(Estherville)– The Estherville City Council Monday approved a request for assistance from the Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Commission for applying for a state grant. City Administrator Penny Clayton says if awarded, it would provide a local match for a FEMA buyout program of two properties in Estherville severely damaged in the 2024 flood…
“We would need to make application to the Community Development Block Grant. That application process is very complex. It has very specific rules and guidelines that it needs to follow. I am not an expert on that, however our friends at Northwest Iowa Planning and Development are.”
Clayton says the agreement for Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Commission’s assistance with the application is $2,500. She says if awarded, the grant would cover the city’s $25,000 share of the buyout…
“And I think compared to the $25,000 previously committed local match, that’s a good investment and I would highly recommend that we use their services to get that application submitted. That portion is not going to be eligible for any sort of reimbursement. We will have to just pay that out of the General Fund. However, inside the grant application, they will do the construction and grant administration for us as well, making sure all of the I’s or dotted and the T’s are crossed in that we are actually able to collect the monies from the grant and so that will be reimbursed by the grant itself, so.”
The council voted unanimously to enter into the agreement with the Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Commission.
