Rockford, IA

With the successful application for an AmeriCorps worker grant for the 2008-2009 school year, and the Rudd Rockford Marble Rock Community School District agreeing to house the after school program, the Visions group is looking forward to working with school administration in the hiring and supervision of the AmeriCorps worker. We’re also anticipating some assistance in directing the AmeriCorps coordinator on the needs of the program. The elementary principal/curriculum coordinator has been involved in the Horizons program herself and has spent time working with the Visions group already. The school superintendent in on board with supporting the after-school program as well. The school also has a new secondary principal, who is anticipated to bring new ideas and a fresh, open-minded perspective.

Dear Readers,

In reviewing the parameters set forth by the Horizons program, I’m quite impressed by the group who has stepped forward to participate in the Rockford Visions program. The diversity of the group is staggering, ranging from the very young (teenagers) to those well into their retirement years, and from those with upper-middle incomes to those with lower incomes. Having a diverse group has forced those involved to really consider all opinions and ideas, and has made it absolutely necessary to be open-minded, which is a really great quality to build upon. A diverse leadership group also results in a diverse network of knowledge and supporters throughout the community.

Many ideas have been born out of this excellent representation of the community’s demographic profile, which I expect will sustain the excitement and energy of Rockford Visions for a very long time.

Sincerely,
A Rockford Visions Blogger

The group of energized Rockford citizens that has stepped forward to work through the Horizons program calls itself Rockford Visions. Made up of several committees that target certain needs related to poverty eradication, they’ve decided there’s a need to form a new committee - one that solely raises funds. It will likely consist of a person or persons from each of the existing committees, and will decide how funds will be raised and how they’ll be spent. One citizen has agreed to bookkeep the funds and has created a voucher system for receipts and disbursements of funds raised and used for Horizons / Rockford Visions projects. The Rockford Visions funds will be filtered through the City of Rockford as a line item in their budget, enabling us to obtain 501(c)(3) status at no cost.

Our affordable housing committee has been researching available programs. We met with the Executive Director of the Charles City Area Development Corporation (CCADC) to discuss some possibilities, which include loan guarantee, tax abatement, and down payment assistance programs. The CCADC, which serves all of Floyd County, is interested in doing a project in Rockford.

One committee member will attend the Rockford City Council meeting in May to propose city policy wording for a downpayment assistance program. The wording was plagiarized from a nearby prosperous town that has a similar program

A brochure is in the drafting stage that outlines steps to take and programs available to assist potential homeowners. The brochure is anticipated to include buying and selling tips, financing steps, choices, and cautions, and general guidance for helping people make a home purchase.

The affordable housing committee hopes to see more home-buyers building equity, possibly folks who formerly only rented property.

A committee was formed in late November.  The chairman is a past Mayor of Rockford who is passionate about the project.  He, his wife and another community member are recruiting members for their committee.  Their goal is to develop housing opportunities for 1st time buyers.  Charles City Area Economic Development Director was contacted about the availablity of funds for this purpose.  These funds are a pilot project available only to residents of Floyd County and as Rockford is a small community outside the County Seat, they feel overlooked and the funds are not readily known or accessible to Rockford residents.  Their goal is to bring awareness and availability of these funds to Rockford residents.