Prosperity Eastern Iowa_Letter of SupportTHE CITY OF Dubuque
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Masterpiece on the Mississippi
2007
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Letter of Support on Behalf of Prosperity Eastern Iowa
DATE: September 3, 2009
Economic Development Director Dave Heiar is recommending providing a letter of
support for the East Central Intergovernmental Association grant application to the Iowa
Department of Economic Development to support Prosperity Eastern Iowa.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
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Michael C. Van Milligen
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Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
David Heiar, Economic Development Director
THE CITY OF • .-~ Dubuque
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DuB E ~.~~~~~
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Masterpiece on the Mississippi
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2007
TO: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: David Heiar, Economic Development Director
SUBJECT: Letter of Support on behalf of Prosperity Eastern Iowa
DATE: August 31, 2009
Prosperity Eastern Iowa (PEI), our regional Economic Development organization,
staffed by ECIA, is seeking grant funding from the Iowa Department of Economic
Development. The grant application would provide additional regional funding to
enhance the Accessmyfuture.com website and help develop a green business
certification program for companies who already participate in the Buyer Supplier
Program.
The grant application also requires local match. Prosperity Eastern Iowa plans to use
Dubuque's commitment to sustainability as part of the regional match. In particular,
Dubuque's current city budget includes $5,000 for an education initiative entitled
"Sustainable Dubuque," and the budget includes the salary for a sustainability
Coordinator. This application does not commit the City to any additional funding.
Attached is the letter of support requested by PEI (ECIA) for their grant application.
Letter of Support -Prosperity Eastern Iowa 8-31-09
THE CITY OF
Citp Manager's Office
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864
(563) 589-4110 phone
(563) 589-4149 fax
ctymgr@cityofd ubuque.org
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August, 2009
ECIA
Kelley Deutmeyer, Executive Director
7600 Commerce Park
Dubuque, Iowa 52002
Dear Kelley:
I am writing to support Prosperity Eastern Iowa's IDED Economic Development Region Initiatives grant
application to continue to enhance the Accessmyfuture.com web site by adding an additional mode of
transportation to the hologram game to keep our audience engaged in the web site and the addition of a
virtual "garage" where users can visit and utilize entrepreneurial tools to learn about starting a business. I
am also very supportive of Prosperity's commitment to promote a new voluntary green business
certification program to participating Buyer Supplier companies: Eco-Eastern Iowa (Eco-EI) Petal Project.
In our region it is a priority to attract and retain our skilled workforce. We believe by starting at the
middle school and high school age levels and targeting activities on the Accessmyfuture.com web site for
their age level, we have a better opportunity to keep them engaged in the website and interested in the
career and lifestyle opportunities in the region. Additionally, the importance of sustainability and planning
for the future is critical for future generations to come. I am excited to be involved in the opportunity to
expand the concept to our Buyer Supplier companies creating a sustainable regional approach for the
future.
The City of Dubuque will actively support the Eco-EI part of the project through the IDED grant and the
EDA Technical Assistance grant that Prosperity is also applying for by educating ourselves and our staff
and adopt the principles of the program. The City has a budget of $5,000 per year for our "Sustainable
Dubuque" education initiative which is a direct match for Prosperity Eastern Iowa's efforts to expand the
sustainable program to the region with Eco-EI Petal Project. The City recently hired afull-time
sustainability Coordinator to spear-head our program. Our coordinator would be a great resource as
Prosperity develops their sustainability plan and evolves the concept into the Prosperity region.
Prosperity Eastern Iowa had done a wonderful job in identifying regional needs and priorities and
addressing those needs through regional programs like Buyer Supplier and Accessmyfuture.com. Grants
such as this one will allow us to continue the great progress we have made in the region.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
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