At a recent meeting of the Morman Trail Chamber several members of the Horizons work groups visited to share their progress. Jill Fields updated the group on the Teen Advisory Board and their plans for the summer. Sarah Lovett visited with the Chamber about the work being done by a local group to creat a market site for local Entrepreneurs and Crafts people.
When approved the Wayne County Housing Trust Fund will be able to apply for funds from the Iowa Finance Authority. A match of $25,000 will be needed to apply. The local Horizons Board has pledged $1000 toward the fund raising efforts. The Iowa Legislature designates a sum of money to provide grants to approved organizations. The grant averages between $75,000 and $100,000 each year. 30% of the funds received by a local housing trust must be used to address the needs of low income residents.
The city of Humeston has agreed to serve as the financial agent for receiving and holding the funds from the Horizons Project. The city has agreed that a member of the Horizon Board will be signing the checks along with the counsel for distribution of the funds to various projects in the community.
Group members have been investgating additional sources of funds for the improvement of the bike/walking path that connects with the city of Chariton in Lucas County. Plans are being made to contact the “Place” program which is located at Iowa State University. The students provide design ideas for community projects. Iowa’s Living Roadways also has resources that are being studied for possible application.
Five community members attended the Horizons meeting held on January 12, 2008 at Carpenter’s Hall in Chariton. Members completed a simulation by David Beurle, learned of resources they could use in their poverty reduction efforts, shared progress and news with other Horizons communities and completed an exercise to see how their assets could be used to address the community needs.
Three members of the Horizons project and the city Mayor attended a county meeting held on October 25, 2007 to learn more about the establishment of a Housing Trust Fund. The fund would help the community address the need for home repair of aging residents and begin the steps to establish affordable housing.