Charles City Community Development 401 N Main Street CHARLES CITYCOMMUNIT Y Community Events DEVELOPMENT Charles City, IA 50616 A Great Place to Live, Work & Play charlescitychamber.com Veronica Litterer, Director  Chili Cook-off  Downtown Farmers  ChuckTown BrewFest Community Development Market We invite you to experience for yourself our hometown business community along with 401 N. Main Street  Volunteer Awards  SpookWalk the rich art, history and genuine spirit that Charles City, , has to offer. Charles City  Party in the Park is strategically located in north central Iowa along three major highways that bring visi- Charles City, IA 50616  Texas Hold Em  Holiday Lighted tors for business and pleasure from throughout the Midwest. Downtown Charles City is Phone: 641.228.2335 Tournament  Friday Flicks Parade Fax: 641.228.4744 an historic city center with retail, service and dining establishments. The business mix is [email protected]  Business Showcase  CAR Show  Holiday Home Tour made up of a strong service sector and retail center with a trade area of approximately 50 miles. Local programs support new business growth as well as encourage the preserva-  Wine Tasting Gala  America’s Hometown  Santa’s House tion of the historic structures and development of upper story living. www.charlescitychamber.com July 4th Celebration  ChuckTown ChickFest See a community calendar Charles City is a Main Street Iowa community and part of the Silos and Smokestacks  Garden Tour at charlescitychamber.com! National Heritage Area. The community is the home of the gasoline powered tractor and the girlhood home of suffragette Carrie Chapman Catt. Charles City is also one of Iowa’s original eight Cultural & Entertainment Districts which features the original art deco Charles Theatre still in operation and the Carnegie Library which is now the Charles City Arts Center. Plus, the community is home to an impressive collection of artwork, known as the Mooney Collection, housed in the Public Library including pieces from: Rembrandt, Pi- casso, Grant Wood and Salvador Dali. More artwork from local, re- gional and national artist is on display in the Charles City Arts Center

and on the Public Art walking tour. Visitors and residents can also take in the community’s hospitality at the summer Party in the Park and July 4th events that draw thousands to downtown each summer. We hope you will take some time to explore America’s Hometown in person and online at charlescitychamber.com.

The Heart of Northeast Iowa

Today's businesses on the move will ble for customers from a wide region Charles City is conveniently soon be discovering one of the Mid- and a convenient for shipments that are located on the west's best-kept secrets. In Charles key to business success.

(Iowa 27), US Highway 218, US Y DEVELOPMENT City, Iowa, forward-thinking and for- Community leaders are also working to Highway 18 and . ward-looking developments are coming broaden Charles City’s information together like never before. One of the superhighway with the developing most far-reaching involves the comple- Mileage to Charles City from: broadband technologies. Community tion of the Avenue of the Saints free- leaders have identified this fast-paced way. This superhighway extends from Burlington, IA 205 miles and ever-changing route as a key to St. Louis to /St. Paul, economic success and yet another rea- Cedar Rapids, IA 104 miles bringing the business of America right son for businesses to make their home to Charles City. This connection pro- Des Moines, IA 147 miles in America’s Hometown. vides access to all sides of the United Dubuque, IA 142 miles States by Interstate Community Recognition Highway, creating Mason City, IA 30 miles yet another bridge Sioux City, IA 238 miles 2009 America In Bloom 2006 Best Diversity Ini- 2004 Best Public Im- to a stellar future. Winner, Pop. 4-10,000 tiative – Day of the Dead provement Project – Art Waterloo/Cedar Falls, IA 50 miles and Community Involve- Along the Cedar Public Charles City is also 2006 Great American conveniently lo- Minneapolis, MN 171 miles ment Award Art CHARLES CITYCOMMUNIT Main Street Award Semi- cated at the junction 2009 Best Target Market finalist 2004 Capital Community Omaha, NE 282 miles of three other major Promotion – Kids Day Designation – Federal highways: US 2005 Great American Kansas City, KS 343 miles Home Loan Bank Highway 218, US 2008 Best Special Event – Main Street Award Semi- Highway 18 and , IL 319 miles Iowa H.O.G. Rally finalist 2003 Best Special Event – Party in the Park Iowa Highway 14. St. Louis, MO 391 miles 2007 Iowa Great Places 2005 Cultural & Enter- This makes Charles Milwaukee, WI 274 miles Designation tainment District Desig- 2002 Tourism Commu- City easily accessi-

Charles City, Iowa City, Charles nation nity of the Year Sioux Falls, SD 256 miles Community Profile: Charles City, Iowa Financial Assistance Programs

Design Assistance Charles City Community Revitalization, a Main Street Iowa Fast Facts Commercial properties located in the downtown business district are eligible for design as- Program, actively works with the Charles City Area Cham- sistance through the Main Street Iowa Program and the Iowa Department of Economic De- Downtown Investment sinc e 1996 ber of Commerce, Charles City Area Development Corpora- velopment in cooperation with Charles City Community Revitalization. Design services tion, City of Charles City, and Floyd County to be a leader in provided must meet the local design guidelines. (Funded as follows: 100% Community Re- Census Population 7,812 business development. These community partners have en- vitalization) couraged sustainable development in downtown and the ad- Number of Blocks in Main 12 Project area: Within the Charles City Downtown Urban Renewal Area joining business districts as well as the community’s multi- Street District Facade Improvement Grant Program ple industrial parks. Net Gain in New Businesses 39 Provide incentives to assist in restoring and rehabilitating the storefronts and/or exteriors of

