Pathfinders’ Priority Areas
As the year comes to an end, Pathfinders is eagerly planning projects for 2019. Priority areas which we will be focusing on in the year ahead include: Community development, water quality and soil health, and housing.
Community Development- Pathfinders will continue to offer small business loans, support the Jefferson County Hunger Dialogue, and act as the fiscal agent for Early Childhood Iowa. We will also be organizing cultural events along the Historic Hills Scenic Byway, and facilitating community projects throughout the region at the request of municipalities and community groups. We have capacity for additional projects in the areas of grant writing, project development, environmental assessments, facilitation, and strategic planning – contact the office, if you have a project you’d like us to consider.
Soil Health & Water Quality- We will be addressing this priority area through our continued partnerships with the Cedar Creek and Lower Skunk River Water Quality Initiative projects to implement Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy; and we are planning for new Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation projects including landowner outreach meetings.
Rural Housing- Pathfinders will be helping communities identify and address their housing needs using a Rural Housing Readiness Assessment toolkit created in collaboration with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. We are also coordinating a rural housing conference which will take place on May 21st in Fairfield – more details to come!
Loan Funds Available for Small Businesses
Pathfinders RC&D has loan funds available for qualifying small business enterprises in the counties of Appanoose, Davis, Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Lee, Louisa, Keokuk, Mahaska, Monroe, Marion Van Buren and Wapello.
Loans are given for the creation, retention, and expansion of small private business enterprises based on one more of the following priorities:
- Natural resource based enterprises,
- Value-added agricultural enterprises,
- Enterprises providing needed facilities and services to low-income, under employed, or the elderly,
- Small commercial or retail businesses.
Loans are typically $5,000 - $20,000 with a ten year term. Examples of businesses that have received a Pathfinders Small Business Loan include: a bagel shop, an insurance business, a vegetable farm, and a jewelry store.
For more information Contact Pathfinders: 641-472-6177 or
info@PathfindersRCD.org
Iowa’s Byways
You may know that Pathfinders manages the Historic Hills Scenic Byway, but did you know that there are 11 other State Byways, and two National Byways traversing our state too?
Iowa’s National Byways:
- Great River Road National Scenic Byway
- Loess Hill National Scenic Byway
Iowa’s State Byways:
- Covered Bridges Scenic Byway
- Delaware Crossing Scenic Byway
- Driftless Area Scenic Byway
- Glacial Trail Scenic Byway
- Grant Wood Scenic Byway
- Historic Hills Scenic Byway
- Iowa Valley Scenic Byway
- Jefferson Highway Heritage Byway
- Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway
- River Bluffs Scenic Byway
- Western Skies Scenic Byway
- White Pole Road Scenic Byway
Each Byway offers a distinct flavor of Iowa Culture. There are many recreational, historic, cultural and scenic attractions awaiting discovery on these less-traveled routes! Start planning your next Iowa adventure and visit
www.iowabyways.org to access some great tools!
Jan 28 & Feb 25- Estate Planning Sessions with Mahaska/Marion Women Land & Legacy
Women who own farmland and/or farm in Mahaska and Marion Counties are invited to join their Women, Land & Legacy (WLL) team for a 2-Part Learning Session about Planning for the Future – Succession & Estate Planning.