Broulik building awarded $75,000 from IEDA

The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) has awarded $933,300 in Main Street Iowa Challenge Grants to 14 communities around the state, including $75,000 to the Broulik building project in Main Street Mount Vernon.

The grants will benefit local improvement projects such as façade upgrades and restoration, upper floor rehabilitation, building stabilization and repairs and remodeled spaces for expanding downtown businesses.  The announcements were made during a ceremony held Nov. 15, at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

The grants are administered through IEDA’s Iowa Downtown Resource Center and Main Street Iowa programs. The funding will be distributed in the form of matching grants to the selected Main Street programs. The estimated total project cost of the 14 bricks-and-mortar projects is over $2.7 million.

“Each project must provide at least a dollar-for-dollar cash-match.  In total, these projects will leverage three times the state’s investment into bricks-and-mortar rehabilitation. These projects will also have a significant economic impact within each district and have a direct impact on each community’s downtown revitalization efforts,” explained Main Street Iowa State Coordinator Michael Wagler. 

According to the grant application, Dale and Brenda Broulik are planning a complete renovation of the lower level of 103 1st St. NW, to provide a new commercial space in the existing building, which will be utilized as a tasting room and event space for Glyn Mawr Vineyard and Winery. Work will also include the construction of a wine garden/patio seating for customers, a two-story deck for residents on the 2nd floor and business tenant on the 1st floor.

“We are thrilled that our grant application was chosen as one of 14 projects out of the 24 that were submitted,” said Brenda Broulik. “This money will help us complete the vision my daughter (Anna Wilson) and I had when we started Glyn Mawr Winery in 2015, and we can’t wait to bring this wine tasting room and patio to Mount Vernon.”

The Challenge Grant program is funded through an appropriation from the Iowa Legislature.  Since the first appropriation in 2002 through 2016, approximately $6.8 million in state and federal funds have leveraged over $45 million of private reinvestment. Over the life of the program, 138 projects in 49 Main Street Iowa commercial districts across the state have received funding.

About the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group

The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group exists to improve the social and economic well-being of Mount Vernon and Lisbon by capitalizing on their unique identity, assets and character. Mount Vernon was selected as a Main Street community in 2008, and practices economic development within the context of historic preservation.

About Main Street

The Main Street Approach is a copyrighted process of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  The Program has been used in Iowa since 1986 with a total of 56 communities having participated.  Mount Vernon was selected as a Main Street community on March 4, 2008 by the State of Iowa, after submitting a comprehensive application and presenting to a select board of reviewers.

 


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