Maquoketa bank commits $250,000

Maquoketa, IA -- An initiative to make the Grant Wood Mississippi River Region (GWMRR) a cultural and natural destination received a $250,000 boost this week.

Maquoketa State Bank announced its five-year plan to invest $250,000 in the Parks to People pilot project, a joint initiative of the State of Iowa and Iowa Parks Foundation. The project focuses on Jackson, Jones and Dubuque counties.

"This Parks to People project fits extremely well with the objectives and goals identified in the Maquoketa Vision 2020 planning process which began several years ago," said Al Tubbs, chairman and chief executive officer of Ohward Bancshares, parent company of Maquoketa State Bank (MSB). "Maquoketa State Bank is excited to see this kind of collaboration on a regional level, and feel supporting this type of public private partnership yields greater results. This is a great way to better the quality of life for our community and region as a whole."

During the past year, Parks to People officials have developed a two-year plan to enhance, promote and sustain the regions assets. The plan approved December 2015 by the Iowa Parks Foundation, outlines up to $17 million in enhancements for the region's parks, recreation and natural spaces.

"Maquoketa State Bank's generous gift is a big step for our region as we go forward to implement our two-year plan. This gift is an investment in Maquoketa and our region," said Daryl Parker, Jackson County Conservation Director and president of the GWMRR Board. (full article...)

Bellevue Herald-Leader, January 21, 2016.