Warren County Historic Preservation Commission

05/17/2026

State Awards $28.1 Million for Historic Preservation Projects Across Iowa

May 14, 2026 (DES MOINES, IA) — The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) announced more than $28.1 million in awards through the Historic Preservation Tax Credit program to support the revitalization of eight historic properties in Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Sioux City and Waterloo.

The most recent application round opened in early January, with IEDA receiving 18 applications requesting almost $39 million in tax credits. Projects were evaluated based on readiness, financing, and local support and participation.

“This program is about more than preserving buildings; it’s about bringing them back to life in ways that serve today’s communities,” said Debi Durham, director of IEDA and the Iowa Finance Authority. “These projects create housing, support local businesses and help ensure these historic places remain part of Iowa’s story for generations to come.”

The Historic Preservation Tax Credit program provides a state income tax credit to encourage the rehabilitation of historic buildings while maintaining the architectural features that make them significant. All work must meet The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.

This round of awards will help transform historic buildings across Iowa, including:

Des Moines — Construction is underway to convert a former church, built in 1957 near the Iowa Capitol, into 18 studio apartments and an alternative school for homeless and nontraditional youth. Led by Starts Right Here, a local nonprofit organization, the project will preserve key architectural features.

Des Moines — The 14-story Carriers Building, constructed in 1981 and known as Two Ruan, will be converted from office space into 221 market-rate apartments with ground-floor restaurant space. Two Ruan is part of the downtown Ruan Center Complex, which also includes the 36-story Ruan Center — once Iowa’s tallest building — and was added to the National Register of Historic Places last year.

Sioux City — The vacant Crescent Park Elementary School, built in 1919, is being rehabilitated into 36 market-rate apartments. The project will preserve historic features while converting classrooms and offices into a mix of studio to four-bedroom units, addressing a need for quality housing on the city’s west side.

Waterloo — The long-vacant St. John’s Catholic Church and School, originally established in 1924 with a school addition completed in 1963, is being redeveloped into affordable housing and community-focused space. Plans include 19 apartment units in the school building, a child care facility in the lower-level gym and an event space in the former church.

The full list of projects include buildings in Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Dubuque as well as other projects in Des Moines.

The Historic Preservation Tax Credit program is administered by IEDA. The next application round opens in June, with applications due in September.

For more information, visit iowaeda.com/historic-preservation-tax-credit/.

05/01/2026

04/11/2026

The President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Budget Request proposes to eliminate nearly all funding for the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), preserving only a limited allocation for grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This proposal would slash the HPF annual budget to just $11 million, a cut by nearly 95 percent.

This marks the second consecutive year the Administration has proposed a near-elimination of the HPF. In FY 2026, Congress rejected a similar proposal on a bipartisan basis—recognizing the essential role the HPF plays in supporting communities nationwide. We urge Congress to once again stand strong in support of this critical program.

If enacted, this FY 2027 proposal would effectively dismantle the nation’s core preservation infrastructure. The HPF supports State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices and funds a range of impactful competitive grant programs—placing historic places and the communities they serve at serious risk.

To demonstrate the reach and value of this federal investment, the National Trust’s Government Relations team developed 51 Projects for Preservation: The Historic Preservation Fund Across the United States. This resource highlights one preservation project in every state and the District of Columbia, showcasing how HPF funding drives historic rehabilitation, community revitalization, economic development, and the preservation of underrepresented histories. At a time when the FY 2027 budget proposal again calls for eliminating nearly all HPF funding, this resource underscores what is at stake. We encourage advocates to share these stories with members of Congress and help make the case for sustained federal investment in historic preservation.

The HPF remains a cornerstone of the nation’s preservation initiatives, empowering communities to protect and activate places that matter.

This year marks both the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the HPF, as well as the nation’s 250th anniversary. The HPF is an active commitment by the federal government to protecting and illuminating America's rich history and has invested more than $2 billion in communities since its inception. Continued support for the HPF is essential to preserving America’s heritage, strengthening local economies, and ensuring these stories endure for future generations.

Contact your elected officials today and urge them to support robust funding for the Historic Preservation Fund.

https://www.house.gov/representatives

https://www.senate.gov/states/IA/intro.htm

04/03/2026

01/12/2026

IOWANS OF IMPACT
RUTH BUXTON SAYRE
ACKWORTH, IA - Warren County

Ruth Buxton Sayre was born in 1896 and grew up in rural Warren County at a time when farm women carried heavy responsibilities but held little formal authority. Her family moved from Indianola to Ackworth during her childhood, and she experienced a typical rural upbringing shaped by farm work, church life, and close-knit community ties. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Simpson College in 1917, a still somewhat uncommon achievement for a farm woman of her generation. In 1918, she married and settled into farm life, where she quickly became involved in organizing her neighbors for college extension classes and practical education programs aimed at improving daily life for farm families.

Sayre’s leadership roles expanded steadily through the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation. In 1921, she was elected Director of Women’s Activities in her township, and in 1937 she became State Chair of the Women’s Committee. Her influence extended beyond Iowa in 1938, when she was selected as Midwest Regional Director of the Associated Women of the American Farm Bureau Federation. A decade later, she became president of the Associated Women of the AFBF. At the same time, she held leadership roles in other organizations, including the Master Farm Homemaker Guild, where she served as president from 1935 to 1937, and the American Country Life Association, which she led as president in 1940. Sayre also wrote extensively, with articles appearing in Farm Journal, Successful Farming, Women’s Press, and the National Home Economics Journal.

Sayre reached her widest influence through international work after World War II. In 1947, she was elected president of the Associated Country Women of the World, a position she held until 1953. In that role, she represented millions of rural women across dozens of countries, traveled extensively, helped rebuild women’s organizations in postwar Europe, and spoke before international bodies, including the United Nations, on food security, rural education, and women’s participation in civic life. Widely known as the “First Lady of the Farm,” Sayre combined practical ideas with plainspoken common sense to push for better conditions for farm women and their families. Late in her life, Ronald Reagan honored her by calling her “the First Lady of American agriculture.”

11/30/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17XLNVTVUe/?mibextid=wwXIfr

As Iowa loses about 1,000 barns each year, preservationists and farmers are racing to save what they can. With help from the Iowa Barn Foundation, one Webster County farmer restored a century-old barn he refused to let be torn down — giving new life to a piece of Iowa’s past. 🐄🏚️❤️
Learn more: https://www.kcci.com/article/iowa-barn-foundation-works-to-save-rural-landmarks/69462268

11/21/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16UKJB62n8/?mibextid=wwXIfr

“We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us.” Winston Churchill

REMINDER!!
2026 MOST ENDANGERED PROPERTY NOMINATION DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 9.

Is there an historic building that has shaped your community that is currently at risk?

Are you involved with a local landmark that is threatened by deterioration, lack of maintenance, insufficient funds or future development?

If so, that property could benefit from a Preservation Iowa Most Endangered Properties designation!

Your nomination could shine a light on a place that matters to your community!

To learn more and for nomination guidelines and a nomination form, visit Preservation Iowa's website at https://www.preservationiowa.org/news/2026-most-endangered-properties-nomination/