Community Clean-Up & Earth Day Celebration

Bring your work gloves, rakes, brooms and dustpans this Saturday at 9 a.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. (April 21-22) to the Public Library! We will work together to clear debris and landscape waste from the downtown area. A public awareness recycling campaign and drawings for door prizes will be available when signing-in to receive your job assignments. Prizes include garden tools, earth-friendly cleaners, seed packets, energy efficient bulbs, solar lights, and more. Free pre-packaged coffee grounds from Simone’s Cuppa will also be available for your home gardening projects. Refreshments will be provided by the Boosters and Subway! Sign-ups for planting and summer care projects will also be taken. Give your town a big greenie-weenie Earth Day hug and volunteer!!

Calling All Master Gardeners!

ISU Extension is inviting all Master Gardeners and those interested in becoming Master Gardeners to attend an informational session on Tuesday, April 24^th at 6:30 p.m. at the Montezuma Public Library. Master Gardeners are individuals who have an interest in horticulture, have taken the Master Gardener training offered by Iowa State University Extension, and share their time and expertise with other gardeners. It is the acquisition of knowledge, the skill in gardening, and giving back to the community that distinguishes a Master Gardener from other gardeners. Information on Montezuma’s planting and summer care projects will also be available.

Community Daycare Update

After visiting several daycare centers in the region, members of our local daycare committee met on Friday, April 13^th to discuss next steps in the process of opening an infant through 5 year-old daycare facility in Montezuma. The building has been secured, and estimates have been provided to retrofit this building for a new operation. According to committee member Meryll Hicks, funding is the biggest obstacle. City officials met in regular session this past week and committed to the project. Understanding licensing requirements, locating a qualified operator, and forming a board of directors to spearhead the project are also needed before moving forward. The MCD office is making local and regional contacts to identify the latter.

Housing Wanted

Single-family, affordable and moderate income level housing needed in Montezuma, NOW. MCD will meet with city staff this coming week to get a project update on the south housing development proposed to bring as many as 24 new lots. Some private development may also be happening in the near future. Stay tuned….

Director’s Quill

I just finished cashing in a scholarship to attend a week-long intensive training at the Heartland Economic Development Course. Approximately 80 other students from Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma joined me in Kansas City for the five-day course which focused on all aspects of community development including strategic planning and positioning for future successes in the areas of business retention and expansion. Each of the course faculty was top-notch and very experienced in their profession. I came away with a greater knowledge of the trends in development and resources available, particularly for rural communities. I was joined in Kansas City by Laura Mannatt with Poweshiek Iowa Development and Angela Harrington with the Grinnell Chamber. All three of us were very impressed with the course content and have already been brainstorming ways that we can all work together to strengthen our region. All three of us graduated from the course, which is a pre-requisite for on-going professional development and certification (CEcD). Thank you to the City of Montezuma for providing hotel accommodations and meals, and Poweshiek Iowa Development for taking care of mileage. Much thanks!

We ended the week enjoying some great Kansas City BBQ and listening to dueling pianos at Howl at the Moon in the Light & Power District downtown KC. And I’m sorry to hear that I missed all the rain this week. I understand it was a good week to be a duck in Montezuma.

I will be introducing the bones of a strategic plan to MCD’s board of directors this week. We have much work to accomplish together, and I am counting on the Montezuma community to be involved in the exciting process ahead. More to come.

I am also looking forward to attending the Iowa Statewide Historic Preservation Conference in Decorah in just a few days. I want to thank members of our Certified Local Government and the Montiques for providing financial sponsorship for me to attend this conference on behalf of the community.

Terence Blain, MCD Director

Interested in Downtown Revitalization?

An informational meeting for those interested in downtown revitalization has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 8^th and will be offered at two times, 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. Business and building owners, historic preservationists, and those interested in bringing new life to Montezuma’s downtown should plan to attend. This is an informational meeting to talk about the process and the community’s role within the city. Each meeting will be held at the Montezuma Public Library. Open to the public!

MCD Requests Your Support

As a non-profit, the Montezuma Community Development Corporation relies on the generosity of individuals, businesses, organizations and other entities to support our annual operating budget. We would appreciate any type of financial support or in-kind support offered. Please contact the MCD office for specifics. The benefits of membership in the organization will be introduced in the near future.

Paint Iowa Beautiful Grant Received

(As of Friday, April 20th there have been no applicants for this grant).

MCD is proud to announce that Montezuma has been awarded a grant for 2012 through Paint Iowa Beautiful and Diamond Vogel Paint. Approximately half the grant award has been committed to the Poweshiek County Historical Society and Museum for paint upgrades to the window and door frames and railings of both of their facilities on the southwest side of the square. The other half is up for grabs for one lucky business of the square. Please contact the MCD office to apply for funding before May 15^th. Strong consideration will be made for the business or building owner that follows these guidelines:

• Present a plan design including colors. 
• Paint cannot be used for signage.
• Present a project timeline. All projects must be completed in 2012.
• Hiring a local painter to assist with your project is encouraged  Recipient must purchase paint from Diamond Vogel (Newton outlet).
• Other painting supplies should be purchased from a local retailer.
• Before and after photos of your project are required. 
• Reimbursement of your paint expenses (up to 10 gallons) will be given at the completion of the project and if all the guidelines have been followed.