“Fort Dodge Allocates Federal Funds to Support Small Businesses and Courthouse Upgrades”
– Webster County Board of Supervisors directed $6.9 million in federal funding to support public health and small businesses in the Fort Dodge area during the COVID-19 pandemic.
– The Webster County Courthouse will receive a significant portion of the funds, with nearly $4 million allocated for a much-needed heating and air conditioning modernization project.
Elaboration:
The Webster County Board of Supervisors made strategic decisions to allocate federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to address the pressing needs of public health and small businesses in the Fort Dodge area. Supervisor Mark Campbell commended the transparent and collaborative process that led to over 60 projects receiving funding.
Businesses in every town in Webster County, including Hummingbird Confections in Callender, Ole Town Road Pub & Eatery in Gowrie, and various establishments in Dayton, received grants ranging from a few thousand dollars to $10,000 each. The aim was to support these businesses while also enabling public events like the Dayton Labor Day Rodeo to continue safely. The rodeo received $100,000 for seating changes to promote social distancing.
Furthermore, the Webster County Courthouse will undergo a much-needed heating and air conditioning modernization project. The courthouse has already received significant funding amounts of $414,000 and $910,000 from the federal influx. The remaining unspent money, approximately $2.5 million, will be allocated to this project, bringing the total spending on courthouse HVAC upgrades to nearly $4 million.
Overall, this allocation of funds demonstrates the Fort Dodge area’s commitment to supporting small businesses and addressing essential infrastructure needs.