Interstate Resource Conservation and Development
3020 East First Avenue
Milan, Illinois 61264
Phone 309-764-1486 Extension 4/Fax 309-764-1830
Illowa Ferryboat and Development, Inc.
Interstate RC&D and Geode RC&D are partnering with Mercer County, Illinois and Louisa County, Iowa officials, local groups and citizens to form a new ferryboat corporation to promote a ferryboat service connecting New Boston, Illinois and Oakville, Iowa. The corporation has representatives from Mercer County Board, Louisa County Board, City of Aledo, City of New Boston, the Village of Oakville and the City of Wapello along with At-Large members.
This corporation has just completed and sent in their Articles of Incorporation to the Secretary of State in Illinois. They have also established and approved Bylaws. Their corporation name will be Illowa Ferryboat and Development, Inc. A president, vice president, secretary/treasurer were recently elected along with appointing 5 other board members.
Interstate RC&D is working with the group to submit a 501 (c) (3) application to obtain non-profit status from the IRS. The group has conducted a meeting with city officials and legislators to inform and update them on the progress and plans of this group. The group has met with both Illinois and Iowa Legislator's to discuss the possibilities of getting funding for this project.
They received $300,000 in funding from the Federal Highway Administration for an Environmental Assessment, Cultural/Historical Studies and Preliminary Engineering. They have also received approximately $100,000 in funding from the State of Iowa and the State of Illinois to assist with these studies. Illowa Ferryboat and Development has solicited qualifications from companies interested in completing a Major Investment Study of the proposed ferryboat operation. A request for proposal (RFP) was announced and they have selected Stanley Consultants from Muscatine, Iowa to begin the study.
Illowa Ferryboat and Development hosted a kick-off meeting on March 16, 2007 for the Major Investment Study. This meeting introduced Stanley Consultant, Inc, the contractor, and informed the public of the details of the study and the timeline for the projection completion.
There are 3 phases for this project:
Phase I - Feasibility Study completed in November 2003
Phase II - Environmental Assessment, cultural/historical studies and preliminary engineering
Phase III - Final Engineering and Implementation
If you would like more information or would like to participate please contact our office.