Designed as an Iowa Council of Governments under the Iowa Code 28H by the Iowa Legislature effective July 1, 2007, Chariton Valley Planning and Development will conduct business for the purpose of enhancing economic prosperity and planned growth in order to improve quality of life in Appanoose, Lucas, Monroe, and Wayne counties in the State of Iowa. Primary activities will serve to stimulate and support: job creation; businessinvestment; attraction and retention of a skilled workforce; quality of life, recreation, and cultural enhancements; providefor infastructure installation and maintenance.

Programs and activities of the Chariton Valley Planning and Development are sponsored in part by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration. Project partners include the Iowa Department of Economic Development, Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, regional tourism and economic development agencies and local governments from Appanoose, Clarke, Davis, Decatur, Lucas, Monroe, Wayne and contiguous Iowa counties.