Cherokee County

Cherokee County cradles the natural beauty of the Inkpaduta Canoe Trail that winds down the Little Sioux River and 11 county parks. It is a progressive County that is home to the Western Iowa Tech Community College and Conference Center; a 32,000 sq. ft. Wellness Center; a downtown streetscape and Cultural District that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a spectacular aquatic center and park, and the surreal beauty of Spring Lake Park and Yacht Club with walking trails. We have the first accredited museum in the State of Iowa, the Sanford Museum and Planetarium, and we boast a 60-piece symphony orchestra and a dynamic community theater. Cherokee has the most challenging and beautiful golf course in Northwest Iowa, along with courses at Marcus, Aurelia and Quimby, and a total of six within a 20-minute drive.
Date of HBI Establishment: May 2017
Website: Cherokee County
Contact: Jana Utesh / Director@cherokeeia.com / 712-225-5739
Cities: About Home Base Iowa Cities

About Home Base Iowa Cities

Home Base Iowa cities provide additional resources and discounts for veterans who relocate to these communities. The incentives stand alone or complement those offered by the county and state. All the cities listed have passed a city council resolution supporting the program, provide an incentive/welcome package, ensure 10 percent of eligible businesses are involved with Home Base Iowa and have the option to purchase Home Base Iowa signage.

Click on the other tabs to view veteran resources, higher educational institutions and all county and statewide incentives.

County Veteran Offices

These should be veterans first point of contact and every county has a Commissioner of Veterans Affairs and a County Veterans Director. These offices assist veterans with compensation/pensions, medical care, military records, grave markers and veteran home loans. Some counties also have dedicated funds to assist with temporary shelter/utilities, food/health supplies, medical/dental, job placement, counseling and transportation. Visit the County Veterans Office page and click on the county of residence.  

IowaWORKS Centers

IowaWORKS Centers are committed to providing quality employment services to all military service members and their spouses. All veterans and their spouse may be eligible for priority service.  Please let a team member know upon check-in of your veteran status. IowaWORKS Centers provide a full range of job/career assistance. Individual services include:

  • Career counseling and job search skills development
  • Help locating employment and Registered Apprenticeship opportunities
  • Academic skill testing and hands-on computer classes
  • Creating resumes/cover letters and interview preparation

Iowa National Guard Services

The Warrior & Family Services Branch is a Joint Force initiative that provides assistance to all military families, regardless of branch or component, who find themselves beyond the support capability of active duty military facilities or their home units. The Warrior & Family Services Branch acts as a network that allows families to mutually support one another. By providing families with information, resources and support, the program strengthens both the unit and service members. To learn more about these services, visit the Warrior & Family Services page to learn more.

Iowa Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR)

The Iowa ESGR team is comprised of approximately 106 dedicated volunteers and three full-time staff members prepared to engage, inform and support employers and reserve component members throughout the state. Iowa has a proud history of outstanding employer support for reserve component members. Today’s team continues this tradition through a strong emphasis on “prevention through education.” To learn more visit the Iowa ESGR.

Non-Profit Statewide Veteran Support Organizations

The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic, war-time veteran organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is a community-service organization which has reached nearly three million members, men and women at almost 15,000 American Legion posts worldwide.  The American Legion Department of Iowa is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa.  The Department Service Office is located in the Federal Building in Des Moines, with an additional office located in the VA Medical Center in Iowa City. Visit the Iowa Legion or email: info@ialegion.org.

Western Iowa Tech Community College

Western Iowa Tech Community College has five campuses located in Mapleton, LeMars, Denison and Cherokee. The main campus is in Sioux City, Iowa. As a comprehensive community college, their mission is to provide quality education and to economically enhance the communities they serve.

An Introduction to CHAMPs

Iowa's Certified Higher Academic Military Partners (CHAMPs) offer higher education incentives to qualified veterans, their spouses and dependents. Benefits include in-state tuition rates, on-campus support, credit for military courses and special financial considerations.

Cherokee County Veteran Incentives

Home Base Iowa communities offer valuable incentives for veterans who relocate to their community. Please contact the community point of contact or county veteran director for more information.

  • Welcome Basket: Each veteran who visits and moves to Cherokee County will receive a welcome basket from the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce.
  • Cherokee State Bank
    • $500 off closing costs on a new home mortgage in Cherokee County
  • Central Bank
    • $500 off the origination fee on a new home mortgage in Cherokee County
    • Participating Lender in IFA. IFA will match (up to $5,000) on down payments towards a new home for a veteran
  • North Star Community Credit Union
    • $500 (max) credit per military family/Veteran/household toward closing costs on a first-time personal residence mortgage in Cherokee County
  • First Trust & Savings Bank
    • Preferred rates for qualified new home loans to a veteran in Cherokee County
  • State Savings Bank
    • No Fee Checking and Savings Accounts for qualified veterans
    • No Origination Fee on Mortgage Loans for qualified veterans in Cherokee County

Home Base Iowa Statewide Veteran Incentives
The Home Base Iowa Act positions Iowa as a leader in respect, support and employment of veterans through a public-private partnership. The Iowa Legislature passed the Act in a broad bi-partisan manner and then Governor Terry E. Branstad signed it into law on Memorial Day, 2014. The Act contains the following incentives:

Please contact the County Veterans Office or the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs for more information.