November 6, 2024 (DES MOINES) — The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) today (Wednesday) awarded $930,808 in Main Street Iowa Challenge Grants to 10 communities around the state. The grants help redevelop or rehabilitate underused buildings as a way to stimulate economic growth and further investment in Iowa’s historic main streets.

Projects include:

• Transforming two vacant historic buildings in downtown Keokuk into first-floor commercial space and upper-story housing.
• Rehabilitating a historic gas station along Lincoln Highway in Woodbine to accommodate a one-stop hub for real estate services.
• Enhancing the facades of five historic storefronts, including the thriving Lansing Hardware Hank retail business in Lansing, to create a cohesive look and elevate the visual appeal of the entire block.

Debi Durham Director of IEDA and the Iowa Finance Authority says “Challenge Grants help us preserve rich historic character while breathing new life into our traditional downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. New businesses and residents are drawn to energized main streets, which radiates outward to grow local economies across the state.” The grants are administered through IEDA’s Iowa Downtown Resource Center and Main Street Iowa programs. The funding will be distributed in the form of matching grants to the selected Main Street programs. The estimated total cost of these 10 projects is more than $3.3 million.

Since the first Challenge Grants were awarded in 2002, more than $15.5 million in funds have leveraged more than $70.5 million in further investment. See the full list of grantees and their projects, below: