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Madison County invites Destination Iowa official to Hallowell Covered Bridge site to seek restoration funding
Summary
Madison County tourism staff invited the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s director to a June 11 site visit at Hallowell Covered Bridge to discuss restoration and potential Destination Iowa funding, which requires a 65% cash match; supervisors agreed to provide letters and a small in-person delegation.
Madison County tourism staff invited the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s director and Iowa tourism officials to tour Hallowell Covered Bridge on June 11 to discuss restoration funding opportunities tied to the Destination Iowa program.
The county’s tourism manager (Speaker 4) told supervisors the county still has five historic covered bridges and that Hallowell is “the one most in need of repair,” citing structural issues identified by county engineer Mike Hackett. The manager asked supervisors to attend the June 11 visit at 2:30 p.m. and to provide visual support—printed materials and a short site presentation—rather than an extended lineup of speakers.
The request is tied to funding constraints. “Destination Iowa grants require a 65% cash match,” Speaker 4 said, urging the board to show that multiple local groups back the project even if they cannot contribute cash. Supervisors agreed that a small delegation and written letters of support would demonstrate community investment without overwhelming the state official.
Supervisor discussion focused on logistics: using a short, on-site slide or printout, having one representative from each supporting group (Covered Bridge Preservation Group, Historic Preservation Commission, byway council, chamber of commerce) present but not speak, and preparing an abbreviated handout for Director Debbie Durham. Speaker 3 reported a call with Congressman Dunn’s office that confirmed the bridges did not secure recent federal appropriations but that staff asked which bridges to prioritize; Hallowell was identified as the top priority with Roseman as a secondary priority.
Speaker 4 said tourism-focused applications may fit the county’s assets better than infrastructure-focused federal grants and offered to supply visitation and economic-impact figures to underscore the bridges’ value to the local economy. The county will also prepare letters of support and in-kind documentation to meet match expectations.
The visit remains scheduled for Tuesday, June 11, 2:30–3:15 p.m., at Hallowell Covered Bridge; county staff will circulate any supporting slides and suggested talking points before the meeting.
