(Atlantic) The Iowa Economic Development Authority awarded the City of Atlantic and Marne a Community Development Block Grant for $493,997.00. The block grant is for improvements to the Atlantic Municipal Utilities water plant and distribution system.
The funds are part of a $1 million improvement project including repair of two pressure water filters, clear well, maintenance, and 1,250 linear feet of water main to provide redundant crossing under the Nishnabotna River.
“This water system not only benefits the water system for the entire City of Atlantic but also for the City of Marne as well because they’re AMU customers,” said Alexsis Fleener, the Community Development Team Director at the Southwest Iowa Planning Council.
Fleener says the project will benefit the low to moderate-income residents in both communities. She says the grant money will cover about half of the total project cost. “So the water rate and expense don’t get passed on to all of the users,” said Fleener.
Atlantic Municipal Utilities General Manager Steve Tjepkes says the grant goes a long way to ensure AMU provides excellent service to its customers while keeping user costs low. Tjepkes thanks the State of Iowa for awarding the funds, and SWIPCO for all of their hard work.
SWIPCO is a council of governments and designated EDA economic development district based in Atlantic and supported by the cities and counties of an eight-county region including; Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Montgomery, Mills, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby Counties. CDBG funds are used for a variety of projects with varying application deadlines. Communities with needs are encouraged to contact SWIPCO staff early in their project development to work on a successful funding strategy.
