Main Street Manning has plenty of reasons to look back on 2015 with pride as they marked a year of accomplishments unseen in like-sized communities across the state. The organization clocked in over 19,000 volunteer hours with a dollar valuation of $363,300, registered $1,450,733 in private dollars invested in property rehabilitation since 2009 and have been awarded $262,500 in Challenge Grants. The ball got rolling early in 2015 with an Iowa Great Places designation and with Manning becoming the first community under a population of 5,000 to earn a Certified Connected Community Designation in January. The Small Business Administration came to town with award in hand in April to name Manning the first-ever Iowa Small Business Community of the Year. Cliff’s Place was recognized for the Best Total Renovation Project and Deb’s Corner Cafe for the Best Facade Project from the Main Street Iowa organization in May, and only a few short weeks later, Preservation Iowa recognized the Manning Downtown Revitalization Project with the Preservation at its Best Award in June. Not only that, they have received the Iowa Tourism Award for their outstanding Kinderfest celebration held every June. Manning has entered into partnerships with the Iowa State University College of Design, Drake University and the Iowa Restaurant Association and has also provided benefits free of charge to local businesses with designs for signage and awnings, webpage design and technical assistance. Keep your eyes and ears open for where this thriving community of 1,500 will be headed next year as the Main Street Manning organization continues to support, promote and preserve historic downtown Manning.
