AMES, Iowa -- Throughout Iowa, ISU Extension supports economic growth and works to improve quality of life by encouraging business development, helping to create jobs and expanding entrepreneurial activity, according to Jack Payne, vice president for extension and outreach.

Jim Patton, regional extension education director in Region 7, said examples of projects that are having an economic impact in this area include several Homeward Housing Trust Fund activities in which one-on-one consultations and program development assistance have helped the regional trust fund get established.

ISU Extension also helped keep tax refunds in the local economy in Hamilton County by training community volunteers through the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program. The volunteers completed 243 tax returns for low- and moderate-income filers. Filers received $339,836 in federal refunds, including $96,733 from Earned Income Tax Credits.

For more information about ISU Extension’s economic development statewide efforts, see www.extension.iastate.edu/AED/ for a sampling of projects in each county.

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About seven projects have been reported for four counties in ISU Extension Region 7, including the following:

Humboldt

• Homeward Housing Trust Fund

Wright

• Homeward Housing Trust Fund
• Eagle Grove Park Development Plans

Webster

• Mid-America Growth Partnership
• Substance Abuse Prevention
• Disaster Response to Damage Caused by Hailstorm, Summer 2009

Hamilton

• Tax Refunds Stay in Local Economy