Eastern Iowa towns get funding for downtown housing, retail space

Nine Eastern Iowa communities will receive $100,000 grants to help them with projects to revitalize underused buildings.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority announced Thursday that it will award $1.8 million in grants to 18 communities across the state. The money comes from the Community Catalyst Building Remediation program, which is funded through state appropriations.

The state agency received 53 applications for this year's grants.

'Reinvesting in the redevelopment of buildings ultimately is about creating an environment where businesses and people can thrive,” Iowa Economic Development Authority Director Debi Durham said in a news release.

The Eastern Iowa communities that will receive grants include:

' Bellevue - renovation of a former button factory into a welcome and business development center

' Brooklyn - improvements to the Brooklyn Opera House, a 250-person theater

' Cascade - restoration of an former bank building into business space and apartments

' Dyersville - changing a sewing factory into a brewery, tasting room and event space

' Grinnell - renovation of the 800 block of Fourth Avenue into residential and commercial space

' Hawkeye - rehabilitation of an opera house, as well as commercial and apartment space

' Keota - renovation of a main street building into law offices and apartments

' Maquoketa - buildout of a main street building into commercial space and apartments

' McGregor - renovation of the Sullivan Opera House into housing and shopping.

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