For more information, contact:
Tina Hoffman
communications@iowaeda.com
Main Street Iowa Challenge Grants Announced
26 Community Projects Selected for Awards
November 29, 2016 (Des Moines, Iowa) — The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) today awarded $965,500 in Main Street Iowa Challenge Grants to 14 communities around the state. The grants will benefit local improvement projects such as façade upgrades and restoration, upper floor rehabilitation, building stabilization and repairs and remodeled spaces for expanding downtown businesses. The announcements were made during a ceremony held at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.
“The Main Street Iowa Challenge grants have proven to be catalysts for the revitalization of Iowa’s historic main streets,” said IEDA Director Debi Durham. “These projects represent the ongoing commitment the people of our state – both our elected officials and private citizens -- have to the revitalization of our historic downtown districts. Rehabilitated downtown buildings create opportunities for new business and new residences in the core of our communities.”
The grants are administered through IEDA’s Iowa Downtown Resource Center and Main Street Iowa programs. The funding will be distributed in the form of matching grants to the selected Main Street programs. The estimated total project cost of the 14 bricks and mortar projects is over $3.7 million.
“Each project must provide at least a dollar-for-dollar cash-match for each of the grants,” explained Main Street Iowa State Coordinator Michael Wagler. “Overall, these projects will leverage four times the state’s investment into bricks and mortar rehabilitation and technical services. These projects will have a significant economic impact within each district and they will have a direct impact on each community’s downtown revitalization efforts.”
The Challenge Grant program is funded through an appropriation from the Iowa Legislature. Since the first appropriation in 2002 through 2015, approximately $6.8 million in state and federal funds have leveraged over $45 million of private reinvestment. Over the life of the program, 124 projects in 47 Main Street Iowa commercial districts across the state have received funding.
The agency also awarded an additional $61,000 in technical assistance grants to 12 Main Street Iowa communities. The technical assistance grants will provide professional services to develop projects such as historic research, architectural and engineering services and community and business sign programs. The grants represent a total investment of over $250,000 in professional services provided to the selected communities.
For more information about the Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant program, contact Michael Wagler, State Coordinator, Main Street Iowa.
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2016 Main Street Iowa Bricks and Mortar Challenge Grant Recipients:
| Community |
Project |
IEDA Grant Amount |
Match Amount |
Total Project Cost |
| Burlington |
Elks Building Stabilization |
$65,400 |
$178,600 |
$244,000 |
| Cedar Falls |
Willbo Rehab – 118 Main |
$75,000 |
$162,760 |
$237,760 |
| Cedar Rapids |
White Elephant Building |
$75,000 |
$276,810 |
$351,810 |
| Centerville |
Partners on Main |
$75,000 |
$101,586 |
$176,586 |
| Conrad |
Wilson Law Offices |
$25,600 |
$48,400 |
$74,000 |
| Davenport |
1605 Harrison |
$75,000 |
$326,173 |
$401,173 |
| Des Moines |
North Des Moines City Hall |
$75,000 |
$75,000 |
$150,000 |
| Dubuque |
Key City Creative |
$50,000 |
$222,800 |
$272,800 |
| Dunlap |
Odd Fellows Upper Floor |
$75,000 |
$230,500 |
$305,500 |
| Jefferson |
Kendall Building |
$74,500 |
$200,000 |
$274,500 |
| Le Mars |
Claussen’s Upper Floor |
$75,000 |
$104,000 |
$179,000 |
| Marion |
Kuba-Kurtz Building |
$75,000 |
$183,817 |
$258,817 |
| Mount Pleasant |
Hoaglin Building Upper Floors |
$75,000 |
$315,000 |
$390,000 |
| West Des Moines |
KCL Engineering Offices |
$75,000 |
$385,400 |
$460,400 |
| TOTALS: |
$965,500 |
$2,810,846 |
$3,776,346 |
2016 Main Street Iowa Technical Assistance Grant Award Recipients
| Community |
Project |
IEDA Grant |
Local Match |
Total Project |
| Burlington |
Architectural Drawings |
$4,900 |
$4,900 |
$9,800 |
| Des Moines |
Historic Review/Tax Credit Pt 1 & 2 |
$5,000 |
$5,000 |
$10,000 |
| Cedar Rapids |
Wayfinding Signage |
$5,000 |
$85,000 |
$90,000 |
| Jefferson |
Wayfinding Signage |
$5,000 |
$5,000 |
$10,000 |
| Manning |
Streetscape Engineering Services |
$3,500 |
$3,500 |
$7,000 |
| Woodbine |
Interior Visual Merchandising TA |
$3,900 |
$4,900 |
$8,800 |
| Ames |
District National Register Listing |
$3,000 |
$3,000 |
$6,000 |
| Osceola |
District National Register Listing |
$4,775 |
$5,225 |
$10,000 |
| Ottumwa |
Wayfinding Signage |
$3,925 |
$4,925 |
$8,850 |
| Charles City |
Wayfinding Signage |
$4,500 |
$45,500 |
$50,000 |
| Greenfield |
Wayfinding Signage |
$2,500 |
$3,500 |
$6,000 |
| West Des Moines |
CoSign |
$15,000 |
$20,000 |
$35,000 |
| TOTALS: |
$61,000 |
$190,450 |
$251,450 |