The Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) will hold its 40th Anniversary celebration and Annual Meeting September 17th, in Harlan. The event will highlight the many accomplishments of SWIPCO over the past 40 years, and will include a recognition of current and past staff and board members, presentation of the annual report, and awards. The evening will conclude with entertainment provided by veteran farm broadcaster Von Kettelsen.

Five awards will be presented at the meeting. Larry Anderson, of Red Oak, will be honored as the 2015 Driver of the Year for his outstanding service. Jeremy Middents, Community Development Specialist, will be recognized for his 15 years of dedicated service to the agency. Frank Waters, of Cumberland, will be recognized for serving as board chairman in 2013 and 2014. The City of Harlan will be recognized for their continued partnership with SWIPCO and dedication to improvements for their community.

And, the Iowa DOT Office of Public Transit will be recognized as a partner of SWIPCO that has enhanced the lives of southwest Iowans through assistance to the Southwest Iowa Transit Agency (SWITA) since it was formed in 1978.

The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. September 17th, at the TG Therkildsen Center. For more information about the 40th Anniversary and Annual Meeting, or to RSVP, contact Tammy DeBord at 866-279-4720.

SWIPCO, a council of governments serving members in eight counties in southwest Iowa, began in September 1975 with one staff member in a small rented office in Griswold. Since then, SWIPCO has grown to 18 staff members and 55 drivers throughout southwest Iowa with an annual budget of over $4 million.

A few of the organization’s accomplishments include: securing $80 million in grant funds for infrastructure projects, writing over 200 plans and 117 codes of ordinances, providing over five million transit rides, rehabilitating 1,200 homes, and directly creating 82 jobs through the business revolving loan fund.