East Central Iowa Council of Governments

What East Central Iowa Council of Governments does

East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) is a private, non-profit intergovernmental council established in 1973 under Iowa Code Chapters 28E and 28H, headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The organization provides planning, grant writing and administration, technical assistance, and program management services to local governments and communities across a six-county region in Eastern Iowa covering Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn, and Washington counties — an area of 4,400 square miles serving approximately 500,000 residents, 72 municipalities, and 30 public school districts. ECICOG holds federal designations as the Economic Development District (EDD) through the EDA and serves as staff for the Region 10 Regional Planning Affiliation (RPA), giving it exclusive roles in regional planning and access to federal funding programs.

ECICOG's service portfolio is organized across six program areas: Economic Development, Environmental Services, Community Development, Transportation, Housing, and Business Loans (ECICOG Revolving Loan Fund). Core service capabilities include project funding and management, grant writing and administration (across CDBG, USDA, EDA, HUD, FEMA, Iowa DNR, IEDA, and IDOT programs), planning and technical assistance, and facilitation. Supporting initiatives include the CorridorRides regional transit system with the 380Express commuter bus, Envision East Central Iowa (a regional economic development strategy), the PATCH disaster recovery program, Iowa Waste Exchange, two housing trust funds, and the Homes for Iowa affordable housing placement program. The organization operates with 11-50 employees including AICP-certified planners and specialized directors leading each program area.

Revenue is derived from county per capita assessments from the six member counties, grant administration fees on federal/state/philanthropic grants managed on behalf of local governments, technical service fees for planning and consulting engagements, and solid waste assessments (approximately 5% of funding). The organization managed over $38 million in COVID-19 and 2020 derecho-related grant funding between 2020 and 2026, $21 million in HUD Iowa Watershed Approach funding across three watersheds, and $3.4M+ in derecho repairs through the PATCH program. Leadership transitioned in April 2026 when Ellen Habel succeeded Karen Kurt as Executive Director.

Name

East Central Iowa Council of Governments

Legal name

East Central Iowa Council of Governments

Website

https://ecicog.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) is a non-profit intergovernmental council founded in 1973 that provides planning, grant administration, technical assistance, and program management services to local governments across six Eastern Iowa counties serving 500,000 residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Planning and Government Administrative Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Early Childhood Development (ECD) & Pre-Primary Education (BPADAKAB)

Keywords

• Regional planning services
• Grant administration services
• Economic development planning
• Public transit services
• Housing rehabilitation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Cedar Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Grant Administration Fees: A significant portion of ECICOG's revenue is derived from fees charged for administering grants on behalf of local governments and organizations. ECICOG writes and manages federal, state, and philanthropic grants and retains a portion as administrative fees.
2. Technical Service Fees: ECICOG generates revenue by providing technical assistance services including planning, project management, facilitation, and specialized consulting to local communities, charging fees for these services.
3. County Per Capita Assessments: A portion of ECICOG's operations are supported by a per capita assessment paid by each of the six member counties (Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn, and Washington).
4. Solid Waste Assessments: A small portion (5%) of ECICOG's funding comes from solid waste assessments supporting regional solid waste planning and management services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ECICOG provides regional planning, grant writing and administration, and technical assistance services to local governments, municipalities, and residents across six counties in Eastern Iowa. Its work spans six program areas: Economic Development, Environmental Services, Community Development, Transportation, Housing, and Business Loans, delivered by credentialed staff (including AICP-certified planners) on a non-profit basis. The organization serves as the designated Economic Development District and Region 10 Regional Planning Affiliation, administering federal surface transportation funds and facilitating access to CDBG, USDA, EDA, HUD, FEMA, Iowa DNR, IEDA, and IDOT grants on behalf of member communities.

