(Des Moines) — The LeMars Chamber of Commerce Mainstreet Program was the recipient of a Housing Urban Development Challenge Grant presented this morning. Iowa Senator Tom Harkin made the presentation. LeMars, was one of only nine Iowa communities to receive a portion of the $707,000 grant funding.
Mary Reyonlds of the LeMars Main Street says the total amount LeMars is to receive is $30,000. Reynolds says the grant money will be used to help upgrade the American Legion hall.
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Reynolds says the actual amount for the American Legion facade upgrade will be $60,000 through local matching efforts.
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Senator Harkin says “Iowa’s Main streets are the embodiment of the American small town life: a place where communities come together and share in the town’s rich history. The Challenge Grant program is funded through an appropriation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Since the first appropriation in 2002, the program has awarded a total of $4.8 million dollars and has leveraged about $43 million in local investments.
