[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 131 (Monday, October 17, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11418-S11419]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           BURLINGTON, A CORNERSTONE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

 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 is smart. It is effective. 
And it touches communities and people in very concrete ways.
  For example, the town of Burlington, IA, is making an effort to 
improve the aesthetics and function of its downtown area. So many of 
our rural communities are fading away, but with the assistance of 
Federal funding through a Main Street grant, Burlington is revitalizing 
its downtown. Downtown Burlington has been waiting for a grocery

[[Page S11419]]

store for years, and all studies and market analysis done in the city 
for the past 10 years have shown that a grocery store would be a great 
asset to the area. Becky and Tom Shockley, two Burlington citizens, 
have led the charge to get this project completed, and will be 
investing almost $4 million into this project made possible through the 
Main Street Challenge Grant. This project serves the people of 
Burlington in more ways than just providing them a grocery store; it 
will create jobs, increase the tax base, and help to improve the 
community at large.
  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 Burlington, 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. With a continued increase in residents living in 
downtown Burlington, a grocery store is a much needed addition. When 
people see one of 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.
  So I congratulate Becky and Tom Shockley and the citizens of 
Burlington for putting together a winning proposal to secure a Main 
Street Challenge Grant. Their efforts to reinvigorate their historic 
downtown are setting a terrific example for other small towns across 
America, and for that, I salute them.

                          ____________________