SIMPCO Executive Director Visits State Capitols to Advocate for Siouxland
SIMPCO Executive Director Michelle Bostinelos has had a busy and productive month, representing Siouxland at several state capitols to advocate for regional priorities.
Michelle started the month by joining the Dakota Valley Business Council for the 27th Annual Pierre Legislative Days. While in Pierre, she met with South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden, economic development leaders, and legislators to discuss economic growth, housing needs, infrastructure investment, and long-term community vitality and growth across the region.
She then traveled to Des Moines with the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, spending a full day at the Iowa State Capitol meeting with Governor Kim Reynolds and key state officials. Conversations centered on strengthening economic opportunity, advancing major regional projects, and supporting the continued success of Siouxland communities.
Next, Michelle accompanied the South Sioux City Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism to meet with Nebraska lawmakers. During this visit, the group also connected with U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts during his time back in the state. These discussions emphasized the value of cross-state cooperation and advocacy to advance shared priorities.
Michelle concluded the month with a return trip to the Iowa Capitol for the Iowa Council of Governments’ 2026 Legislative Breakfast.
Across all four visits, Michelle’s efforts helped strengthen relationships with state and federal leaders—ensuring Siouxland’s voice is heard, its priorities are recognized, and momentum continues for key initiatives that support the region’s growth and resilience.
Group photo of the Dakota Valley Business Council at the South Dakota State Capitol
Photo Credit: Dakota Valley Business Council
Group photo of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce group at Iowa State Capitol
Photo Credit: Siouxland Chamber of Commerce
Michelle Bostinelos, Iowa State Senator, Nebraska Senator Glen Meyer, Barbara Sloniker
Photo Credit: Siouxland Chamber of Commerce
Group photo of the South Sioux City Chamber of Commerce & Tourism at the Nebraska State Capitol
Photo Credit: South Sioux Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
Michelle Bostinelos with Iowa Representative Jacob Bossman
Michelle Bostinelos with Iowa Representative Bob Henderson
Michelle Bostinelos with Iowa Senator Catelin Drey
Group photo of the Iowa Association of Council of Governments at the Iowa State Capitol
IOWA'S WEST COAST INITIATIVE (IWCI) BOARD OF DIRECTORS
📍 SIOUXLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
MARCH 11 | 7:30 AM
SIMPCO EXECUTIVE/FINANCE COMMITTEE
📍 SIMPCO
MARCH 12 | NOON
SIMPCO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
📍 SIMPCO
MARCH 18 | 1:30 PM
SIOUXLAND REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ASSOCIATION (SRTPA) TAC
📍 SIMPCO
MARCH 18 | 4:00 PM
INNOVATE SIOUXLAND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
📍 SIMPCO
MARCH 19 | 1:00 PM
DAKOTA COUNTY NEBRASKA HOUSING TRUST FUND
📍 NORTHEAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE
MARCH 25 | 9:00 AM
WATER RESOURCE COMMITTEE
📍 SIMPCO
MARCH 26 | 9:30 AM
SIOUXLAND REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ASSOCIATION (SRTPA) POLICY BOARD
📍 SIMPCO
MARCH 26 | 10:00 AM
SIOUXLAND REGIONAL TRANSIT SYSTEM (SRTS) BOARD OF DIRECTORS
📍 SIMPCO
MARCH 26 | 11:15 AM
WESTERN IOWA COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND (WICIRHTF)
📍 SIMPCO
New Federal Web Accessibility Rules - Deadline 2027
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has finalized new rules under ADA Title II, requiring all state and local government digital content to be accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Who Must Comply: Every municipality, county, and special district.
The Deadline: Entities serving populations under 50,000 must be in full compliance by April 26, 2027. (Larger jurisdictions must comply by April 24, 2026).
The Standard: All websites, mobile apps, and digital documents must meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards.
Key Requirements:
PDFs & Documents: All online forms and "conventional electronic documents" must be screen-reader accessible and meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards.
Alt Text: Meaningful text descriptions are required for all informational images.
Multimedia: Videos must include captions and/or transcripts.
Third-Party Tools: You remain responsible for the accessibility of vendors used for bill pay, portals, or maps.
Stay Compliant: Upcoming Open Meetings & Open Records Trainings
Under new state requirements, all newly elected and appointed officials must complete training on Iowa’s Open Meetings and Open Records laws (Chapters 21 and 22) within 90 days of taking office. To help our members meet these requirements, several organizations are hosting virtual training sessions this February and March.
Whether you are a new official or need a refresher on "Sunshine Laws," these webinars cover essential topics including meeting notices, agenda requirements, closed sessions, and public record retention.
Distribution of updated printed trail maps throughout the MPO
Monona County Port Infrastructure Development Program Grant Administration
Procurement for South Sioux City’s Dakota Avenue Study
Planning Sioux City Metro Bike to Work Day
Drafting the Transportation Planning Work Programs for the SRTP and MPO
Holstein Utility Mapping
Community Development:
Akron CDBG Administration
Hinton Zoning Code Update
Soldier Municipal Code Update
Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan
Onawa Comprehensive Plan
Ute Urban Revitalization Plan
Marcus Urban Revitalization Plan
Emerson CDBG Administration
Emerson Blight and Substandard Study
Larrabee Municipal Code Update
Hubbard Comprehensive Plan
Woodbury County Conservation Needs Assessment
Larrabee CDBG Administration
Castana CDBG Administration
Woodbury County CDBG Administration
Sioux City U.S. EDA Application
Help Us Spread the Word: Dakota County Home Repair Interest List
SIMPCO and Dakota County are exploring a potential Home Repair Program to assist low‑ to moderate‑income homeowners with essential repairs, including roofing, siding, windows, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and accessibility improvements.
