June 2022

Linn County and City of Cedar Rapids Launch Round 2 of Joint ARPA Application Process

Linn County and the City of Cedar Rapids are now accepting applications for federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds through a joint competitive application process. 

The online application is available at www.CR-LinnARPA.org. 

Applications for this funding are due by noon on July 15, 2022. Learn more.

Linn County Board of Supervisors Approves Banning Conversion Therapy for Minors in Unincorporated Linn County in 2-1 Vote

In a 2-1 vote, the Linn County Board of Supervisors approved the amendment of an ordinance that will now prohibit any efforts by service providers to change sexual orientation and/or gender identity of minors, including conversion and reparative therapy, in unincorporated Linn County. This approval follows the three required readings of the ordinance at Board of Supervisor meetings. 

Learn more.

Linn County Accepting Applications for Economic and Community Development Funds

The Linn County Board of Supervisors is now accepting applications for Linn County’s Economic and Community Development Fund. Linn County created the Economic and Community Development Fund to foster and support economic growth and enhance quality of life in Linn County. 

This is a competitive grant process open to eligible organizations located in Linn County or that have a branch location in Linn County and whose work benefits Linn County residents. This year $200,000 is available. The application deadline is July 28, 2022 at 5 p.m. Visit the application webpage.

Linn County Attorney’s Office Truancy Deferred Prosecution Program Results in 77 Kids Returning to School Regularly this Year

The Linn County Attorney’s Office is pleased to announce that its Truancy Deferred Prosecution Program has successfully resulted in 77 kids returning to school regularly.
  
Assistant Linn County Attorney Nina Sheller created the Truancy Deferred Prosecution Program in 2019 after seeing an opportunity to use the criminal justice system to help kids get back to school by engaging with their parents and focusing on school attendance as the optimal outcome as opposed to fines and/or jail time for parents. Sheller started this program while she was a misdemeanor attorney in the Criminal Division but asked to continue working on the program when she was reassigned to the Juvenile Division.

Over the course of the last year, from May 2021 to the end of this school year in May 2022, the Linn County Attorney’s Office opened 164 truancy prosecutions against the parents of children reported as habitually truant by the school districts. Of those cases, 56 cases have been dismissed due to improved school attendance resulting in 77 kids returning to school regularly. Learn more about the program.

Linn County Supports Local Preservation Efforts by Awarding Grants to Nine Local Non-Profits

The Linn County Board of Supervisors has awarded $28,800 from the Linn County Historic Preservation Grant Program to nine non-profit organizations in Linn County. The recipients were selected through an annual competitive process.

The Linn County Historic Preservation Commission reviews the grant applications and makes funding recommendations to the Board of Supervisors. 

See the full list of organizations receiving grant funding.

Upcoming Events

• June 30 Deadline to openly burn derecho debris in Urban Services Residential area (USR)
• July 4 Most County Offices Closed
• Conservation Department Event Calendar

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