The Iowa Rural Development Council (IRDC) announced the selection of ten local leadership initiatives, including one in Charles City, to receive funding for training that focus on skills and professional development.
The SPARK Leadership Grant Program is targeted toward rural communities who want to host soft skills-based leadership training sessions. Funded by Alliant Energy, the program aims to strengthen leadership capacity and collaboration across rural Iowa.
Dennis Jordan, Alliant Energy Director of Customer, Community, and Economic Development, says, “Alliant is proud to partner with the Iowa Rural Development Council to support leadership training around our state as we continue to live out our purpose of serving our customers and building stronger communities.”
Communities selected for SPARK grants of up to $2,500 include:
- Buchanan County
- Charles City
- Maquoketa
- Oelwein
Charles City Community Development Director Mark Wicks says, “ We are currently in our third year of the Leadership Matters! program spearheaded by the Charles City Area Chamber of Commerce.”
IRDC Board Chair Mark Reinig adds. “The grant recipients will be holding trainings that, among other things, support that community’s vision for expanding local leadership and their ability to address existing gaps.”
The IRDC is a statewide public-private non-profit organization focused on rural vitality and local capacity to sustain and grow Iowa’s small towns.
