March 29, 2024 (DES MOINES) — Officials with the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) today (Friday) awarded approximately $125,000 in Certified Local Government Grants to nine communities around the state, including Creston, Manning and Sioux City. The Certified Local Government program encourages governmental partnerships, provides training and technical assistance, and supports preservation of historic resources at the local level. Iowa’s program is one of the largest in the nation and is administered by the State Historic Preservation Office in conjunction with the National Park Service. Funding for the Certified Local Government grants comes from the Historic Preservation Fund administered by the National Park Service.

The grant awards will support projects including:

• The development of Uptown Creston District’s National Register of Historic Places nomination.
• The creation of a Historic Structure Report for Sacred Heart Catholic Church that will establish a roadmap for rehabilitation and reuse for this vacant property in Fort Dodge.
• The completion of a survey of the Overman Park Neighborhood, one of the early residential neighborhoods adjacent to Historic Downtown Cedar Falls.

The City of Creston received a grant of $10,655 after they completed an intensive survey and identified a potential historic district. Creston will hire a consultant to complete a National Register nomination of the downtown district, known locally as Uptown Creston including the heart of our Uptown, Maple Street. The City will provide a local match of $7,104 toward the total project cost of $17,759.

The City of Manning received a $12,900 grant from IEDA for a redevelopment and reuse plan will be created for the building at the prominent corner of Main Street & 3rd Street in Manning. Originally a bank and the Manning Telephone company, these two distinct buildings were later joined on the inside. The property has been vacant for years and have seen significant deterioration. The city acquired them so they can again contribute to the vibrant downtown. The City’s local share of the estimated $21,500 is $8,600.

And, Sioux City received a $15,973 grant from IEDA to undertake Phase IA Archaeological Reconnaissance Surveys at two sites: War Eagle Monument and Park and an agricultural land parcel north of the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District. This project will provide a report and archaeological record containing data and information that can be used to determine each site’s historical significance and integrity for a potential nomination form to list each site in the National Register of Historic Places. The City’s share of the estimated $26,622 project cost is $10,649.

You can download a spreadsheet featuring all of Friday’s awards, here.

IEDA and Iowa Finance Authority Director Debi Durham says “Each of these projects represent the growing momentum for community revitalization through historic preservation. This investment in projects across Iowa will have a significant economic impact and demonstrates our commitment to local preservation in partnership with our state’s 90 Certified Local Governments.”

The grants are administered through IEDA’s Iowa State Historic Preservation Office. The funding will be distributed in the form of matching grants to the selected Certified Local Government projects.