The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) today awarded $1.1 million in Main Street Iowa Challenge Grants to 11 communities across the state: Boone, Centerville, Fairfield, Fort Dodge, Grundy Center, Lansing, Mount Vernon, Nevada, Newton, Ottumwa and West Des Moines.
The grants support the rehabilitation of underutilized downtown buildings, spurring economic growth and encouraging further investment in Iowa’s historic main streets.
In Fort Dodge, O’Goodies Irish Pub was the project recipient. The grant amount is $100,000. The project is described as rehabilitation of the building, including restaurant and pub expansion, a new patio and improvements to two upper-story residential units.
“The impact of these projects goes beyond the buildings themselves,” said Debi Durham, director of IEDA and the Iowa Finance Authority. “They bring new businesses, new residents and more reasons to head downtown. And that momentum can spread beyond one building or one block and throughout the entire community.”
“The Challenge Grant has consistently pushed many projects in Main Street communities forward,” said Jim Engle, director of the Iowa Downtown Resource Center. “These downtown building rehabilitation projects have created better business climates, brought historic buildings back to life and created a new, exciting vibe in our Main Street districts.”