Tools such as ESRI are used to keep leaders in business and their commercial property. The Façade Improvement Grant will be in the form of a forgiv- Net Gain in New Jobs 193 industry up to date on market trends and community needs. able loan. The Design Review Committee will carefully examine applications to determine which projects will most contribute to the overall design quality of our community. The The ESRI Market Profile report generated for the Charles Building Rehabilitation 205 owner is required to provide a match. City Drive Time Market provides extensive data to profile, Projects Project area: Within the Charles City Downtown Urban Renewal Area benchmark and track the market. Analysis and comparison of data for the three drive time areas reveals some interesting Private Dollars invested in $15,930,590 Revolving Loan Fund Rehabilitation characteristics and trends including. Community Revitalization will provide, with assistance from USDA, a low interest loan Trends and projections for the population and households Buildings Sold 25 program. Planned projects to be financed may include but not limited to: Project / business within the drive time geographies point to population to be assisted by the RLF program typically must be physically located within the city limits Private Dollars invested in $2,706,100 loss through 2013. The number of households is de- of Charles City, all others reviewed on a case-by-case basis; acquisition and development of Property Acquisition creasing at a slightly slower pace that of the population, land, easements, and rights-of-way; construction, conversion, enlargement, repairs or mod- ernization of buildings (including façade repairs), plants, machinery, equipment, access which is consistent with national trends toward an in- Total Volunteer Hours 122,305 creasing number of 1- ands 2-person households. streets and roads, parking areas, utilities, and pollution control and abatement facilities; loans for startup operating cost and working capital; technical assistance for private business Approximately 27% of the housing units in the 10 minute enterprises. A priority will be given to retail and commercial projects. Charles City Drive Time Markets drive time area are denoted as renter occupied, as com- Project area: Within the Charles City -City Limits pared to 23% and 22% in the 20 and 30 minute drive Population 10 Min 20 Min 30 Min Technology Assistance Program time areas respectively. Average rent is fairly consis- A matching grant for technology improvements for small businesses located within the city tent across drive time areas as well, estimated in 2008 2000 Estimate 9,089 14,695 27,105 limits of Charles City is available. This program helps you acquire the computers, software, at $266 in the 10 minute area, as compared to $259 and printers, or fax machines you need to keep your office running smoothly. Small businesses 2009 Estimate 8,664 14,284 26,365 $265 in the 20 and 30 minute drive time areas respec- are defined as those businesses that employ 50 or fewer employees. The matching grant can tively. 2014 Projection 8,451 14,005 25,892 equal up to $2,500.00. For more information contact Community Revitalization. Project area: Within the Charles City – City Limits The percentage of vacant housing units is very close across Growth 2009-2014 -0.05% -0.39% -0.36% all drive times, estimated at 6.9% in 2008 in the 10 Cultural & Entertainment District Grant minute drive time, as compared to 6.6% and 6.9% in The purpose of the Cultural & Entertainment Grant Program is to promote the community & the 20 and 30 minute drive time areas, respectively. economic development within the Riverside TIF District by providing financial incentives to Households 10 Min 20 Min 30 Min encourage capital improvement projects by contributing members of the Cultural & Enter- Comparatively higher capita income estimates are shown 2000 Estimate 3,845 6,018 11,045 tainment District (CED). A contributing member is defined as a commercial establishment for residents and households within the 10 minute drive or public entity that provides cultural, historical, recreational, or entertainment value to the time areas, whereas the highest median household in- 2009 Estimate 3,767 6,005 11,050 CED. The grant can equal up to fifty percent (50%) of the total project cost up to come is in the 30 minute area. $10,000.00. 2014 Projection 3,692 5.920 10,910 Project area: Within the Charles City Downtown Urban Renewal Area The breakdown of the 2008 population age 25 years or Growth 2009-2014 -0.4% -0.28% -0.25% older by educational attainment shows that, generally Main Street Development Loan Fund The purpose of the Main Street Development Loan fund to is provide gap financing to assist and comparatively speaking, the population within the 10 minute drive time areas is slightly better educated, start-up or expanding businesses in commercial cores in local Main Street Districts. This with approximately 16% of those drive time area resi- Estimated Income 10 Min 20 Min 30 Min loan fund will provide loans up to $50,000 for startups, expansion and refinancing for small dents having attained a Bachelor or Graduate/ businesses with 10 or fewer employees that are focused on filling Main Street commercial Professional Degree. Average Household $52,446 $51,322 $52,268 district buildings. The loans will have an interest rate of 7.5% APR and a negotiated term. Loans are made in a co-financing arrangement with local financial institutions. Median Household $44,372 $43,403 $45,328 There is a consistency in employment within the drive-time Project area: Within the Charles City Downtown Urban Renewal Area areas, with a little more than half of all employees in all drive-time areas employed in White Collar occupa- Per Capita $23,191 $21,885 $22,235 tions. Many other local and state programs may be available for your project! For more Source: ESRI Market Profile, 2009 information and other program details, contact Community Development Director Veronica Litterer at 641.228.2335 or [email protected].