Maquoketa officials have learned that the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) has awarded a CDBG Downtown Revitalization Grant to the City of Maquoketa. Maquoketa Mayor, Don Schwenker, was notified Monday, July 16, of the $500,000 for downtown façade rehabilitation.
“I am very pleased with the announcement of the grant award. This grant from the State will help build on the investment the City made as part of the Main Street reconstruction, and help leverage private investment in targeted downtown properties,” Mayor Schwenker said.
Over the past year and a half, the Jackson County Economic Alliance (JCEA), East Central Intergovernmental Association (ECIA), the Maquoketa Chamber of Commerce, 563 Design, and Heritage Works have been working with downtown property owners on an application to the Iowa Economic Development Authority for this grant. There was an immense amount of interest from downtown property owners; 18 buildings which represent 30 business addresses expressed a willingness to participate and make capital investments. Because there was so much interest, the City Council decided to split the downtown into two districts and focus on improvements on the west side of Main Street this grant round and the eastside next grant round.
“This is the start of what will be a truly transformative project for the City of Maquoketa. The partnership between the City, property owners, and the State is a great example of what public-private cooperation can accomplish,” said Nicolas Hockenberry, Director of the Jackson County Economic Alliance. This first phase of downtown façade rehabilitation is an approximately $1 million project and will impact ten properties in the downtown along the west side of Main St. and Platt St. $500,000 will come from the CDBG Grant, $250,000 from participating property owners, and $250,000 from the City of Maquoketa. Final bid specifications are now being prepared and construction will start in either fall 2018 or spring 2019.
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