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Lakin Foundation hears Vision Shenandoah pitch
November 17, 2025 (Shenandoah) — Vision Shenandoah officials are hoping to receive more information this week on the prospects for funding from the Charles E. Lakin Foundation. Five representatives of Vision Shenandoah were among those attending a Lakin Foundation Board of Directors’ meeting late last week. Shenandoah is one of 51 communities in the region selected to share $165 million as part of the foundation’s Revitalize Southwest Iowa Initiative. Speaking on KMA’s “Morning Line” program Monday morning. Vision Shenandoah Executive Director Dr. Margaret Brady says the community’s 18-minute presentation covered Shenandoah’s history, the progress of the organization’s various “dream teams,” and some proposed housing projects–including duplexes planned for the former Sac ‘N Save lot, and efforts to renovate dilapidated units in the community. “So, I just mentioned that we have two main focuses for housing,” said Brady. “One was to find houses below $200,000. These are houses for our primary workers in our community. The two avenues for that are to rehab houses, and to figure out how to build a house that’s less than $200,000–which is going to be a little bit of a puzzle, but I think we can figure it out.” Brady says the presentation also covered a proposed therapeutic and mental health daycare and education program serving students from age 3 to 12th grade. Vision Shenandoah, the Shenandoah School District and other partners plan housing the program at Shenandoah United Methodist Church’s Wesley Building. Among other things, Brady says building renovations are necessary in order for the program to become reality. “It’s a 1960s building,” said Brady. “It’s in nice shape. But, with these older buildings, I know with some of the older houses, it takes a little bit to get up to speed. So, we want to make sure that everything is in alignment. Lakin funds would be used to remodel the building, to get it into a state to where it’s really ready for that program. The school district would have to make sure it’s a program that fits into their per view. Then, we would have to have some outside sources–like Midwest Mental Health is potentially a big partner.” Plans for the proposed Shenandoah Fieldhouse project announced last week were also covered. Brady says the meeting’s general propose was for the Lakin Foundation board to approve Vision Shenandoah as the nonprofit organization administering the $16.35 million awarded to the community through the initiative. “Once we are approved,” said Brady, “the way we understand it, we will be funded with the $16.35 million. It goes into a fund with our name on it. Remember, the only thing you can do with the principle money is something that you could repay to the principle. So, for instance, you could build a house, sell the house, pay back what you borrowed and sell 2% interest. That’s the only thing that could touch that principle. “Now, after that funding has been there for a while, we will be receiving some grant monies, and those are the monies we would not have to repay. Depending on how much money we would have in our bank account, we would […]
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Vision Shenandoah Holding Informational Session on Community Catalyst Program
December 29, 2025 (Shenandoah) — Property owners in and around Shenandoah can learn more about a catalyst grant program aimed at renovations for vacant downtown buildings. Vision Shenandoah’s Downtown Dream Team is hosting an information session on the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Community Catalyst Grant Program on Tuesday, January 6th, at 6 p.m. at the Shenandoah Public Library auditorium. Each year, cities in Iowa can submit one application to the state, seeking a catalyst grant of up to $100,000. Applications can include one commercial building per community or two adjacent buildings with the same ownership. Vision Shenandoah Executive Director Margaret Brady tells KMA News that while the group was initially formed to assist with the Charles E. Lakin Foundation’s “Revitalize Southwest Iowa” initiative, one of their goals is also to help connect residents with additional funding opportunities. “Where I thought it would be helpful is for people to learn more about what types of projects would be good for that community catalyst grant,” said Brady. “One of our goals at Vision Shenandoah is to not only work with the fabulous Southwest Iowa Lakin Initiative, but to get people connected with other grant programs. So, we thought this would be a great idea to have a learning session.” Brady says attendees will be able to watch the same video used during the state’s Community Catalyst Training session, along with details on the city of Shenandoah’s application process. One main point, Brady says, is that the program targets specific types of projects–primarily vacant downtown commercial buildings in need of renovation and historic restoration. “So they’re looking for, like what we tried to do with the Johnson Brothers Mill Building, maintaining the outward appearance or keep the windows the same size with the same look,” Brady explained. “Maybe it’s exposing a tin ceiling or keep some of the features that are in that historical building. So, those are some of the things they’re looking for.” She adds there would then be a couple of weeks to relay any questions from residents to the IEDA. Brady notes that, because it is a catalyst program, the state agency is also seeking projects that will bring new businesses to the downtown area. “So they want that street level to be some kind of retail space or something that’s going to have a lot foot traffic in and out and then they’re looking to put upper story housing in the upstairs to help owners of those buildings have a secondary income,” said Brady. “Because we know those buildings are expensive and they can keep those buildings alive with some extra income.” Brady notes that while the project can receive up to a $100,000 grant, the building owner is still expected to fund around 60% of the total project cost. She adds that the community catalyst program is also “near to her heart” after she received funding for the work on the former Johnson Brothers Mill Building along Sheridan Avenue, which now functions as “The Mill.” “I was awarded an emergency community catalyst grant to work on the Johnson Brothers Mill Building, so that has been a huge […]
