BLACK HILLS $2500 AWARD WILL FUND PEDESTRIAN/BIKE BRIDGE

(Maquoketa, IA) – Black Hills Energy award $2,500 to assist in funding the City of Maquoketa’s Pedestrian and Bike Bridge over the Maquoketa River. The bridge will connect the City of Maquoketa’s trail system to a future trail reaching the Hurstville Interpretive Center. The estimated project cost for the bridge has now been reached thanks to this grant award in conjunction with other grant awards from Wellmark, Grant Wood Mississippi River Region (GWMRR), Community Foundation of Jackson County, Iowa Great Places, Iowa Resource Enhance and Protection (REAP), and commitments from the City of Maquoketa, Maquoketa Municipal Electric Utility (MMEU), and Maquoketa State Bank.

This bridge is a part of the Grant Wood Mississippi River Region, the State of Iowa’s Parks to People pilot region, two-year plan. This project works toward the Grant Wood Mississippi River Region’s mission to connect, enhance, promote and sustain the Jackson, Jones and Dubuque County’s quality of life.

The Parks to People pilot project is a State initiative to create a regional arts, cultural and recreational destination that utilizes the State of Iowa’s investment of $1.9 million to leverage private investment. Over the last year the Jackson, Jones and Dubuque County stakeholders have worked to develop a 2-year plan to enhance, promote and sustain the regions assets. This plan, approved in December 2015 by the Iowa Parks Foundation, outlines approximately $17 million of enhancements for the region. However, only the projects that can leverage private dollars will move forward.           

Black Hill Energy’s award adds to the broad support this project has from both the private and public sectors. More importantly, this project enhances the great quality of life in Maquoketa, Jackson County, and the greater Jackson, Jones, and Dubuque County region.  

Brian Wagner, Maquoketa City Manager, “We are excited to see the fundraising goal reached through public and private sources. All of these supporting agencies show the great community engagement and dedication to making Maquoketa a great place to live.”

For more information look for the Grant Wood Loop on Facebook (www.facebook.com/GWMRR), or contact the Jackson County Economic Alliance: heiar@thejcea.org, (563) 652-4549.