We are very excited about this week's news that Grinnell's application for designation as an Iowa Reinvestment Act district has advanced to the next round, scoring the highest of the eight applications submitted this year. 

 

A delegation of Grinnell representatives will present to the Iowa Economic Development Authority in a few weeks. If our district is approved, our community will be able to take the state sales tax generated in the district and reinvest it back into projects within it. Our application requests a total of $8 million in funding to invest back into five projects, all located downtown. 

 

The projects include repurposing the Community Center building into a boutique hotel and event center, improvements to Central Park, development of the area connecting downtown to the college campus, the final phase of downtown reconstruction, and Grinnell College's plan to remodel and add to Alumni Recitation Hall and Faculty House. 

 

Grinnell Community Center

Central Park Plan

 

While working with the team to write our application, I was wowed by the large scale projects being planned in Grinnell over the next few years. The five projects in our application total $127 million in investment, larger than most of the other communities that applied. That is quite the feat considering we are by far the smallest community to apply. Other cities that advanced to the presentation round are: 

Coalville - 185.3 million investment

Davenport - 73.8 million investment

Mason City - 36.2 million investment

Sioux City - 73.8 million investment

 

All of these projects combined have great potential to attract more people to our downtown. We will keep you updated as the application process moves forward and as each of these community projects begins to take shape. Exciting things ahead! 

  

~Emily Counts 

 

WINE AND WOOD FIRED OVEN PIZZA NIGHT

CENTRAL IOWA PREMIERE OF 'HOUSEBROKEN' is Saturday, May 2 at 7:30pm in the Loft Theatre at the Grinnell Arts Center.

MICHELLE'S DANCE ACADEMY DANCE RECITAL is May 1-2 at 7pm and May 3 at 2pm at Grinnell High School.

TUPPERWISE SATURDAY SALE is May 2 at 8am at Tupperwise Sales.

WINE AND CINCO DE MAYO is Saturday, May 2 at Tassel Ridge Winery at 6pm.

CONCERT: SPRING SONATA is Sunday, May 3 at Faulconer Gallery at 4pm.

SE*ED PROGRAM: "RESPIRATORY THERAPY- THE BASICS" is Monday, May 4 at 10 am at Drake Community Library.

SPENCER WEST: "REDEFINING POSSIBLE" is Monday, May 4 at noon at Lewis-Sebring Hall.

"RE-WRITING THE RURAL NARRATIVE: BRAIN GAIN" is May 4 and 5 at Drake Community Library and Grinnell College.

HOME BUYING AND FINANCE BASICS is Monday, May 4 at 6pm at Iowa Valley Grinnell.

PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE AND STEEL BAND RECITAL

Poweshiek Animal League Shelter is in need of monetary donations, donations of supplies, and volunteers. The shelter typically sees an increase in numbers as spring approaches and needs assistance to care for the animals. Those interested in volunteering or donating may visit Palspets.us, call 641-236-4288, or email palspetsia@gmail.com.