When it comes to the development of quality of life, our area communities work hard to achieve balance as well as social, economic and environmental sustainability. Two of these communities will be recognized for project development by 1000 Friends of Iowa this Thursday, Jan. 21 at the Iowa State Capital Building during the 2015 Best Development Awards. The Glidden Wellness Center project will be awarded first place in the Renovated Civic category for taking the vacant, dilapidated former newspaper building and converting into a state-of-the-art wellness center. Spurred by local high school student advocates, the Glidden City Council worked to integrate smart development practices that contribute to the health and wellness of residents as well as the vibrancy and sustainability of the entire community. Manning is up for two Honorable Mention Awards. The Manning Downtown Revitalization project will receive an Honorable Mention award for Leadership. This 17-façade project was launched after the city received a Community Development Block Grant in 2012. Those dollars, combined with other private and public partnerships and countless volunteer hours brought the historic structures and storefronts of the 475 linear feet of Manning’s Main Street back to life. They will also be recognized in the Renovated Commercial category for the work done on the landmark Deb’s Corner Café building. The commitment to preservation was perfectly depicted as the bricks to this building were removed by hand, one at time, then saved for reuse in the renovation. The public is invited to attend the awards ceremony taking place on the first floor rotunda from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Additional details about each of the winning projects from across the state can be found by following this link.
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