GATEWAY TO NORTHEAST IOWA WELCOME CENTER

          With the advent of the Avenue of the Saints in the Nashua area in 2000 it became apparent to the City of Nashua that a rest stop was needed.  Locating the Welcome Center here offers a scenic, centrally located highly visible, easily assessible and motorist safe location.  Information received from the IDOT indicated that such a facility was not in their long range plans.

           Tenative plans call for the Welcome Center to be located less than a mile from the high speed interchange.   It will provide a safe access roadway for motorists and is highly visible from the interchange.  The site is situated adjacent to a small wooded area and will have a view of Cedar Lake and Cedar Park.

             Plans call for the renovation of a 1916 Railroad Depot.    This building will be a stand alone facility and will house a Welcome Center and a Rest Stop.  The full basement will serve as a storm shelter for the traveling public, fairground events, campers at the city campground and mobile home residents.  A FEMA grant has been awarded to help pay for the storm shelter.

            The Welcome Center will be open 24 hours, 7 days a week.  It will contain vending machines with snacks and pop, weather information TV and a ATM.

               The City of Nashua plans to employ a director and a custodian.  The task of the director and staff will be to make sure anyone who stops is aware of all Nashua and Northeast Iowa has to offer.  The facility will be maintained by the City of Nashua.  The City has pledged to provide all utilities.  Maintenance of the grounds will be done by the Park Personnel.  Snow removal and upkeep will be handled by the Street Dept.

                 Area wide volunteers will be relied on to aid in staffing of the building.  We will encourge and welcome volunteers from outside the Nashua area. 

                 The City of Nashua has received a $150,000.00 Vision Iowa (CAT) Grant.  We have received a pledge of $25,000.00 from Chickasaw and Floyd Counties.  Work will begin by July, 2007.

                  The benefits that this facility will bring to our area are numerous: more customers for restaurants, convenience stores, motels and speciality shops, to name a few.

                  If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help with this project, please call Glenn Hatzky at 641-435-4776 or Barb Jensen at 641-435-2557 or email City Hall at nashuaia@butler-bremer.com

                  Fundraising is underway.  Tax deductible donations can be sent to  City of Nashua, P.O. Box 38, Nashua, IA 50658.