(Atlantic, Iowa) – Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds are being applied for to help pay for two projects aimed at allowing more people to live in the hub of Atlantic. SWIPCO’s Alexsis Fleener and Dr. Matt Weresh informed the City Council during their meeting Wednesday evening, that if approved, CDBG funds of up to $9,000 will be used to help renovate the upper floors of Weresh’ buildings at 509 and 511 Chestnut Street. The plan is for those sections of buildings to be renovated into apartments similar to what was accomplished at the Whitney Building, at 3rd and Chestnut.

Fleener said officials with the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) are excited to see Atlantic grow, and are highly interested in funding housing development projects in the downtown business area.

The first phase of grants allowed for participating merchants to update or replace their building facades. Fleener says if the grant request is approved, this latest round will make it less costly for building owners to renovate their downtown buildings’ bottom and top floors.

Dr. Weresh has used the first round of CDBG grants to tear off the tin from his building facade and install new windows. He’s ready now to move onto the next stage. SWIPCO is ready to apply for a grant that would cover half the project cost for 509 Chestnut.

(The City will only be used as a “flow-through” agency, by which any funds are passed. It will not have a financial stake in the projects.)

Dr. Weresh describes the project in more detail.

(One apartment will be above 511 Chestnut. The building at 509 Chestnut would have two apartments: One two-bedroom, one with a single bedroom. There will also be a new garage in back.” He also plans to make the store front on both buildings as attractive as possible and get the drop ceilings down, similar to what has taken place at the Hansen’s Jewelry building.)

Fleener says the grant application is due at the end of August. She asked for, and the City Council authorized, SWIPCO to pursue the funds.