Main Street Washington receives $50,000 HUD Challenge Grant

On Saturday afternoon, Main Street Washington received a $50,000 HUD Main Street Challenge Grant from Governor Terry Bransted and Main Street Iowa to start rennovations to the Triune Building at 210-212 South Marion Ave. in downtown Washington, Iowa.

The Triune Building is owned by Sandy Johnson, who plans to rennovate the building. Ms. Johnson is also the Mayor of Washington and a recent retiree hoping to work on a challenging project, which this certainly is.

According to Main Street Iowa, 

The Challenge Grant program is funded through an appropriation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  Since the first appropriation in 2002, this program has awarded a total of $4.9 million and has leveraged approximately $36.9 million in local investments.

The Challenge Grant program is funded through an appropriation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  Since the first appropriation in 2002, this program has awarded a total of $4.9 million and has leveraged approximately $36.9 million in local investments.

Since Congress has stopped doing special appropriations, this is likely the last HUD Main Street Challenge Grant for the foreseeable future. Senator Tom Harkin has been instrumental in securing these appropriations since 2002.

In its 3-year history, Main Street Washington has received one other HUD Main Street Challenge Grant, which was $50,000 to do facade and building improvements to the BodyWrx Fitness Center on the East side of the Washington town square.

There were a total of 9 HUD Main Street Challenge Grants awarded for $430,000.  Other projects awarded in The Corridor include:

• Czech Village/New Bohemia (Cedar Rapids) - $50,000 for restoration of buildings at 1113 & 1117 3rd St. SE.
• Main Street West Branch - $30,000 for restoration of a building at 109 W. Main St.