Funding is not yet available, but we are gathering a list of homeowners who may be interested once the program opens. Your response helps us assess community needs as we prepare to apply for grant funding.
This is not an application - only an interest list.
Please share this information with residents and community partners.
IDNR Urban Forestry Development Grant (IA) – Provides reimbursable grants to complete projects such as creating community forestry plans, building urban food forests, hosting educational programming, and workforce development through forestry internships. The grant is a two-year program allowing for projects to take place in the spring and fall of 2026 and 2027. Grant funding is competitive, non-match, and awarded in amounts between $10,000 to $50,000 per applicant. For more information, click here. Applications are due by March 17, 2026.
Iowa CDBG Water and Sewer Fund – Funds awarded through this annual competitive program assist cities and counties with projects such as sanitary sewer system improvements, water system improvements, water and wastewater treatment facility projects, storm sewer projects related to sanitary sewer system improvements, and rural water connections. For more information, click here. Applications are due by May 1, 2026, and September 1, 2026.
Community Catalyst Remediation Grant (IA) - Assists communities with the redevelopment or rehabilitation of buildings to stimulate economic growth or reinvestment in the community. For more information, click here. Pre-applications are due by January 29, 2026. Applications are due by April 16, 2026.
South Dakota Industrial Park Road Grants – This program assists cities and towns with new industry coming to their communities and needs new or expanded access to the industry. For more information, click here. Applications are due by April 15, 2026, July 15, 2026, and October 15, 2026.
Rural Innovation Grant Program (IA) – Seeks to support creative ideas that address current issues and challenges faced by rural communities associated with the themes of community investment, growth, and connection. For more information, click here. Applications open summer of 2026.
Sparklight Charitable Giving Fund – Charitable Giving Fund grants will be made available across communities served by Sparklight and the other Cable One family of brands (Fidelity Communications, Hargray, and ValuNet Fiber) and will concentrate support in the following priority areas: Education & Digital Literacy; Hunger Relief & Food Insecurity; Community Development. For more information, click here. Applications are due by April 30, 2026.
IDOT Wants Your Input! Iowa 141 Bridge Project
The Iowa DOT is seeking public feedback on a proposed bridge replacement east of Hornick on Iowa 141. The project would replace the current bridge with a longer, wider structure in 2031, with a detour in place during construction.
Share your feedback by March 9.
Questions or need free translation services? Sarah Tracy, P.E. – Iowa DOT District 3 855‑925‑2801 ext. 9021 | i78571@publicinput.com
🔗 Learn more about the project and share your feedback here:
This program helps local jurisdictions cover the required “local match” for FEMA disaster‑recovery projects—costs that can be challenging for communities already strained by emergency response and reduced revenues. The Non‑Federal Match Program uses CDBG‑DR funds to support eligible FEMA HMGP and Public Assistance projects by reducing the financial burden on local governments.
CDBG‑DR funds may also supplement HMGP Buyout projects when communities can show unmet recovery needs, limited alternative funding, and a strong connection to long‑term resilience goals.
Applications are due June 1, 2026.
For more information about the Iowa CDBG Buyout & Demolition Program, click here.
Local Leaders Day
March 4 | Des Moines
Join the Iowa League of Cities as they build bridges and align priorities at the local and state levels to best serve Iowa communities. This is a great chance to connect with lawmakers, learn more about the economic impact of Iowa's cities, and advocate at the Capitol.
Join Iowa's West Coast Initiative for their First Friday Coffee in March! Omar, of River City Silent Disco, will present on a new way to experience music (and socialize!).
Presenters at First Friday Coffees come to present their ideas and challenges and seek feedback from attendees. Come support local entrepreneurs as they share their vision.
Introduction to Planning and Zoning for Local Officials
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has announced several upcoming workshops to help local officials make informed decisions about land use and community development. These sessions are ideal for both new and experienced elected or appointed officials and provide a solid understanding of planning, zoning, and development responsibilities.
Below are the upcoming workshop dates and locations.
This informative conference provides over 60 educational sessions covering all facets of human resources. This includes several topics of interest to municipal officials, such as employment law updates, leadership development, AI in the workplace and much more.
IStorm 2026
April 22-23 | Cedar Falls
Join stormwater professionals from across Iowa on April 22-23 for two days of technical sessions, networking, and a walking tour of green infrastructure on the UNI campus. This year’s theme: Weathering the Storm: Adapting Together for Resilient Communities.
Newly Launched Northeast Nebraska Development Network Website!
Northeast Nebraska Development Networkhas officially launched its new website—an exciting regional resource designed to support housing and economic development. The site offers valuable tools and information for developers, lenders, contractors, interns, and anyone committed to strengthening communities of all sizes across the region.
This platform is a major step toward turning awareness into action and accelerating housing growth.
Homes for Iowa - New Milestones & Expanding Impact
Homes for Iowa recently marked a major milestone with the delivery of its 150th home in Mason City, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of North Central Iowa.
The program continues to expand affordable housing statewide while providing trades training at the Newton Correctional Facility. Since launching, Homes for Iowa has:
Trained 500+ crew members and delivered homes to 50+ counties.
Averaged 30 homes per year since 2020.
Maintained a 6.1% lifetime recidivism rate.
SIMPCO’s partnership helps bring these affordable, under‑$110,000 homes into Siouxland while supporting workforce reintegration efforts.
Siouxland Interstate Metropolitan Planning Council (SIMPCO) & Siouxland Regional Transit System (SRTS), 6401 Gordon Drive, Sioux City, Iowa 51106, 712-279-6286
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