-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Kris Patrick, director of Main Street Fort Dodge, right, accepts a check Wednesday in the amount of $75,000 for a Challenge Grant project through Main Street Iowa. Debi Durham, executive director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Finance Authority, presents the check at right at First United Methodist Church.

Fort Dodge was awarded one of 13 Challenge grants during the Main Street Iowa fall conference on Wednesday.

Kris Patrick, director of Main Street Fort Dodge, accepted the $75,000 check from Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority, at First United Methodist Church.

The Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant is a grant program provided by Main Street Iowa and the Iowa Economic Development Authority for brick-and-mortar building projects.

The grant will be used to enhance the Hower Block at 1109 Central Ave., located across the street from Daniel Pharmacy. The estimated project cost is $192,500.

“It was purchased last spring and the upper apartments will be rehabilitated and a new business will be going on the first floor,” Patrick said.

The owner of the property is HOM Investments 2 LLC.

DEV Partners is going to manage the redevelopment project.