a craft at the Spare Times Bowling Lanes & restaurant. The event provided initial information about becoming a Brownie Girl Scout, and utilized the leadership skills of an existing Junior Girl Scout Troop. The Junior Troop #498 taught 6 new Brownie candidates about the Girl Scout promise, handshake, and lead some simple Girl Scouting action songs.

The Northeast Iowa Food & Fitness Initiative, a project funded by the Kellogg Foundation, has selected 5 targeted communities, including Waukon and Elma, as recipients of $1,000 grants. The grants are to be used to increase these community’s input and capacity to implement projects compatible with NIFF’s objectives.

Elma will likely use the funds to increase our capacity of providing locally grown and processed foods as well as quality recreational and fitness opportunities. The details are still being finalized but will likely include an Elma Elementary/Early Childhood Center component, an effort to address the needs of our Mennonite neighbors, and services needed for the elderly.