MASON CITY – The North Iowa Area Council of Governments (NIACOG), headquartered in Mason City, recently celebrated 50 years in operation, promoting intergovernmental cooperation in Northern Iowa counties.
The NIACOG 50th anniversary party was held Thursday, July 13 from 4 to 6 PM. It was an open house with a pork loin meal at the headquarters at 525 6th St. SW in Mason City. NIACOG was founded in 1973.
The North Iowa Area Council of Governments (NIACOG) is a government agency established for the purpose of promoting intergovernmental cooperation and strengthening local units of government (cities and counties in the region). By working collectively through the Council of Governments, local governments can share professional and technical services, alongside regional long-range planning, to make them affordable. Eight counties are in NIACOG: Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Franklin, Hancock, Kossuth, Mitchell, Winnebago, and Worth. It receives federal funding and local funds. NIACOG sometimes offers local, small business loans and other tools for property owners and home owners to make improvements. Not long ago, NIACOG gave a business owned by Mason City’s chief of police a loan.