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MAG officials outline planning, grant and support programs for Wallsburg
Summary
MAG—s regional "Roadshow" briefed Wallsburg council on planning technical assistance, a local administrator advisor program, CDBG and social‑services grants, HEAP utility assistance, weatherization and single‑family rehab services and offered follow‑up support for applications and outreach.
The Wallsburg Town Council hosted representatives from the Mountain Area Government (MAG) on Sept. 19 as part of MAG—s regional "Roadshow," which aimed to explain planning and funding programs available to small towns.
"We are calling this the Roadshow," said Michelle Carroll, executive director of MAG, as she outlined technical assistance and funding opportunities. Carroll described a planning‑focused technical assistance program that ties land use to transportation and can fund studies or plans at roughly $50,000 to $300,000, and she said MAG staff, including program lead Dan Wayne, will help brainstorm ideas.
Jessica DeLoren, MAG—s director of community and economic development, walked council members through grant programs council members could pursue. She said Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds may support water and sewer infrastructure, public facilities, parks and, for prequalified communities, some park projects. She also described a social‑services block grant that funds nonprofit services such as mental‑health supports, meals and senior services.
DeLoren noted programs administered directly to residents: HEAP utility assistance (now available year‑round to income‑qualified households), a weatherization program (an energy audit followed by targeted improvements) and a single‑family rehab program that can pay for structural repairs, ADA accessibility work and other health‑and‑safety fixes.
MAG offered follow‑up help: Spencer Foster, the local administrator advisor, will contact Wallsburg to review administrative needs for towns without a full‑time administrator; MAG also offered premade graphics and newsletter content to amplify program outreach.
Why it matters: MAG—s technical assistance and funding programs can help Wallsburg plan projects that qualify for outside financing or get short‑term administrative help if the town lacks full‑time staff. Council members asked about flood‑control referrals and were told MAG staff could point them to disaster‑mitigation resources.
The MAG representatives left printed rack cards and offered to meet residents or hold qualification sessions locally to help people access HEAP and other services.
