PLANNING DEPARTMENT
The Southwest Iowa Planning Council provides multiple types of planning assistance for member cities and counties.
SWIPCO’s Planning Department is here to serve all of your community planning and technical assistance needs. We currently have two Community Development Specialists on staff to assist our municipalities and counties; John McCurdy, and Mike Albin. They have over 15 years combined experience and are up to date on the latest state and federal regulations.
SWIPCO's Planning Department works with communities on a broad array of projects including: Trails ~~ Water Towers ~~ Sewer Treatment Plants ~~ Education~~ Parks ~~ Water Treatment ~~ and much more
Examples of ways we can help include:
Planning:
- Comprehensive Plans
- Smart Growth Plans
- Urban Renewal Plans
- Urban Revitalization Plans
- Land Use Planning
- Trails Plans
- Hazard Mitigation Planning
- Housing Development Plans
- Highly competitive rates and professional comprehensive documents
Technical Assistance:
- Property Annexation
- City Codes and Zoning Ordinances
- Community and regional surveys
- Grant writing for a variety of needs
- Review of state, federal and foundation financing sources
- Project administration and reporting including drinking water, waste water, community facility, and housing projects
Economic Development
- Economic Development Administration (EDA)
- Regional Planning Affiliate (RPA)
a community day care is realized
Regional Planning Affiliate
SWIPCO manages Regional Planning Affiliate 13 (RPA 13), which is the transportation planning region designated through the Iowa Department of Transportation. Counties within RPA 13 include Cass, Fremont, Montgomery, and Page Counties. Planning activities of the RPA include:
- Develop Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). The TIP programs local, state, and federal funding for various highway improvement projects. This programming is the first step necessary for a highway improvement project to proceed towards receiving funding for construction of roads and bridges.
- Develop Passenger Transportation Plan (PTP). The PTP coordinates area transit services and health and human agencies to develop projects necessary to meet the transit needs of clients and residents. The PTP also covers the RPA 18 area including Harrison, Mills, Pottawattamie, and Shelby Counties.
- Develop Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). The LRTP looks at each mode of transportation including highway, rail, aviation, trail, and transit. The LRTP develops short and long term goals for the region to develop multi-modal transportation projects over a 20-year period. The LRTP is updated every five years.
- Develop Transportation Planning Work Program (TPWP). The TPWP outlines how regional transportation planning funds will be utilized throughout the fiscal year.
- Manage Regional Transportation Enhancement applications and projects. Transportation Enhancement projects include trails, scenic improvements, historical preservation/museums, and other transportation related projects.
RPA 13 also can assist communities through other transportation planning activities including trail plans and grant applications such as Safe Routes To School, State Recreational Trails, and others.
A great deal of assistance to our communities comes through grant writing and administration. Although specific deadlines change from year to year, an example of potential funding sources is below
Planning Department Contact Information |
|
 |
John McCurdy ~ Community Development Specialist John.mccurdy@swipco.org |
 |
Courtney Harter ~ Community Development Specialist courtney.harter@swipco.org |
 |
Mike Albin ~ Community Development Specialist Mike.albin@swipco.org |