The Main Street Manning organization has received a $50,000 HUD Challenge Grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority. A total of $430,000 in Housing and Urban Development Challenge Grants are being awarded to nine Iowa communities through a fund administered by the Iowa Downtown Resource Center and Main Street Iowa.  The funds will be distributed in the form of grants to the selected Main Street programs. The estimated total project cost of the nine projects is more than $1.2 million.

Governor Terry E. Branstad and Senator Tom Harkin joined representatives from the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Main Street Iowa to make the announcement during a special check presentation ceremony held Saturday, at the Des Moines Botanical Center. The grants will benefit local improvement projects such as repair of front and rear façades of downtown buildings, interior rehabilitations; restoration of historic downtown landmarks; accessibility improvements in historic properties and renovation of upper floor living spaces.

The Challenge Grant program is funded through an appropriation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  Since the first appropriation in 2002, the program has awarded a total of $4.9 million and has leveraged approximately $36.9 million in local investments.