The Fort Dodge City Council will hold a public hearing Monday to establish a downtown renovation program at their regular meeting Monday.
A memo from Paige Wheeler, Fort Dodge’s recently appointed Development Services Director, the City Council proposes to enter into an agreement to fund a new Downtown Building Renovation & Life Safety Forgivable Loan Program. The program would be administered by the Development Corporation of Greater Fort Dodge.
The Development Corporation of Greater Fort Dodge is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization. According to the organization’s 2022 tax return, their mission is slum and blight removal.
Under the agreement, a total of $500,000 would be sent to the non-profit. It would be paid in installments of $100,000 for five years. According to the memo, funds for the program would come from an internal advance from the Economic Development Revolving Fund and would be repaid with future Tax Increment Financing.
Eligible improvements under the new program include installation, replacement, and upgrades to fire sprinklers, egress windows/doors, elevators, and fire alarms systems.
Earlier this year, Fort Dodge City Manager David Fierke and Councilman David Flattery approached the Webster County Board of Supervisors for $100,000 for elevator repairs for an owner occupied building in Downtown Fort Dodge. That request was not well received by local residents. Ultimately, the Board of Supervisors did not move that request forward.
The meeting is scheduled for 6:00 PM Monday, September 9th, 2025 at the in the City Council Chambers at the Fort Dodge Municipal Building, 819 1st Avenue South.
