(Des Moines) — The Le Mars Mainstreet Organization was given good news Wednesday when it had learned that it was one of 13 Iowa communities to receive funding through a state grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Known as the Iowa Mainstreet Challenge, Le Mars mainstreet will receive $75,000 which will be used to help with historical restoration of the Le Mars Beauty College. Le Mars Mainstreet Coordinator, Mary Reynolds explains how the grant will be leveraged.
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Reynolds explains the work that will be conducted on the Beauty College building.
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Stacy Anderson, along with her husband, Todd, own the building. She says restoration of the Beauty College building would not have been possible if not for the Challenge grant through the Iowa Mainstreet Organization and the Iowa Economic Development Authority.
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Anderson says the building has several unique characteristics. She says after her husband and her obtained ownerhip last year, there were a number of criteria that had to be met before consideration would be given for a grant approval.
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Anderson explains the breakdown of the grant.
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The Challenge Grant program is funded through an appropriation from the Iowa Legislature. Since the first appropriation in 2002, approximately $5 million in state and federal funds has leveraged over $34 million in private reinvestment in 97 projects in 42 Main Street Iowa commercial districts across the state.
