Uptown Marion Awarded $100K Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant for Davis/Draper Building

Uptown Marion Awarded $100K Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant for Davis/Draper Building

The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) awarded Uptown Marion – A Main Street Iowa District a $100,000 Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant for the Davis/Draper Building. The historic Davis/Draper House (610 10th St.) sits on the corner of Marion’s City Square Park where it’s sat vacant for the past 2 years since the 2020 Derecho. Upon closer inspection it is in need of restoration and years of modernizations have significantly impacted the interior. Owner Nikki & Dick Kettelkamp plan to restore the exterior and interior back to its original splendor and fill the space with women entrepreneurs in retail, food, and service sectors to once again, bring vitality to this beloved building. Nikki is the owner of 2 successful local boutiques, Scout of Marion and Scribe.

“The Main Street Iowa Challenge grants have been instrumental in revitalizing Iowa’s historic main streets,” said IEDA and Iowa Finance Authority Director Debi Durham. “Reinvesting in our traditional commercial districts is good business. It’s good for our economy and good for our state. These projects will bring new businesses and new residents to our downtown districts.”

The grants are administered through IEDA’s Iowa Downtown Resource Center and Main Street Iowa programs. The funding will be distributed in the form of matching grants to the selected Main Street programs. The estimated total project cost of these 10 projects is over $2.8 million.

“Each project must provide at least a dollar-for-dollar cash-match,” said Michael Wagler, state coordinator for the Main Street Iowa program. “In total, these projects will actually leverage significantly more than the state’s investment into bricks and mortar rehabilitation. This investment will have a significant economic impact within each district.”

Since the first Challenge Grants were awarded in 2002, approximately $13.7 million in funds have leveraged more than $67 million in private investment. Over the life of the program, 216 projects in 56 Main Street Iowa commercial districts across the state have received funding.

For more information about the Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant program, contact Michael Wagler at 515.348.6184 or mainstreet@iowaeda.com.