WINTERSET, Ia. — Gov. Kim Reynolds signed an executive order on Wednesday that sets a rural empowerment effort, with the Iowa Rural Development Council playing a key role.  The Empower Rural Iowa Initiative brings the Governor’s office together with the Rural Development Council to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could benefit small towns and rural areas.

Recommendations will be provided by an executive committee and three task forces: the Investing in Rural Iowa Task Force; the Growing Rural Iowa Task Force; and the Connecting Rural Iowa Task Force.

The governor said the Investing in Rural Iowa Task Force will focus on improving access to quality housing in rural Iowa. The Growing Rural Iowa Task Force will identify ways to encourage leadership development and strategic development in rural communities. The Connecting Rural Iowa Task Force will look into effectively and sustainably financing broadband connectivity.

The task forces will begin meeting this fall. Initial recommendations will be due by the end of the year so they can be considered during the 2019 legislative session.

Iowans interested in being a part of a task force should click here to apply by Aug. 1.

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