Alta, IA

Recently, Kris Shannon, co-chairperson of the Alta Horizons, visited three community resource centers in nearby Iowa towns, to gain information and ideas about the on-going effort to form a resource center for the Alta community. Although none of the three centers visited are exactly something we need in Alta, in the December Alta Horizons meeting at city hall, Kris shared several ideas that were gleaned from the visits. Some of the ideas received included: ways for community outreach and increasing awareness of services/needs within the community, “incentive programs” that encourage attendance at parenting classes (with points being earned toward receiving a necessity such as baby bed, diapers, car seat, etc.), reducing barriers such as transportation and consolidating agency locations to facilitate access to a variety of services, and also input regarding the the concept of expecting something in return from a service recipient back to the community, such as helping another person, taking a class, etc.

The Alta Horizons committee continues its discussion and dialog on ways a community resource center can become a viable part of the Alta community.

One of the issues that was regularly discussed in the Horizons program as it developed in Alta was the need to support and promote the local food pantry called The Lord’s Cupboard (an affiliate of the Iowa Food Network) - as a way to continue helping those who need food.

The City of Alta and Alta Municipal Utilities are presently sponsoring a food drive to serve the people in the community who need food assistance. A goal has been set to collect 2,000 pounds of food with the donations to go to the local food pantry, The Lord’s Cupboard.

It’s good to see business people within the community actively involved in promoting this food drive called, “No Hungry Neighbors.” Al and Angie Wadsley of Gull Wing Industries (a local Alta business) presented a check for $200 for the food drive.  On a side note, the Horizons funds designated  for Alta are unavailable to be used to buy food for the pantry, but in a show of community support and “leading the way,” the members of the Horizons Steering Committee, in their December meeting, pooled personal contributions in the amount of $100 towards this community project! Others continue to support this drive. Donations, as of this writing, currently total 2,590 pounds - already well past the set goal!

Each donation, whatever size it is, will play a part in helping Alta’s needy neighbors. It’s another sign that Alta is working together to respond to and reduce the needs of its neighbors!

As the result of leaders in the Alta community and Alta citizens coming together through the encouragement of the Horizons program, people within the community are thinking about ways to promote the community and address the needs within the community.

One of the work teams that has arisen from the dialogue is a committee formed to promote the local school district. Members of this committee have met regularly to find ways of new and innovative promotion of the district’s strengths.

A new community logo and theme is being developed and the District Promotional Committee is finalizing the plans to unveil a new full-color, commercial brochure that will highlight the strengths of the district and the city of Alta.

The City Council of Alta has worked in tandem with the school district to facilitate this process and has helped provide funding for the expenses.

The unveiling of this new Alta theme is expected after the first of the year. Alta is on the move!

Good things are happening with the Horizons Steering Committee in Alta. A recent meeting on December 17 worked on several proposals before the committee including selection of local leadership to chair the committee, adoption of guidelines for permanent structure and functioning of the committee in the community, reports from the various workgroups and discussion regarding a fiscal agent to facilitate the use of the money in the community that will be provided through the Horizons program.

The desire is for the Alta Horizons Steering Committee to help facilitate change within the community by encouraging and promoting a working together relationship to address the needs within the community.

We have recently learned that progress taking place in Alta will be featured at the eighth annual Mid-States Community and Economic Development Conference, scheduled for March 19, 2008 in the Sioux City area.

Alta was selected as one of about 15 communities from Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Members of the Alta Horizons steering committee will present a session on Alta’s community improvement efforts.

Presenters from the Alta community will be Kris Shannon, Dr. Fred Maharry, and Rev. Terry Pollard.

We are excited to be a part of this economic conference this year and share what is happening in Alta, as a result of Horizons

Horizons is well under way in Alta. In the spring of 2007, discussion at several study circles raised the need to welcome newcomers to town and help them find what they need and are interested in. Alta Builds Connections (ABC) has been formed. An informational packet with community resource contacts (including school district, churches, medical, city services, etc.) has been put together and will soon be distributed to new residents, with members of ABC making visits to new residents.

At an August 28 visioning meeting, participants identified possible strategies for reducing poverty and its impact in Alta. At the next visioning meeting on October 8, priorities were set and action began in work groups.

The priorities were the Alta Builds Connections group, a focus on expanding affordable housing, expanding access to health care, promoting existing businesses as well as bringing new and establishing a community resource center.

Through the Horizons program, it has been agreed that Alta has strengths to build upon - a strong school system with caring staff, a strong faith community, a foundation of volunteerism, access to recreational opportunities and visionary people within the community.