Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines Announces 2017 Strong Communities Award Winners
last updated on Tuesday, September 26, 2017 in Community News
(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (FHLB Des Moines) recently recognized four community partnerships for their support of economic development and small business needs.
With the help of a public vote, Exchange State Bank and Dupaco Community Credit Union were selected among seven finalists as the first place winners of the FHLB Des Moines Strong Communities Award and will receive $15,000 apiece to further promote economic development opportunities. St. Louis Community Credit Union and Enterprise Bank and Trust were honored as the top runner-up in the urban category, while First Bank and Trust was named the top runner-up in the rural category. The runner-up finishers were awarded $3,000 from FHLB Des Moines.
Rural Category
First Place: Exchange State Bank (Luverne, Minnesota)
- Revitalized the downtown community, created a local business network and training program, and started a marketing campaign to unite the community
Runner-up: First Bank and Trust (Brookings, South Dakota)
- Launched Vision Brookings III to drive business expansion and recruitment, support of the Research Park at South Dakota State University, workforce development and support for entrepreneurship
Urban Category
First Place: Dupaco Community Credit Union (Dubuque, Iowa)
- Founded the Friends of St. Mary’s DBA Steeple Square 501c3 to breathe life into a historic neighborhood by providing living wage jobs, supportive affordable housing, job training, education and community space
Runner-up: St. Louis Community Credit Union and Enterprise Bank and Trust (St. Louis, Missouri)
- Created the RedDough Money Center to fight predatory lending
- Strong Communities Award