Product overview

East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) is a regional non-profit council of governments that provides a comprehensive suite of planning, grant writing, economic development, transportation, housing, environmental services, and community development services to communities across six counties in Eastern Iowa. The organization operates as a platform of interconnected program areas rather than a single unified product. Its core services include Project Funding & Management, Grant Writing & Administration, Planning & Technical Assistance, and Facilitation. These services are organized into six program areas: Economic Development, Environmental Services, Community Development, Transportation, Housing, and Business Loans (ECICOG Revolving Loan Fund). Supporting initiatives include CorridorRides transit services with 380Express commuter bus, Envision East Central Iowa strategic plan, Talk to ECICOG online engagement platform, the Iowa Waste Exchange, and the PATCH disaster recovery program. ECICOG also administers two housing trust funds (Housing Fund for Linn County and East Central Iowa Housing Trust Fund) and offers specialized programs such as Lead Hazard Reduction Grants and the Homes for Iowa affordable housing initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grant Writing & Administration Writing and administering grants from federal, state, and philanthropic sources including CDBG, USDA, EDA, Iowa Economic Development Authority, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and Iowa Department of Transportation programs on behalf of local governments and organizations.
• Planning & Technical Assistance Community development and planning services covering transportation, housing, solid waste, watershed planning, and other areas with expertise shared to help communities improve. Delivered by credentialed staff including AICP-certified planners.
• CorridorRides Transit Service Public transit service administered by ECICOG covering the six-county region, including Rural Dial-A-Ride, 380Express commuter service between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City (now branded as Corridor Loop), and VanPool and carpool programs.
• 380Express Commuter Bus Service Commuter bus service connecting Cedar Rapids, Coralville, and Iowa City, operating Monday-Friday with 30-minute intervals during peak hours and 60-minute intervals during mid-day.
• ECICOG Revolving Loan Fund (Business Loans) Gap funding for new or expanding local businesses through a regional business loan program and local loan programs administered by ECICOG.
• Housing Fund for Linn County Community-based housing trust fund administered by ECICOG to support and promote affordable housing in Linn County.
• East Central Iowa Housing Trust Fund Community-based housing trust fund administered by ECICOG to support and promote affordable housing in the six-county region.
• PATCH (Providing Assistance to Community Homeowners) Program Disaster recovery program formed after the 2020 derecho to help East Central Iowans rebuild damaged housing. Has assisted 261 single-family and mobile home owners with repairs, weatherized 88 manufactured homes, and invested over $3.4 million in derecho repairs in Benton and Linn counties.
• Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program Funding to help low-to-moderate income homeowners identify and address lead-based paint hazards in Benton, Iowa, Jones, Johnson, Linn, and Washington Counties.
• Iowa Waste Exchange Free, confidential, non-regulatory waste consultation service for businesses and organizations including waste consultation, audits, grant application assistance, and online database for waste diversion matching.
• Homes for Iowa Program through which inmates at the Newton Correction Facility are trained in construction trades while constructing affordable homes available for transport around the state. ECICOG assists with Homes for Iowa placement within the region.
• Economic Development Services Grant writing, downtown assessments and revitalization, and process review services to support regional economic growth across the six-county region.
• Environmental Services Solid waste management, waste diversion, watershed planning, hazard mitigation planning, and training and education services. Manages five watershed management authorities and delivers the Iowa Waste Exchange program.
• Community Development Services Comprehensive planning, land use, zoning, downtown revitalization, and community development grants for municipalities across the six-county region.
• Housing Programs Housing rehabilitation grants, affordable housing trust funds, housing inspections, nuisance enforcement, and housing technical assistance across the six-county region.
• Transportation Planning and Region 10 RPA Services Rural dial-a-ride, 380Express commuter service, carpool, VanPool, and trail and road project funding and assistance. Serves as Region 10 Regional Planning Affiliation administering federal surface transportation funds (STBG and TAP).
• Envision East Central Iowa Strategic Plan Comprehensive economic development strategy for Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Washington counties with seven strategic pillars and supporting action teams.
• Talk to ECICOG Online Engagement Platform Online community engagement platform allowing residents to learn about projects, connect with staff, and stay informed through various digital tools.
• Benton County Landfill Compost Bin Program Rebate program offering up to $75 toward purchase of compost bins, tumblers, or supplies for Benton County households to reduce organic waste.
• Nuisance Enforcement Services Assists communities with nuisance enforcement by visually assessing properties for violations, sending non-compliance letters, and following up to confirm compliance.
• Facilitation Services Collaboration facilitation services connecting elected officials, civic partners, businesses, nonprofits and residents in planning and decision-making processes, including the annual City Clerks Workshop and Legislative Forum.
• Project Funding & Management Project management and administrative services for housing trust funds, watershed districts, and other community needs, delivered by non-profit staff acting as community partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Managed $38M+ in COVID-19 and 2020 derecho grant funding across six years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• U.S. Department of Transportation / FHWAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025ECICOG administers federal surface transportation funds including Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) and Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) funded through FHWA. ECICOG also received a Safe Streets for All (SS4A) grant in 2025 to evaluate vehicle and pedestrian crash data and road safety conditions.
• Housing Fund for Linn County (HFfLC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020The Housing Fund for Linn County (HFfLC) provides financial oversight for the PATCH (Providing Assistance to Community Homeowners) program, which was formed in late 2020 to coordinate derecho recovery efforts across East Central Iowa. HFfLC serves as the financial vehicle through which PATCH funders contributed, with Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation ($896K), United Way of East Central Iowa ($546K), City of Cedar Rapids ($1M), and Linn County ($1M) providing contributions.
