Cedar Rapids council supports facade improvement, startup programs

CEDAR RAPIDS - The City Council has agreed to spend $100,000 on two new projects, $50,000 on a downtown facade-improvement program and the same amount to back an entrepreneurial start-up support venture.

In the facade fix-up initiative, the council's $50,000 is matching $50,000 contributed by the downtown property owner group, the Self-Supported Municipal Improvement District board.

Property owners who seek grants from the fund must pay 50 percent of the cost of any improvement, and the grant size can't exceed $100 per lineal foot of building.

The Iowa Startup Accelerator is located in the new three-story Geonetric Inc. office building at 415 12th Ave. SE in New Bohemia.

The project is designed to develop an environment for and a network of entrepreneurs, mentors and investors.

l Comments: (319) 398-8312; rick.smith@thegazette.com