(Wiota, Iowa) – The Wiota Steakhouse and Lounge façade revitalization construction is expected to be completed this month (June 2023) in time for Wiota’s Sesquicentennial Celebration. The city of Wiota received a grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) in June 2022 under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Covid Façade program with assistance from Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO). This grant was to revitalize the Wiota Steakhouse and Lounge and construction is nearing completion this month.

The CDBG award was for $300,000 in construction costs and administration and the owner contributed $95,433 of their own funding for architect and construction costs. These funds were able to repair the facades on the North, West, and South sides of the existing structure.

Brenda Williams, owner of Wiota Steakhouse and Lounge, said “I am excited to see this project getting so close to completion. We are celebrating Wiota’s Sesquicentennial this June and our city park is getting new playground equipment so the town will be looking its best just in time for the celebration.”

The playground also benefited from grant writing assistance from SWIPCO. SWIPCO assisted the City of Wiota with securing the Rural Revitalization Grant for $20,000 to help purchase the new playground equipment in Wiota.

The focus of CDBG Covid Façade programs is to eliminate “slum and blight” in communities by completing important building façade repairs and storefront improvements while respecting historic character. To participate, a property owner must contribute a minimum of 10% of the construction cost, commit to the program throughout the grant period, sign related documents, make timely payments, and follow all related grant requirements.

“A facelift to the exterior of the building was previously planned by the owners for summer 2020 but the financial repercussions from Covid-19 delayed this plan. The delay of this project caused further problems for the exterior of the building,” stated Tammy DeBord, Grants Specialist III with SWIPCO. “This grant allowed the building to be restored so that it can remain a source of pride for the residents and this business that draws people to Wiota.”

SWIPCO routinely provides grant writing and administration services to its member communities in Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby Counties and has brought over $129 million in grants to the region in the last year alone.