(Radio Iowa) — State officials have distributed more than three MILLION dollars in federal grants to nine communities for water and sewer system upgrades. The federal money comes to Iowa in the form of a block grant. Twenty-one Iowa cities and towns applied for a chunk of it. Madrid and Oelwein are each getting 600-thousand in grant money. The communities of Brighton, Kimballton, Maxwell, Pomeroy and Schleswig are each getting 300-thousand. Just over 200-thousand in grant money is going to Rembrandt. Bernard got 112-thousand. Iowa Economic Development Authority director Debi Durham says these sort of projects aren’t the most visible or exciting, but water and sewer systems are critical to the success of a community.

According to the Iowa Economic Development Authority:

• Kimballton’s grant is for a water main replacement project.
• Schleswig is receiving funds for Sanitary Sewer System improvements.