Preservation Projects Receive Funding

I-JOBS and SOS grants go to Main Streets and history organizations

Posted by CC on September 12th, 2010 1:04 pm

In August, Governor Culver announced $13 Million in I-JOBS Main Street Iowa Grants and $51 Thousand to support small and mid-sized arts, history, and cultural organizations in Iowa.

According to an August 16 press release, “the Iowa legislature appropriated the I-JOBS funding for utilization in Main Street Iowa designated districts for projects that are currently on IDED’s highest priority list. Funds were awarded to 24 projects in Main Street Iowa communities for physical infrastructure projects. Rehabilitation projects include: Bedford’s historic Battery Company building, Burlington’s Capitol Theater, Cedar Rapids’ Suchy Building, Central City’s Gambles Building, Corning’s Opera House, Davenport’s Hilltop Campus Village, Greenfield’s Greenfield Hotel, Osceola’s Masonic Lodge, Oskaloosa’s Trolley Place, Ottumwa’s KMGO Building, State Center’s Brimhall Building, Story City’s Charlson Building, Washington’s Bodyworx Building, Waterloo’s Newton’s Jewelers Building, West Branch’s Hoover House, West Des Moines’ Historic City Hall, and West Union’s Chamber of Commerce Building. Grants were also awarded for facade master plans for Belle Plaine, Bloomfield, and Woodbine, and a streetscape project for West Union. New construction will also be funded in two Main Street communities: Charles City and West Branch. These grants are administrated through the Iowa Department of Economic Development’s Main Street Iowa Program.

On August 26, Governor Chet Culver and Lt. Governor Patty Judge announced 22 small operating support grants totaling $51,061. The Small Operating Support (SOS) grant program, administrated by the Department of Cultural Affairs, is designed to help small and mid-sized arts, history and cultural organizations with operational expenses, such as personnel, equipment purchases, software purchases, staff training or marketing and promotional expenses. Historic organizations receiving awards forsoftware, web design, and outreach included the Buffalo Center Historical Society, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Park & Museum in Burr Oak, the Franklin County Historical Society, the Warren County Historical Society, and Historic Muscatine. In addition, the National 19th Amendment Society in Charles City, the Nodaway Valley Historical Society Museum in Clarinda, the Elgin Historical Society, Dover Historical Society in New London, the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association in Sioux City received awards for exhibits and collections. Additional awards were given to arts and culture organizations.

Preservation Iowa congratulates all of the Main Street Communities and history organizations receiving awards in August.