New Public-Private Group Aims to Help Businesses in Flood Zone

By Dave Franzman, Reporter

Aerial of flooded railroad tracks looking southeast towards Interstate 380 and downtown Cedar Rapids from the air on Thursday, June 12, 2008. (Perry Walton/P&N Air)

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By Dave Franzman

Story Created: Aug 27, 2008 at 4:18 PM CST

Story Updated: Aug 27, 2008 at 5:39 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS- It might be a tough "sell" to promote rebuilding or bringing new businesses to some flood-damaged areas of Cedar Rapids right now. But a new public-private group is about to try.

At the moment, the Economic Planning and Reinvesting Corporation (EPRC) doesn't even officially exist on paper yet. But it will soon. And organizers say they plan to move quickly to action because the longer business buildings appear distressed and abandoned the harder it will be for everyone to recover.

The EPRC is comprised of representatives of both Linn County government and the city of Cedar Rapids. In addition, members will come from community foundations and area businesses.

The new public-private group hopes to function as a "one-stop shop" to let businesses know what help is available and where to get it. Part of the function will also involve acting like an economic development organization.

Group leaders hope to find flood repair grant money and other incentives to encourage rebuilding or offer incentives to new businesses to replace those who leave. And for sure, they'll hold up success stories to encourage others.

Linda Langston, Linn County Supervisor, said "we need to talk about that--use those demonstrations to other businesses to say you can do this too and here we have this physical geography we can give to you. We also need to be out there to small businesses we cannot let another month go by without providing assistance to small businesses..."

Langston says the local governments and other groups forming this reinvestment corporation want to move quickly by hiring a staff and finding some space to operate. The idea is to get up, running and helping other businesses sooner rather than later.

Some of the details about the reinvesting group may be vague at the moment because the idea is so new. Linn County Supervisors approved signing incorporation paper only Wednesday morning. The Cedar Rapids City Council is expected to do the same at the council meeting Wednesday evening.

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