Five Iowa Great Places have been awarded nearly $1 million in grants for projects in Burlington, Decorah, Dubuque, Malvern and Maquoketa. Chris Kramer, acting director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs said Thursday, “We’re proud to partner with the leaders of these communities to invest in Iowa’s quality of life. Our Iowa Great Places program aligns with our department’s mission to build and sustain culturally vibrant communities through investments in arts, media, history and culture.”

The Malvern Betterment Association received a grant amounting to $40,525 from the IDCA, for the : Malvern City Entrance Beautification Project. The total cost of the project amounts to $84,535. Malvern was designated an Iowa Great Place in 2016.

The project will extend Malvern’s welcoming atmosphere further to the north, since the town sits about two miles south of Highway 34 and can be easily missed by through traffic. The project plan calls for the construction of a lighted monument sign directly north of town. The sign’s artistic design will tie in with the downtown’s established aesthetic theme, including several metal tree sculptures.

The trees will echo the Main Street improvements that visitors will see as they enter the town. To extend the welcoming atmosphere of the community, the project also calls for more decorative light poles north of the existing ones on Main Street. The combination of the illuminated entrance sign and the decorative light poles will provide both wayfinding and an extension of the welcoming atmosphere in the downtown business district.

The Iowa Great Places program recognizes and partners with Iowans who cultivate the unique and authentic qualities of their local places, such as neighborhoods, districts or regions, to make them great places to live and work. Iowa Great Places receive access to funding opportunities, professional development training, technical assistance opportunities, a network of vibrant communities and passionate leaders, and other state and local resources.