More than $400,000 will be going to 12 rural Iowa communities for the renovation or destruction of abandoned buildings along with the removal of asbestos through the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Derelict Building Grant Program. Four of those communities are in the Carroll Broadcasting service area. Dedham is receiving the largest dollar award of the four at more than $58,000. The money will be used to assist with the asbestos removal and deconstruction of the old grocery store. The city plans to repurpose the space into a pocket park that allows people gather in the downtown area. Manson will use their nearly $35,000 award for asbestos removal and renovation of a former retail clothing store, turning it into a commercial space and Rockwell City has a little more than $25,000 for the renovation of a building constructed in the 1920s. The plan for that structure is to create commercial space on the main level and residential rentals on the second. And an old automotive dealership in Lake City will have asbestos abated with the $5,000 the city received for that project. The grant program was developed to assist Iowa communities with populations of 5,000 or less with the removal of environmental hazards. Not only does this improve the appearance of the communities, it also minimizes costs through recycling and reusing building materials, decreasing the amount that would normally go to a landfill. Grant funding is awarded annually on a competitive basis and a cash match is required. Applications for the next round of funding are due by Feb. 19, 2021 and a link to more information and the necessary forms can be found below.
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Link to Iowa DNR Derelict Building Grant Program web page: https://www.iowadnr.gov/Environmental-Protection/Land-Quality/Waste-Planning-Recycling/Derelict-Building-Program?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery