July 7, 2020 (DES MOINES) – The City Atlantic was recently awarded $100,000 from the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), for a SHIFT ATL building rehabilitation project.  The local, matching share of the $321,000 project cost is $221,000. IEDA officials report in all, $2.6 million in Community Catalyst Building Remediation grants have been awarded to 26 Iowa communities. The Community Catalyst program was initiated in 2018 by IEDA to help create fundamental, positive change in Iowa’s downtown areas. The grants, amounting to $100,000 per community, assist with the redevelopment, remediation or rehabilitation of buildings to stimulate economic growth and reinvestment.

Elsewhere in western/southwest Iowa, the following have received $100,000 IEDA grants:

• The City of Carson, for their project at 105 Broadway Street ($145,250 match; $245,250 total project cost)
• The City of Creston received $100k toward the $421,134 cost of the Hot Air Brewing Company project ($321,134 local match)
• The City of Guthrie Center‘s grant will be directed to the $300,000 cost of the Williams Building rehab (Local match $200,000)
• The City of Mapleton will use the IEDA grant toward their 322 Main Street Rehab project cost of $155,000 ($55,000 local match)
• and the City of Stanton will rehabilitate the 317 Broad Building, for a total cost of $245,500 (Local match $145,500).

IEDA and Iowa Finance Authority director Debi Durham says “Revitalization of statewide communities is particularly critical as we recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19. The Community Catalyst program is not only about investing in our infrastructure, but it inspires further development and future growth for years to come.” The Community Catalyst Building Remediation program is funded through an appropriation from the Iowa Legislature. This is the third year these grants are being made available via the IEDA and continued funding is based on annual availability.

Last fall, Iowa cities approved through a pre-application process were invited to apply. IEDA received a total of 73 applications. Scoring criteria was based on project impact, appropriateness, funding/partnerships and incorporation of sustainability/smart growth principles. Per program rules, at least 40% of the grants were awarded to cities with populations of less than 1,500. The grants will support local improvement projects such as façade upgrades, building rehabilitations and renovations. Cities are required to provide financial and/or in-kind resources to supplement these projects.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – July 7, 2020 – The Iowa Department of Transportation’s District 3 office reports a project to replace a reinforced concrete box culvert on U.S. 59 south of Denison in Crawford County requires closing the roadway to traffic beginning on Thursday morning, July 16, until November 2020, weather permitting. During this closure, motorists will be directed around the work zone using U.S. 30, Crawford County Road E-59, and U.S. 59. Midwest Contracting, LLC is the prime contractor of this $805,159 project.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

(8-a.m. News 7/7)

Police in Creston arrested an east central Iowa woman on a Theft charge, Monday night. 44-year old Joni Kibbe, of Grinnell, was arrested at the Creston Wal-Mart Store, for Theft in the 5th Degree. Kibbe was cited for the alleged offense and released from the scene on a Summons to Appear in court.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa Lottery spokesperson, Mary Neubauer says they won’t set another record for sales in the fiscal year that just ended June 30th. Neubauer says they won’t match the 390-point-one million dollar record once all the numbers are totaled — but they will meet some key marks. “In 2020 with COVID-19 and everything else that has been going on — we will not meet the record levels we hit in 2019. But we are on track to meet the budget goals that we have stated for state lawmakers, for state budget analysts and for ourselves,” according to Neubauer. The sales for the last fiscal year increased by more than five percent — driven by a couple of jackpots for Mega Millions and Powerball that each went above half-a-BILLION dollars at the same time.

Neubauer says a slow year in lotto sales got even slower once the pandemic hit. “Lotto game sales were already down for the year before all of that started, simply because the jackpots in Mega Millions and Powerball had been won more often at a lower level,” Neubauer explains. “So we just hadn’t seen the jackpots climbing into the stratosphere like we had in the last couple of years.” Powerball sales through may were down 17 million dollars compared to the previous year and Mega Millions sales were down 16 million.
The Iowa Lottery’s first-ever product continued to do well as other ticket sales lagged during the pandemic shutdowns.

“Scratch games continued to do really well. And I think that goes hand-in-hand with what we are seeing around the country in terms the entertainment options that people have been using in general,” Neubauer says. “You’ve heard that puzzle sales are through the roof. Board games are becoming hard to find because people are looking for those hard copy entertainment options in addition to the electronics that they’ve been using — and scratch tickets were part of the mix for folks.” Scratch ticket says were up by four-point-four million dollars through May. The Iowa Lottery turned over nearly 93 million dollars in profits to the state in that record sales year.

Neubauer says they are still on target to hit their projected 72 million dollars in proceeds for this past fiscal year. That’s really saying something in a year like this that we’ve been able to stay on track and meet those budget goals. We know that revenue to state causes is really more important now than ever — and we are really proud of the fact that we have been able to achieve our budget goals for this year,” Neubauer says. The Iowa Lottery had to adapt several of the ways it does business during the pandemic. That included no in-person prize claims.

She says they are doing the in-person claims again on a curbside basis where they have the winner fill out the information and then go inside and process it before bringing a check out to the winner. With the uncertainty remaining on what will happen with the COVID-19 outbreak, the Iowa Lottery has approved a budget that projects an increase in revenue of around nine million dollars in this new fiscal year.

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will hold an electronic session beginning 6-p.m. Wednesday (July 8), via YouTube. Items on their Consent Agenda include approval of: Tracy Purkapile’s resignation from Food Service, and Contract Recommendations for…Kirstin Blake – Colorguard sponsor; Derek Hall – Asst. HS Cross Country Coach; Oran Perkins – JV Football Coach; Taylor Williams – MS Cross County Coach, and Diane Hayes’ transfer to Central Office Specialist.

The Board will hold discussion with regard to: the Facility Project (an update); The District’s Return to Learn Plan; and the 2020-21 Board meeting/work session calendar. They’re also expected to act on approving:

• The purchase of 350 Chromebook’s (Laptop computers) from 2nd Gear (Temecula, CA) for $130 per device (a total of $46,000 paid for through the CARES Act & SAVE).
• A 2020-21 Southwest Iowa APEX Consortium Agreement (a specialized, special education program for those students in need)
• A 2020-21 Fuel Contract (Superintendent Steve Barber will recommend a $50,000 bid for diesel, gas and propane from Olsen’s Fuel Supply. Olsen’s bid was comparatively lower the a competitor)
• The Board is expected to approve the renewal of School Liability Insurance for 2020-21, in the amount of $112,970.50. Superintendent Barber says the District experienced a 14% increase to its liability insurance this year. Property, vehicles and general liability make up most of the cost increase.
• They will also act on approving an Atlantic Athletic Facilities Improvement Project pay application and proposed credit to the District for $695, with regard to a reduced number of flag poles at the Athletic facilities.