Harris, Iowa — The City of Harris is one of nearly 60 communities in Iowa receiving awards from the Iowa Economic Development Authority.
The Authority awarded the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to support 59 community investment projects. The federally-funded grants were awarded for community facilities, infrastructure improvements, downtown revitalization and single family owner-occupied housing rehabilitation.
Harris’s grant is for $170,000 toward Wastewater Collection System Improvements to reduce infiltration & inflow; to reduce the amount of wastewater effluents needing to be treated; and to assist in efforts to reduce the size and magnitude of improvements needed to the treatment system.
Harris City Clerk Holly Wilson says that the project is in two phases. The project is in phase one right now, and these CDBG funds will go toward this phase, which she says was estimated to cost about $1.5 million dollars. She says they will also be applying for a second CDB grant in the next grant cycle for the second phase, which includes construction. She also says that the City of Harris will still need the funds from the wind turbine Tax Increment Financing agreement with Osceola County.
IEDA received 124 applications for these funds, totaling $36.3 million in funding requests. The grants are awarded based on benefit to low-and moderate-income persons, slum and blight elimination, financial need, project impact and readiness, and commitment of local resources to the project.
