Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) recently announced $16.5 million in grant funds and there’s one project designated in Dallas County. 

The Dallas County Conservation Board was announced as a recipient of the first round of the Destination Iowa Grant which awarded them $1 million for the last four miles of the Raccoon River Valley Trail to High Trestle Trail connector project. Conservation Director Mike Wallace says the funding will significantly help the project. 

“That $1 million. Leveraging some other grants that we are applying for, some local funds and some other fundraising dollars, once all those funds get put together it appears as though we have, at least on paper, enough funds to complete the project.”

Wallace tells Raccoon Valley Radio the proposed schedule for the last four miles would hopefully be finishing a majority of the project in 2023 with final completion in 2024. Wallace says it’s a good feeling to see so much support for something this important in Dallas County. 

“We have a lot of people that see the value and the economic positive impact from our trail system. We are very proud of the quality trail systems we have here in Dallas County, we work very hard to keep them mowed and trimmed and clean and neat. It’s good to see other people also appreciate that fact and at least in recent months we have had some additional funds that have been available and have been appropriated for our very important projects.”

On top of this funding the Board also recently received $5 million from the Dallas County Board of Supervisors which has some funding going toward the connector project as well.