(Radio Iowa) — Thirty-two Iowa towns were awarded federal grants Monday totaling $9.6 million. Brooke Miller, spokesperson for the Iowa Economic Development Authority, which selected the recipients of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, says “The federally-funded grants are awarded for community facilities, downtown revitalization, and single-family owner-occupied rehabilitation projects.”

Locally, the Southern Iowa Council of Governments (SICOG), received a $252,000 Housing Sustainability grant for six units in Bedford, from the IEDA. The Region 12 Council of Governments received a $209, 500 HS grant and $2,500 in local or other support for five housing units in Coon Rapids, and the same amount plus $5,000 in local/other funds, for five housing units in Manning, and $251,000 for six housing units in Templeton, with an additional $3,000 in local/other funding. SWIPCO (The Southwest Iowa Planning Council), received $240,222 plus $8,778 in local/other funds, for six housing units in Essex.

Two other area cities – Carson and Creston – received $500,000 CBDG funds for the rehabilitation of 12 and 13 building facades, respectively. An additional $581,178 in local/other funds was provided for the project in Carson, while in Creston, an additional $448,605 was provided through local/other funds.

Ottumwa is getting the largest grant among the 32 mostly rural Iowa cities. “The City of Ottumwa has received an $800,000 grant for stormwater, green streets, and streetscape improvements to their downtown,” according to Brooke Miller.

Miller said the I-E-D-A received 48 applications, totaling $14.1 million in funding requests. The CDBG program is federally funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.