The City of Oskaloosa and Mahaska County are submitting this application to fund the Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL) study and a streamlined Environmental Assessment (EA) for a new roadway that will provide improved regional and local access in rural East Central Iowa. The City of Oskaloosa is the lead agency for this grant application. 

The City and County have partnered with the Mahaska Chamber and Development Group private non-profit comprising of professionals and businesses in the area who support this project.  The planning effort includes the evaluation of one or more roadway options to the southeast and northeast of the City of Oskaloosa to improve regional access to better accommodate freight needs, spur additional economic development in the existing Industrial Park, improve quality of life for the residents of Oskaloosa by relocating heavy freight movement out of residential areas, increase opportunities for areas of persistent poverty, and expand the agricultural production of East Central Iowa. With this concept, the public / private partnership created the vision for the grant application of Mahaska / Oskaloosa Driving Economic Success (MODES).