Board approves FY26 allocation for Grow Cedar Valley, requests update and tighter FY27 contract language

The Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors on May 26 approved a $25,000 FY26 allocation to Grow Cedar Valley (the regional economic development/chamber organization) and asked for a near-term presentation on the work performed under that allocation and a follow-up work session to define FY27 contract language and measurable deliverables.

Supervisors debated metrics, confidentiality concerns around business recruitment work and whether government funding should be tied to explicit deliverables such as business-retention visits, leads and site engagements. Some supervisors said they wanted greater clarity about what a county contribution buys — whether sponsor-level membership access, quarterly reporting, or specific policy/ordinance support. Others said the county benefits from having an external professional organization coordinate business outreach and could use the organization’s planning/development contacts.

The board voted to proceed with the FY26 allocation to allow work to move forward for the remainder of the fiscal year and directed staff to obtain an update from Grow Cedar Valley; supervisors also asked staff to begin drafting clearer FY27 contract language and performance expectations for future consideration.