The Riverside City Council has passed a resolution committing matching funds in support of a downtown revitalization grant. 

Terri and Matt Seidl, the owners of the building on 40 W. 1st Street in Riverside, requested financial support from the city to apply for the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Community Catalyst Grant. The grant, according to the IEDA, is for the “redevelopment, rehabilitation or deconstruction of buildings to stimulate economic growth or reinvestment in the community.” 

If successful in the grant application, the owners plan to turn the building into an ice cream shop. Riverside City Administrator Cole Smith says providing support for this project falls in line with the city’s priorities toward downtown revitalization, “I think that’s something exciting for our community. We’ve done a lot of downtown revitalization work these last few years and this is just another step toward having a downtown that has active retail stores, is hopefully busy and looks good, can be something that everyone can enjoy.”

The grant specifies that the city must be the official applicant for the grant, and provide financial or in-kind resources. The city council decided on a resolution committing $62,500 in support for the project, or 25-percent of eligible project costs, whichever is less. Smith says the estimated cost of the project is $202,000. Funds will go toward renovations including roof and window work, thermal and moisture barrier work, interior finishing, and other work as needed. 

Grant awards will be announced in a month.