The Iowa Department of Economic Development is handing out over 24-million dollars in grants for 82 projects across the state today. Department interim director Michael Tramontina began the day handing out grants in Atlantic. Tramontina says the Community Development Block Grants can be used for affordable housing, water or sewer infrastructure or community buildings.
Six communities: Hamburg, Manchester, Mason City, Monticello, Oskaloosa, Williamsburg, are receiving grants ranging from 300 to 600-thousand dollars for childcare facilities. Tramontina says many of the communities don’t have a big tax base and these funds help them. He the funds help primarily "low and moderate income communities." Several communities are getting grants for their sewer and water systems.
Tramontina says much of the work being funded is new for communities that are "unsewered" and are putting in sewer treatment facilities. Others are being connected to rural water systems and the grants help pay for water lines.
Tramontina says the grants provide a large portion of the money needed for the projects. He says the communities usually have to come up with 25-percent of the funds locally. Tramontina will also travel to Storm Lake, Grinnell and Waverly to present their awards in person.