A new grant program will help communities clean up neglected buildings and spur economic growth.
Many Iowa towns have underutilized, dilapidated buildings. To address the problem, the Iowa Senate recently gave bipartisan approval to SF 2229. The bill creates the Community Catalyst Building Remediation Fund to provide grants to rehab or demolish eyesores that stunt economic growth.
Iowa’s Economic Development Authority will administer the fund, working with cities on plans to use grants in a way that is consistent with their community, housing and economic development goals. Forty percent of the money will go to towns with fewer than 1,500 residents.
The bill is now under consideration in the House.