Monthly newsletter from
Region IV Development Association, Inc.
Office Closures:
December 25th
January 1st
As we say farewell to another eventful year, we at Region IV Development extend our heartfelt gratitude to each one of you who contributed to the growth and prosperity of our region. Together, we've navigated challenges, embraced opportunities, and fostered innovation in Southern Idaho's economic landscape.
In 2023, our communities exhibited resilience, adaptability, and unwavering determination. From our hardworking businesses and industrious workforce to our visionary leaders and supportive residents, your commitment to progress has been the cornerstone of our success.
Wishing you all a prosperous and joyful 2024!
May the coming year be filled with:
Opportunities for growth and advancement
Stronger partnerships and collaborations
Innovation that drives sustainable development
Community spirit and collective success
Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. Together, let's make 2024 a year of remarkable accomplishments and shared prosperity!
Community and Business Collaboration for Prosperity
Region IV Development Association, Inc. (RIVDA) was honored at the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) 2023 Annual Training Conference as a recipient of the Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award. NADO is a Washington, DC-based membership association of regional development organizations that promotes programs and policies that strengthen local governments, communities, and economies through regional cooperation, program delivery, and comprehensive strategies. The Impact Awards program recognizes regional development organizations and their partners for improving the economic and community competitiveness of our nation’s regions and local communities.
The award was in recognition of RIVDA’s partnership with Jerome County officials, Jerome 20/20, Inc, and True West Beef LLC to secure grant funding through Idaho Department of Commerce’s Rural Community Investment Fund. The project funded electrical infrastructure upgrades in rural Jerome County. This project utilized collaboration between local government, community organizations, and private business to achieve regional prosperity.
The 270,000-square-foot True West Beef meat processing facility, which employs more than 275 workers, was announced in August 2020 and opened less than three years later. The state-of-art plant has a focus on sustainability with 95% of the plant's wastewater being treated and used for irrigation. In addition to providing quality jobs, the company has integrated itself into the regional community by providing support to numerous community events, organizations, and projects. This project is an example of the enormous impact small organizations can make when they collaborate towards a shared goal.
As the region’s designated Economic Development District under the Economic Development Administration, RIVDA is responsible for creating a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for South-central Idaho, which is a strategy-driven plan to foster regional economic development and guide the decision-making process. RIVDA's CEDS focuses on three goals: (1) economic empowerment, (2) community prosperity, and (3) workforce attraction, development, and retention. This project supports achievement of all three goals. It has provided a more cost-efficient processing option for regional ranchers, created over 275 new jobs, and facilitated electrical infrastructure upgrades which has made the area more attractive to additional businesses. This project is just one example of the numerous projects economic development organizations, like RIVDA, embark upon in order to provide the foundational infrastructure needed to attract new businesses and to allow existing industry to expand.
Region IV Development Loan Programs
Looking for financing for your business? Give us a call to see if we can assist your business with one of our loan programs.
December SBA 504 Interest Rates
25 Year - 6.59%
20 Year - 6.71%
10 Year - 7.33%
For more than four decades, Region IV Development Association has been providing hands-on technical assistance to communities throughout southern Idaho – from helping with basic infrastructure development (sewer, water, fire protection, community centers and senior centers) to assisting with community building (training, visioning, and comprehensive planning).
Our team can assist with town meetings, preparing funding applications, and project administration.
Are you a community leader with a wish list full of infrastructure improvements to your city or county?
Call us today!
Our Team:
Adeanna Jenkins - Community Development Planner
(208) 732-5727 x3008, adeannajenkins@csi.edu
Brenda Hastreiter - Project Specialist
(208) 732-5727 x 3007, bhastreiter@csi.edu
Dr. Michele McFarlane - Community Development Planner
(208) 732-5727 x3005, mamcfarlane@csi.edu
Brandy Lowe - Admin and Project Assistance
(208) 732-5727 x3001, belowe@csi.edu
ICDBG CARES Parks for Resiliency
The Idaho Department of Commerce received special funding this year to fund the Idaho Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Public Parks for Resiliency program. Idaho Department of Commerce’s CARES Public Parks for Resiliency projects are intended to improve, expand and/or create outdoor recreation opportunities that will help the awarded communities increase their long-term resiliency and ability to mitigate future coronavirus outbreaks. The maximum grant amount for Parks for Resiliency grant award was $250,000. Applicants were required to meet the ICDBG low-to-moderate income area-wide benefit national objective.
Funding priority was given to existing neighborhood parks that focused on improving park facilities which consist of playground equipment, ADA accessibility to and within the park, courts (i.e. basketball, tennis, pickleball, etc.) pathways, and ADA accessible restrooms.
Although no match was required with these grant awards, the program was competitive, with the grant awards going to the community projects evidencing the greatest need and a detailed plan to proceed quickly with the project. The projects must provide benefit for low-and moderate-income individuals and resolve health and safety issues.
Awarded Projects
City of Burley: East Park and Storybook Park. At East Park, restrooms will be added to increase access and ease of use. At Storybook Park, aging playground equipment will be repaired and/or replaced to ensure child safety. City Commitment: $164,678 Project Cost: $414,678
City of Heyburn: Ball Park and Dayley Park. A top priority of improving the parks involves the construction of two ADA restroom facilities. Ball Park is primarily designed for T-ball, baseball, softball, and roller hockey. This park contains four different baseball diamonds and has a paved, enclosed area that is used exclusively for outdoor roller hockey. Dayley Park is a pocket park that does not have any amenities nor is used to deliver any recreational programs, although the park is used for practices and other recreational activities. City Commitment: $204,906 Project Cost: $454,906
City of Hollister: City Park. This project will improve the city park and includes replacing playground equipment with new structures that included ADA elements, expansion of playground footprints, installing new ground surfacing, adding a new basketball pad, adding sidewalks and ADA parking for ADA accessibility, and installation of four permanent cornhole boards. City Commitment: $15,000 Project Cost: 265,000
City of Murtaugh: Wally’s Park: This project will expand the current playground area and install new playground equipment. The project scope also includes installing a smaller playground structure in a different area of the park, which would expand the use of the 4.19-acre park. Also included in the project scope are ground covering, ADA sidewalk, and curbing. City Commitment: $53,144 Project Cost: $303,144
City of Weiser: Memorial Park. The playground located in the 14-acre Memorial Park is a popular attraction for the children of the community. The large play structure in the center of the park has endured wear over the years and some modifications have had to be made. Replacement parts are no longer available, and a new play structure is needed. With this grant award, the city will purchase and install new playground equipment and will incorporate elements that are ADA-accessible. The project will replace the ground surfacing to meet current playground safety standards. City Commitment $45,754 Project Cost $295,754
From Our Partners
Jeff McCurdy
President and CEO
President and CEO
