(September, 2010) - Fireball Run is Making its Way to Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Fireball Run, a cross-country road rally to raise awareness for the plight of missing children nationwide, will arrive in Cedar Rapids, Friday, October 1st.  Thirty-five teams are participating in this year's event, with Bart Woods of Primus Construction and Pete Lammers of European Motors leading a local Cedar Rapids team representing, Erin Pospisil, a Cedar Rapids teen who has been missing since 2001.

The local team began the Fireball Run "adventurally" on September 23rd from Henderson, NV.  At the end of each day, Team Cedar Rapids provides an update of their day's adventure.  Make sure to be in Greene Square Park on Friday, October 1st and Saturday, October 2nd to meet the players, see the cars and be a part of the exciting event as the race 3,500 miles to uncover missing children!  Cedar Rapids Events

Highlights of Fireball Run from Team Cedar Rapids:

September 30, Topeka, KS - Chesterfield, MO

September 29, Dodge City, KS - Topeka, KS 

September 28, Lubbock, TX - Dodge City, KS

September 27, Gullup,NM - Lubbock, TX

September 26, Williams, AZ - Gallup, NM  

September 25, Henderson, NV - Williams, AZ

September 24, Las Vegas Motor Speedway

September 23, Henderson, NV

For more information of Fireball Run visit the website or follow them on facebook

(June 18, 2010) - Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce Request for Proposals

The Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) is calling for and requesting proposals from highly qualified and experienced professions for grant administration services to implement a Department of Commerce Financial Assistance award EDA Project Number 05-79-04919, a Public Works Program project funded by the U. S. Department of Commerce and administered by the Denver Regional Office of the Economic Development Administration. The Chamber is seeking an administrator to act with authority as the Fiscal Agent for the EDA funded project identified above and render certain project management, reporting and support services in connection therewith.

The Grant Administrator shall provide the following scope of services:

Project Management

  1. Develop a record keeping system consistent with program guidelines, including the establishment of a filing system.
  2. Maintenance of filing system.
  3. Provide general advice and technical assistance to Chamber personnel on implementation of the EDA project and regulatory matters pertaining thereto.
  4. Furnish the Chamber with necessary completed forms and reporting required for implementation of the EDA project.
  5. Assist the Chamber in meeting all special condition requirements that may be stipulated in the contract between the Chamber and U. S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration, Denver Regional Office.
  6. Prepare and submit all required project reporting required by EDA Project Number 05-79-04919, including but not limited to progress reporting, quarterly reporting, and other reporting included in the EDA Project Agreement between the Chamber and the EDA Denver Regional Office.
  7. Establish internal procedures to document expenditures associated with local administration of the project.
  8. Serve as liaison for the Chamber during the implementation and completion of the EDA project with any monitoring visit by staff representatives from EDA or its Denver Regional Office.

Financial Management

  1. Assist the Chamber by improving its ability to manage and report progress and use of funds from federal sources through the Denver Regional Office of the EDA for the project identified above.
  2. Assist the Chamber in compliance with all EDA rules, regulations, specifications, or other directives pertinent to the identified project.
  3. Prepare and submit all reporting for all funded and scheduled drawdowns of project funds on behalf of the Chamber, in order to ensure orderly, timely allocation and disbursement of funds within the period of this agreement.
  4. Review invoices received for payment and file back-up documentation.
  5. Provide general advice and technical assistance to the Chamber and its agents on implementation of the EDA project and regulatory matters pertaining thereto.
  6. Assist the Chamber in interpreting and complying with established procedures for the EDA project and reporting to the Denver Regional Office.
  7. Provide general advice and technical assistance to the Chamber and its agents on  implementation of the EDA project and associated regulatory matters.

The proposal shall be submitted electronically to the Chamber as an attachment by e-mail in Microsoft Word .doc format or in .pdf format to:  Shannon Meyer and be received by 5:00 PM Central on June 30, 2010.

Any submission received after the above time and date will not be considered.  


 

June 9, 2010 - Highway 100 Extension Voted Into Five-Year Plan

Cedar Rapids, IA – The Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the Iowa Transportation Commission for their understanding and thoughtfulness in including the Highway 100 extension in the state’s five-year plan approved on Tuesday, June 8 at their meeting in Fort Madison. 

The approved $2.3 billion plan includes $4.33 million to be spent on the extension project in 2012 and 2013 and will be used towards right of way acquisition and mitigation studies.  The Chamber has been a strong advocate in the extension project for many years working closely with Linn County and the City of Cedar Rapids.  A number of other supporters worked with The Chamber to promote the project to the IDOT Commission including area labor unions.

The project was put on hiatus until the completion of additional environmental studies due to donated land given to the Linn County Conservation Commission. With additional support from funds already allocated to the City of Cedar Rapids and federal funding the goal is to create a shovel-ready project primed for additional funding opportunities.

The Chamber will continue to work diligently on advocating for additional funds to see this project to completion.  The current draft plan indicates the completion of the extension by 2016.

A full report on The Chamber’s involvement of the extension projects and next steps will be provided in the July Chamber Report.

Click here to view an aerial flyover of the future Iowa Highway 100 extension.