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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 2, 2017
MEDIA CONTACT: Scott Flagg, 515-725-8318 or Scott.Flagg@dnr.iowa.gov.
DES MOINES – Small
rural communities looking for assistance to help renovate or deconstruct
abandoned commercial and public structures can apply for funding through the
Derelict Building Grant Program.
Applications for the next round of funding are due at 4 p.m. on
April 21.
The
grant program, instituted by state legislation, helps rural Iowa communities
with populations of 5,000 or less to deconstruct or renovate abandoned
commercial and public structures. The program emphasizes reuse and recycling of
building items, helps improve street appearance and commercial development, and
alleviates the environmental concern these buildings can pose. Financial
assistance includes asbestos removal, building deconstruction and renovation,
and other environmental services.
The city of Granville
used Derelict Building Grant Program
funding to remove asbestos from and deconstruct an old school building they had acquired from a
local Catholic church. With grant funding, the city was able to divert 97
percent of the deconstruction waste from the landfill by finding local markets
for concrete, brick, scrap and dimensional lumber. That saved the city $33,000
in landfill disposal costs. Granville replaced the school with a new fire and
emergency services station.
Funding is awarded annually on a
competitive basis. A committee from the Iowa DNR, Iowa Society of Solid Waste
Operations, Iowa Recycling Association, Iowa Economic Development Authority and
Keep Iowa Beautiful selects the projects for funding. For more information and to obtain an application on
the Derelict Building Grant Program, contact Scott Flagg at 515-725-8318 or Scott.Flagg@dnr.iowa.gov.
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