OTTUMWA, IOWA -- The Ottumwa City Council met in a work session on Monday evening to discuss designating the 300 block of East Main Street a blighted area.
In doing so, the city now be able to apply for a Community Development Block Grant. The grant will hopefully help fund the new Ottumwa Community Market Place.
The council, along with city leaders were very excited to hear about the proposed facility.
The current building located on Jefferson and Main Street was purchased by Ottumwa Progress Incorporated in 2010. The organization decided that the building had seen better days and they wanted to improve the downtown landscape, so they started looking for ideas.
Tim Schwartz with Ottumwa Progress Incorporated spoke to the council about how the organization came up with the idea for a marked place.
“We went to a presentation not to long ago and there was a very good presentation by the people that have the Detroit Farmers Market. They talked about how this is such a trend and that it could be an opportunity for communities. We put two and two together and we wanted to make this develop,” said Schwartz.
The proposed market place is being endorsed by several community leaders and organizations around Ottumwa.
After Mr. Schwartz spoke, the council approved the resolution which means that the Mayor will sign the grant application.
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