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West Branch Community Development Group, a Main Street Iowa organization, is currently seeking a part‐time Executive Director. This person will be responsible for planning, execution, and documentation of the Main Street policies and guidelines for historic preservation and economic development. Areas of responsibility will include but are not limited to; advocacy, committee oversight, fundraising, governance, meeting participation, program evaluation, public relations, and risk management. This position entails a flexible 25-hour work week with some evening and weekend events.

For details, visit: https://www.indeedjobs.com/west-branch-community-development-group/jobs/187e05cd5becdf66aab8

We are so excited and proud of our community partners at the National Park Service for bringing this Exhibit to West Branch. Come Ye, Come All, to West Branch, Iowa to experience this amazing exhibit. Join us and beckon a time when our differences served as motivation to make us all greater. Learn or reacquaint yourself with these heroes who achieved what many said could not be done.

Downtown East Redevelopment Project – The City of West Branch is very interested in hearing from qualified developers (individuals or firms) interested in presenting a viable design and development concept for a mixed-use development on 3.450 acres of real estate located in Downtown West Branch, Iowa, owned by the City of West Branch.  The site has recently been used as concrete ready-mix plant.  Using existing grain elevators… the city is looking for a creative approach to development that accommodates entertainment venues such as a city market, hotel, housing, brewery and/or other significant mixed-used developments on the site (all ideas will get considerable review and investigation).  The following documents are intended to provided interested developers and investors with background information that could assist their research and value propitiation processes.

• Reuse Report (large file)
• Scheme 1 Video
• Scheme 1 Fly-through Video
• Scheme 2 Video
• Scheme 2 Fly-through Video

Trick or Treat – Oct. 31st from 5:00-8:00 p.m.
The downtown businesses will be participating in the ‘Trick or Treat Downtown’ event again this year from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Pick up your Trick or Treat bags at Heritage Square and trick or treat at the participating businesses. Stop back at Heritage Square for free hot dogs, chips, drinks and drawings for prizes!

Sponsored by West Branch Parks & Rec, West Branch Public Library and the West Branch Community Development Group (CDG).

The West Branch Police Department would like to remind everyone that the first part of having a Happy Halloween is everyone being safe when its done!

Tips for Halloween Safety:

• Try non-toxic face paint – masks can obstruct your vision
• Costumes should be light colored and not long to avoid tripping
• use reflective tape on costumes, flashlights, or glow sticks
• Don’t carry swords or sharp sticks
• Don’t snack while trick or treating – inspect your candy first
• Consider decorating pumpkins with markers
• If you carve a pumpkin, use battery powered candles
• Walk (don’t run), stay on sidewalks, use crosswalks, and walk with a group
• Don’t go into strangers’ homes and don’t knock on doors of houses that are dark
• If kids go trick or treating alone, know the route and have a return home time
• Kids 12 or under should be with a parent
• DRIVERS: DRIVE WITH CAUTION AND BE ALERT!

http://Kwqc.com/content/misc/Hoovers-Hometown-Days-489283171.html (more…)

On April 12th, Maggie Burger of Speer Financial provided a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) 101 Workshop for city council, representatives, and members of the community. Anyone interested in the basics of TIF and it’s possible use within our community are invited to view the recording of the workshop below:

Residents in Johnson County and West Branch have an opportunity to learn more about solar energy and potentially invest in affordable solar through a new program called Solarize Johnson County. The program builds on the success of Solarize Cedar Rapids and Linn County, where more than 500 individuals attended free solar education sessions and nearly 100 property owners added solar to their properties in 2017.

Now, Johnson County, Johnson County Public Health, Johnson County Conservation, and six municipalities are teaming up with a Wisconsin-based nonprofit organization to launch a similar program. Cities helping host free educational events, called Solar Power Hours, include Coralville, Iowa City, North Liberty, Solon, Shueyville and West Branch. Regardless of where a person lives in the county, or West Branch, and regardless of whether a city is a formal partner, residents throughout the county are welcome to attend any Solar Power Hour that is most convenient for them. The free educational sessions will help prospective participants learn how solar works and get their questions answered.

For detailed information, visit SolarizeJohnsonCounty.com.

Solar Power Hours for West Branch:

May 3, 2018 – Thursday – 6:30pm
West Branch Public Library
300 N Downey St., West Branch

June 27, 2018 – Wednesday – 6:30pm
West Branch Public Library
300 N Downey St., West Branch

Main Street West Branch has submitted an an application for a $25,000 grant to help spruce up the Historic Downtown Main Street District and make it more user friendly for residents and visitors alike. The more votes we get the better the chance to win the grand prize. You can vote once a day through April 22 at the link provided.

https://www.mainstreetcontest.com/profile/94

The City of West Branch has officially adopted the following budget for the fiscal year running July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019.

FY 2018-2019 Adopted Annual Budget

At the March 5, 2018 City Council meeting, a public hearing was held on this budget and Resolution 1691 was approved for its official passage.