Governor Kim Reynolds in EG

“Eagle Grove has once again caught the attention of the Governor with our aggressive moves to take this small agricultural town to the next level,” said Mayor Sandy McGrath on Governor Kim Reynolds’ brief stop in Eagle Grove on Tuesday, Oct. 15.

The Governor made the stop to talk with McGrath and Eagle Grove City Administrator Bryce Davis about how this small rural town is seeing growth, improving their main street, and working on housing as well as rehabilitation projects.

“We have a lot going on,” Davis told the Governor as the tour began on Lucas Street.

In addition to talking about the water plant improvements, he also pointed out the ambitions they have to repair and restore the former Chamber building that sits on that street. “The Girl Scouts and Narcotics Anonymous have started using the buildings for their meetings,” added Mayor McGrath.

The Governor seemed impressed by the building as well as the fact that the City was actively pursuing a grant application to help them rehab the building. Davis told her that if all goes according to plan, and they receive the grant, that they hope to start exterior work on the building next spring, making it another viable store/office front for Eagle Grove.

Located right next to that building is the old Ford Dealership that McGrath and Davis explained was being renovated to a top-floor six-apartment complex and the main level to a retail space thanks to a $100,000 Catalyst Grant that had been received.

“There are some great partnerships here,” Governor Reynolds commented. “I’m a big fan of refurbished buildings...there’s so much character and history in them.”

The Governor was also anxious to learn more about the plan for the downtown streetscape project the City has received a grant for. This downtown revise project comes in at $7.1 million with the majority being funded through the grant.

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