They also saw firsthand the collaboration between local entities that is now the norm.

“For Iowa Central Community College, the most important thing was to be able to show unity with the coalition we have in Webster County,” college President Jesse Ulrich said Tuesday afternoon after a day of meetings on Capitol Hill.

He said the delegation now in Washington demonstrates the “willingness to work together and collaborate” between the public and private sectors.

The group met with U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, a Republican, and U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Hull.

“There was a lot of conversation about the ag park and infrastructure expansions in order to help the park grow,” said Mayor Matt Bemrich.

The ag park he referred to is the ag-industrial park west of Fort Dodge called Iowa’s Crossroads of Global Innovation. It is home to the Valero Renewables, CJ Bio America and Cargill plants.

Bemrich said Feenstra and Grassley have “always shown great support” for the park.

The infrastructure improvements that may be needed to support future growth of the ag park include expanding the city’s water and wastewater treatment plants, plus extending more water and sewer lines, according to Bemrich.

Tuesday’s meetings started with a session at the Department of Justice. The subject was the possibility of developing a pilot program to help prison inmates re-enter society. The program would include Athletics for Education and Success, Iowa Central and the state Department of Corrections.

“We had some really good discussions,” said Jim Kersten, the college’s vice president for external relations and government affairs.

College issues

Ulrich said he voiced concern about a proposed rule change that would make it harder for small business owners and farmers to get financial aid. He said the change would essentially force farmers and small business owners to count all their land as liquid assets that could be used to help pay for college. He said the change would be a terrible precedent for Iowa Central’s area.

He also lobbied on behalf of a bipartisan plan that would allow a form of federal financial aid called Short-Term Pell Grants to be used to pay for non-credit and certificate programs, such as earning a commercial driver’s license.

Airport

Rhonda Chambers, the director of aviation at Fort Dodge Regional Airport, said she learned that the measure reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration is now in a Senate committee. She said that bill is important locally because it funds airport infrastructure programs and the Essential Air Service program which helps to underwrite United Express flights to and from Fort Dodge.

Chambers also asked for some help in getting the FAA to replace instrument landing system lights that it owns at the airport. The lights are flashing white strobes that help pilots find a runway in bad weather. She said the light system at the airport is 50 years old and parts cannot be found for it.

Local delegation members

These are the people representing Fort Dodge and Webster County in Washington, D.C.

Matt Bemrich, mayor of Fort Dodge

Nick Carlson, Webster County supervisor

Rhonda Chambers, director of aviation, Fort Dodge Regional Airport

Niki Conrad, Webster County supervisor

Neven Conrad, chairman of the board, UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge

David Fierke, Fort Dodge city manager

Dave Flattery, Fort Dodge councilman

Wade Greiman, transportation business unit leader, Snyder & Associates

Luke Hugghins, project manager, McClure Engineering Co.

Jim Kersten, vice president, Iowa Central Community College

Terry Moehnke, Fort Dodge councilman

Jill Nelson, community development director, Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance

Vickie Reeck, director of community and economic development for Fort Dodge

Jesse Ulrich, president, Iowa Central Community College