The Greene County Development Corporation Board met this past Tuesday in regular session.

The meeting began with an update from Iowa Economic Development Authority Business Development Manager Amber Rodgers who talked about a new program for communities to participate in. The Iowa Thriving Communities is a partnership with the Iowa Finance Authority to reward communities that are leveraging innovative methods to attract workforce housing to be developed. 

Rodgers said through an application process that begins May 15th and due by July 17th, communities that are selected based on six categories are given points. Housing developers will then see those communities listed through the IFA for federal low income housing and workforce housing tax credits to entice them to build in those communities. 

John Rigler, III, who serves on the Highway 144 Corridor Housing Initiative Board gave an update. He said their Board selected 25 matching grant applications for a total of $22,980 for exterior home improvement projects. He added, the total project costs of those 25 applications were $216,000 and their organization would match up to $1,000. 

GCDC Executive Director Ken Paxton’s report included the lease of the former Aureon building to Midwest Mission, who will lease the western portion of the facility as a distribution center for one year through May 1, 2024, with an option to purchase the building from GCDC.