• Matthew 25coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Matthew 25 took the lead on construction management for PATCH homeowners who needed assistance in working with contractors. Matthew 25 also partnered with ECICOG to develop a composting education video (Compost Basics Video) as part of the Benton County Compost Bin Program.
• Neighborhood Finance AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Neighborhood Finance Authority volunteered to be the loan administrator for the forgivable loans provided through the PATCH program to homeowners who needed financial assistance in completing derecho repairs.
• Waypoint ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Waypoint Services staffs a phone line for handling PATCH information and applications, in addition to its core mission of helping East Central Iowans in dire crisis to find resources and safety.
• Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020ECICOG serves as the Region 10 Regional Planning Affiliation (RPA) and works with IDOT to administer federal surface transportation funds (STBG and TAP) available to member governments. IDOT also supports transit funding applications and programs administered by ECICOG.
• Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020IEDA provides CDBG grants for downtown revitalization, comprehensive neighborhood revitalization, and other community development programs that ECICOG writes and administers on behalf of local communities. ECICOG is the designated Economic Development District (EDD) through the EDA.
• Martin Gardner ArchitectureminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2020Martin Gardner Architecture worked with property owners (including Tucker's Tavern in Anamosa) and ECICOG on the Anamosa Downtown Revitalization project, providing architectural design services for storefront renovations.
• Jones County Economic DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Jones County Economic Development organization partnered with ECICOG and the City of Anamosa on the $1 million downtown revitalization project, collaborating on grant applications and project coordination.
• Newton Correction Facility - Homes for IowaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020The Homes for Iowa program, developed by Iowa's Council of Governments, trains inmates at the Newton Correction Facility in construction trades while building affordable homes. ECICOG assists with Homes for Iowa placement within the region.
• Keep Iowa Beautiful - Hometown PridecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019ECICOG partners with Keep Iowa Beautiful's Hometown Pride initiative, a five-year comprehensive community coaching program. ECICOG provides a community coach (Jessica Johnson) to guide participating towns in creating a vision for the future. The five communities engaged are Hills, Springville, Walker, Center Point, and Shellsburg.
• Iowa Finance AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018ECICOG administers HOME Program down payment assistance and other housing programs funded through Iowa Finance Authority, including the IFA Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program for first-time homebuyers in Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, and Washington counties.
• Iowa Department of Natural Resources - Iowa Waste ExchangecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018ECICOG Environmental Services manages the Iowa Waste Exchange (IWE) program, a free, confidential, non-regulatory waste consultation service for businesses and organizations. The program is offered statewide by the Iowa DNR, with ECICOG providing local delivery of services in the ECICOG region.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mid-America Regional Council (MARC): Regional council of governments serving the Kansas City bi-state metro with planning, transportation, housing, environmental, and grant administration services. Closely comparable in mission, multi-program structure, and member-government funding model to ECICOG, though at a larger metropolitan scale.
• East-West Gateway Council of Governments: St. Louis region COG designated as the metropolitan planning organization for transportation and administering HUD, EDA, and CDBG programs across member counties and municipalities. Directly comparable multi-program COG structure with similar federal pass-through funding model.
• Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG): Regional planning body for the seven-county southeast Michigan region, delivering transportation, environmental, and community development services to member governments. Comparable regional planning and grant administration mandate, serving a similarly sized multi-county region.
• Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC): Philadelphia-region MPO and regional planning commission conducting transportation, land use, housing, and economic development planning across nine counties. Comparable comprehensive multi-disciplinary planning portfolio and member-government service model.
• Bi-State Regional Commission: Regional planning commission serving counties in eastern Iowa and northwestern Illinois, providing grant writing, transportation planning, housing, and economic development assistance. Direct Iowa-neighbor peer with overlapping service menu and member-government model.
• Southern Iowa Council of Governments: Regional planning and development organization serving a multi-county area in southern Iowa, providing grant administration, transportation planning, housing, and community development services. Direct Iowa peer with nearly identical mission and service mix to ECICOG.
• Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Commission: Regional planning agency serving counties in northwest Iowa, administering EDA, CDBG, transportation, housing, and environmental programs for member governments. Direct Iowa-region peer with comparable services and funding structure.
• Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission: Northeast Iowa regional planning commission delivering planning, grant writing, housing, transit, and economic development services to member counties. Comparable rural Iowa regional planning mission with overlapping program areas.

Regional players

• Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization: MPO serving the greater Des Moines region with transportation planning, but does not offer the same breadth of housing, environmental, or community development services as ECICOG. Comparable in transportation/RPA function but narrower scope.

Others

• National Association of Development Organizations (NADO): National membership association representing regional development organizations including COGs. ECICOG has received NADO Impact Awards; the organization serves as industry convener, training provider, and federal advocacy voice for the COG sector.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ecicog
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/east-central-iowa-council-of-governments

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about East Central Iowa Council of Governments