ATLANTIC, IOWA — Officials with the Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) report the addition of Aaron Koontz as a Grants Specialist. Koontz will work with SWIPCO housing programs to ensure that the agency and the communities it serves are doing what needs to be done per grant regulations. He will help clients navigate through rules and procedures and application paperwork.

SWIPCO and the Southwest Iowa Housing Trust Fund operate a wide range of programs, including housing repair, down payment assistance, demolition of dilapidated houses, and lead abatement. SWIPCO also provides building inspection services and currently has more than 1,500 rental units in its inspection program. Koontz will assist with all of these programs and will be an asset to the agency.

Aaron Koontz

Koontz, a graduate of Denison High School, said “I have lived in Southwest Iowa all my life, and I am excited about helping this region of rural Iowa thrive and become a better place to live. Through my position, I will be able to help others while ensuring that we stay in compliance with multiple programs.”

“He is great with people and is an effective communicator. He has a great eye for detail, and he brings many years of experience working as a legal specialist and a legal coordinator at PayPal,” SWIPCO Executive Director John McCurdy said.