DES MOINES – Awards totaling $23.8 million were announced Tuesday for 70 communities across the state. The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) awarded the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to support 72 community investment projects. The federally funded grants were awarded for community facilities, infrastructure improvements, downtown revitalization and single family owner-occupied housing rehabilitation.
“These investments have a broad impact on communities and residents across the state. Thousands of Iowans will see infrastructure improvements, homes rehabilitated, new community facilities and transformative changes in their downtowns,” said Governor Terry Branstad. “Strategic investments like these are enhancing the state’s economic development efforts and helping some of Iowa’s smaller cities thrive and prosper, benefitting both current and future generations of Iowans.”
These funds enable communities to make needed improvements to water and sewer systems, improve housing conditions for low-income homeowners, provide facilities for disabled and at-risk individuals, and make transformative improvements to their downtowns.
“Helping Iowa communities become development-ready is an important part of our work at IEDA,” said Debi Durham, director of the IEDA. “The federally funded CDBG program makes a difference for communities all around our state.”
IEDA received 136 applications for these funds, totaling $44.9 million in funding requests. The grants are awarded based on benefit to low- and moderate-income persons, slum and blight elimination, financial need, project impact and readiness, and commitment of local resources to the project.
The Community Development Block Grant program is federally funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). IEDA is responsible for administering the CDBG funds in the non-metropolitan areas of the state. Applications are solicited annually, usually during the fall.
Clarion will use $291,900 to rehabilitate sanitary sewer collection system to improve I/I during peak flow events, preventing back ups to homes and
reducing costs to city and residents.
Nora Springs will use $500,000 for lining of sanitary sewer lines and manhole rehabilitation and replacement.
Buffalo Center will use $300,000 for construction of water treatment plant and well rehabilitation.