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Vision Shenandoah Hosts Housing Roundtable
February 27, 2026 (Shenandoah) — Options for workforce housing were explored at a special event in Shenandoah earlier this week. Vision Shenandoah hosted a housing roundtable at the Mill Wednesday, featuring a host of organizations and representatives of Shenandoah and KMAland communities interested in housing development. Speaking on KMA’s “Morning Line” program Friday morning, Vision Shenandoah Executive Director Margaret Brady says the roundtable coincided with the Charles E. Lakin Foundation’s housing component of its Revitalize Southwest Iowa Initiative. “One of the things we realized when we started looking into it,” said Brady, “is that you have to be thinking about housing on all levels, and we specifically want to think about workforce housing for our average workers. We recognize the cost of building a new house is high. A traditional buildup is within the $300,000 range. And, we said, ‘that’s not good enough.’ We want to figure out ways to build more affordable housing.” Among the speakers: Jim Thompson of the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Also on hand were representatives of Homes for Iowa, Origin Home, Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture, The Southwest Iowa Planning Council, Iowa Western Community College and Tarkio Tech. Brady says one of the takeaways from the roundtable is the need to think outside the box on housing projects. “Your traditional size of house,” he said, “the way we’ve been building houses, we’re going to have find ways to reduce that cost, because the costs of labor and the costs of materials is fairly high. Like the modular house, where it’s built with the prison system, so they don’t have to pay labor. So, that house runnnig down the road $108,000. Of course, you’ve got more costs when you come with flooring and the site. But, that still gets you in a more affordable house.” Brady says another challenge is finding the right size of housing for Shenandoah and other area communities. “We might have to think outside the box on some of the size of houses,” said Brady. “We might want to go a little smaller on houses. I know some of the old ones I work on, they’re not very big houses. But, they’ve been there for 100 years, and they’re really great houses. They easily sell when we get them fixed up.” Officials from Clarinda, Red Oak, Sidney, Imogene and Northboro were among those on hand for the event. Provided by KMA: https://www.kmaland.com/news/vision-shenandoah-hosts-housing-roundtable/article_58cc5b3f-352f-425d-ae8e-cd6570de4e2c.html
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Vision Shenandoah Gains Formal Fund Adviser Status
March 23,2026 (Shenandoah) — Vision Shenandoah officials say it’s another step forward in assisting the community with various projects. Officials with the Charles E. Lakin Foundation recently granted the organization formal fund status. Dr. Margaret Brady is Vision Shenandoah’s executive director. Speaking on KMA’s “Morning Line” program Monday morning, Brady says the designation is a major milestone for the organization. “That means for Shenandoah, Vision Shenandoah is the group that works with the Charles E. Lakin Foundation directly, and to help great things happen in this community,” said Brady, “and we’re super-excited about this process. They’re working through some details with their lawyers on how all that might look, and we’re excited about hearing in the next couple of weeks exactly how the funds are going to be available, and what the grant process is.” Shenandoah is one of 51 communities in the region selected to share $165 million as part of the foundation’s Revitalize Southwest Iowa Initiative. Brady says the designation sets the process for future funding for Vision Shenandoah’s proposed projects, such as the Shenandoah Fieldhouse project planned for construction in 2029. “So, the way this works is, in the first quarter of ’27, after we have been the fund adviser for a year,” she said, “there will be grant funds available to be used by the community, where the primary money can be used, but it needs to be repaid into the principle, the grant funds we’ll be able to use–and that’s about $800,000 per year that we’ll be able to use for fun projects in the community that are nonprofit projects that don’t need to repaid.” Brady says the designation will help address some of Vision Shenandoah’s main objectives, such as housing projects. “The main money that you use it for is things that can be paid back like housing,” said Brady. “So, we are already working on some rehab housing projects. We’ve got two properties we’ve acquired that need a makeover. So, we’re working on putting requests for bids out. So, if you’re a contractor, and you’re interested in bidding on these projects, reach out to me so that you’re on my email list.” Lakin Foundation officials awarded $16.35 million in seed money in 2025 for ventures helping the community grow and improve. Only $800,000 per year is allocated in each community involved in the initiative for projects. Provided by KMA: https://www.kmaland.com/news/vision-shenandoah-gains-formal-fund-adviser-status/article_fea3c133-b5aa-405f-b703-2e58d74a880d.html
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