Montrose, IA – Donnellson, Franklin, Montrose, and West Point have made it a point, in recent years, to look to the future in terms of growth and development.
One step in that process is the fact that each town took part in the Iowa Department of Transportation's Community Visioning Program from 2004-2007.
They are now working together on GO! RuraLEE, thanks to some grant money from the federal stimulus bill.
Representatives of the four communities held a series of brainstorming sessions.
The results have been complied into the master plan for GO! RuraLEE.
The document features two top priorities: economic development and tourism promotion.
Donnellson City Clerk Jane Krebill says one idea being tossed around is to have a large festival between the four communities.
Some of the others include coordinating tours of the four towns, holding a series of music festivals, developing a list of prospective businesses to visit, and compiling information about
Some of Go! RuraLEE's long-term priorities include quality of life improvements and infrastructure enhancements.
Krebill says the four communities are starting to promote the new organization and to apply for state and federal grants.