KDSN RADIO News
Manning Receives $100,000 Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant
(Photo Courtesy of Manning Area Partners)
November 6, 2025 (MANNING, IA) — The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) has announced that Manning will receive a $100,000 Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant to support the next phase of a major downtown rehabilitation project.
The project, with a total cost of $237,200, includes a $137,200 local match from Manning community partners. Building on the success of a previous interior renovation that brought new businesses to the space, this phase will focus on restoring the building’s historic exterior and adding a daylit basement apartment to increase downtown housing options.
Specialized masonry work will preserve the building’s architectural character while ensuring long-term structural integrity — a priority in maintaining Manning’s historic downtown appeal.
“These projects are examples of the creativity and persistence we see in communities across Iowa,” said Debi Durham, director of IEDA and the Iowa Finance Authority. “When we invest in our main streets, we’re investing in the places where people come together — where entrepreneurs get their start, where families build memories, and where the character of our communities truly shines.”
The Main Street Challenge Grants are administered through IEDA’s Iowa Downtown Resource Center and Main Street Iowa programs. This year, ten Iowa communities received a combined $950,000 in matching funds to rehabilitate underutilized buildings and stimulate local investment.
Since the first Challenge Grants were awarded in 2002, more than $16.5 million in state funding has leveraged nearly $73.5 million in private investment across Iowa’s Main Street districts — including ongoing success stories like Manning’s.
For more information on the Main Street Iowa program and this year’s grant recipients, visit iowaeda.com.
