[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 111 (Thursday, September 8, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S9828]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 DUBUQUE, IOWA, DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION

 Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, one of the greatest challenges we 
face--not just in Iowa but all across America--is preserving the 
character and vitality of our towns. This is about economics, but it is 
also about our culture and identity. After all, you won't find the 
heart and soul of Iowa at Wal-Mart or Home Depot out in the strip 
malls. No, the heart and soul of Iowa is in our family farms, and on 
Main Street in communities all across my State. That is why we need to 
be as generous as possible--and creative as possible--in keeping our 
downtowns not just alive but thriving.
  As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I am involved in 
funding many hundreds of programs every year. But the Main Street Iowa 
program--providing challenge grants to revitalize downtown buildings 
across my State--is in a class by itself. It's smart. It's effective. 
And it touches communities and people in very concrete ways.
  For example, the citizens of Dubuque, IA are showing much initiative 
in restoring and renovating their downtown area. Dubuque actually 
received two Main Street Challenge Grants for their downtown; one to 
restore a six-building, 30-residential unit, 13-storefront 
neighborhood, and one to revive a landmark building downtown.
  The Upper Main Revitalization project started as a two-building 
rehab, and has since expanded to six buildings. Marking an important 
gateway into Dubuque's downtown district, Upper Main, arguably the 
neediest district in the city center, will be taken from one of the 
most blighted blocks remaining in downtown Dubuque to one of the most 
refreshed, vibrant stretches of street in the district. This project 
will put the second and third floors of these buildings back into 
residential use for the first time in more than 30 years. Momentum is 
already growing in this district as a result of this project.
  The second grant will be used to renovate and restore the Old German 
Bank, whose most recent incarnation was as the Silver Dollar Cantina. 
This building is an extremely significant structure in the oldest 
Historic District in Dubuque. The building suffered a double hit 3 1/2 
years ago when the sandy soil in the Main Street area settled, causing 
cracks in the building. This halted business for several months. Then a 
few months after it reopened, a fire totaled the building. The Silver 
Dollar Cantina was popular long before the Old Main district was 
considered to be trendy, so it was a considerable loss to the downtown 
area when it was forced to close. With the use of their Main Street 
Grant, the Silver Dollar will open again, filling the niche of a 
popular lunchtime spot and even more popular nightclub. This grant is 
serving to preserve a true anchor of the community.
  The beauty of the Main Street Iowa program is that the ideas and 
initiatives come from our towns and rural communities. I have been 
pleased to secure $1.5 million in funding since 2002 for Main Street 
Iowa Challenge Grants. The Main Street programs of the Iowa Department 
of Economic Development help provide technical assistance, but, as we 
have seen in Dubuque, success itself comes from local leadership, local 
teamwork, and home-grown ideas and solutions.
  This project is a shining example of new construction and a catalyst 
for future projects. When people see the anchors on Main Street being 
renovated or expanded, this can change the whole psychology of a town 
or community. It offers hope. It serves as a catalyst for a far-
reaching ripple effect of positive changes.
  So I congratulate the citizens of Dubuque for putting together 
winning Main Street proposals. Their efforts to reinvigorate their 
historic downtown are setting a terrific example for other small towns 
across America, and for that, I salute them.

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