October 6, 2021 (DES MOINES) – Awards totaling $5.2 million were announced today (Wednesday), for CDBG projects across the state. The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) made the awards through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which provides support for community improvements.

Downtown revitalization project awards were awarded to six Iowa communities to invest in the improvement of 62 downtown building facades .They include:

• Stanton – Rehab of 8 downtown building facades ($316,945 local/other funding, $445,242 CDBG)
• Ft. Dodge – 9 downtown building facades
• Independence – 8  ”         ”            “
• Maquoketa – 8      ”         ”            “
• Marshalltown  – 11 ”       ”            “
• West Bend – 18      ”        ”            “

The Upper Story Conversion awards will help five communities with the creation of an additional 21 upper story housing units. Those communities include:

• Atlantic, 2 units, $205,105
• Burlington, 6 units ($500,000)
• Leon, 4 units ($500,000)
• Marshalltown, five units ($550,000)
• Mason City 4 units ($550,000).

Grants are awarded based upon the benefit to low- and moderate-income persons, financial need, project impact and readiness, and commitment of local resources to the project. CDBG funds enable communities to make needed improvements to infrastructure, improve housing conditions for low-income homeowners, provide facilities for disabled and at-risk individuals, and make transformative downtown improvements.

The CDBG program is federally funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. IEDA is responsible for administering the CDBG funds in the non-metropolitan areas of the state. Download a copy of the CDBG Upper Story Conversion and Downtown Revitalization awards.