[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 111 (Thursday, September 8, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9828-S9829]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              CENTRAL CITY, 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

[[Page S9829]]

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'm 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 Central City, IA, are making efforts to 
improve their downtown areas. Central City received a $50,000 Main 
Street Challenge Grant in 2002, and has since put that money to use 
renovating 4 different buildings.
  This first project was built in 1914 as a bank, but housed taverns 
and bars for more than 60 years. It was vacant for 15 years before 
renovation, and is now in use as an art and gift center. It was the 
winner of a 2004 Main Street Iowa Award for best total rehabilitation 
of a small building.
  The next project allowed an international shipping and marketing 
service company, to repair and re-paint the facade of their building, 
improving the roof, decking, masonry, and parapets.
  The third project, the McShane Annex, has been empty since 1989 when 
a fire destroyed the interior of the building. Using the Main Street 
Grant, the building's renovation included a new rubber roof, removal of 
warped plywood covering on the windows, an installation of energy 
efficient windows, and a restoration of the historic storefront of the 
two-story, brick Victorian commercial building. The building is now the 
home of Timeless Treasures, an Americana retail store.
  The final project is the renovation of the former Mills Hardware 
building, another two story, brick Victorian commercial structure. This 
building was vacant for 10 years. Rear windows were broken and the 
upstairs had become the home for nesting birds, but with the help of 
the Main Street grant, the building quickly turned into the home of 
Aragon Mortgage and Aragon Medical Equipment. Improvements and 
renovations to the building included the installation of a new roof, 
repair of the masonry, a paint job for the wood trim, the decorative 
metal window cornices, and the roof parapet, the addition of an ADA-
compliant entrance, the creation of a new housing for the freight 
elevator, and the installation of more than 20 energy-efficient 
windows.
  The beauty of the Main Street Iowa program is that the ideas and 
initiatives come from our small 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 Central City, success itself comes from local 
leadership, local teamwork, and home-grown ideas and solutions.
  These projects are a shining example of new construction and a 
catalyst for future projects. When people see the anchor businesses 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 and 
future development.
  I congratulate the citizens of Central City for putting together 
winning proposals to secure Main Street Challenge Grants. 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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