Representative for Iowa’s Third Congressional District Cindy Axne (D) visited Guthrie Center and Stuart Monday.

Axne took a tour of downtown Guthrie Center with Main Street Guthrie Center Director Dana Buster, highlighting the renovation project at the Guthrie Activity Center and Main Street’s continuing work in the Williams Building. Buster explained to Axne how the organization’s goal over the next few years is to increase tourism and bring outside residents to Guthrie Center.

Axne then sat down with Stuart City Administrator Ashraf Ashour. He told Axne about the City’s increase in housing development, and expressed a desire for communities to have greater access to state and federal grants for rural development. Axne commented on her meeting with Ashour, “Well, I’m thrilled to be here in Stuart understanding that they’re doing well when it comes to housing. Because that’s a big issue that I’ve been hearing across multiple towns in our district. So I’m thrilled and I’ll be going back to them and asking them a little bit more about how you made this happen and how we can replicate something like that. And that’s another great thing, you take wins in some areas and then you’re able to give suggestions and work with other areas.”

Axne adds these visits are important for her to learn where there are gaps in acquiring grants or capital for economic development in smaller communities, and seek to help acquire funding through state and federal agencies.