La Luz nabs state Challenge Grant for exterior building improvements

La Luz Centro Cultural’s mission to revamp the former Hampton Heating building into a safe haven for those who utilize its services received a major boost towards its goal.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority last Thursday, through the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce/Main Street, awarded La Luz a $50,800 Challenge Grant for La Luz’s revitalization project on the building.

Aimee Lenth, La Luz Associate Director, said the grant will be largely put towards roof repairs and an extensive renovation on the north side of the building, as well as some general improvements to the exterior of the building and preliminary construction fees for the interior. The exterior remodeling project, which will cost a total of $153,800, will help revitalize a historic Hampton building and provide a vibrant addition to Hampton’s downtown community.

“The focus will be on the exterior of the building so we can continue to present Hampton as a thriving and aesthetically pleasing area,” Lenth said.

Newton Grotzinger, Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, said that the award will boost not only La Luz, but the community in general.

“We are excited that La Luz Centro Cultural was awarded one of the Iowa Challenge Grants,” he said. “We are looking forward to working with them as they update the building to meet their needs.”

Lenth said that the Challenge Grant means more to La Luz than just a financial boost. She said it shows that the organization’s mission to bring needed resources to the Latino community has been recognized on a statewide basis and the faith put into that mission has given La Luz further encouragement to continue to serve the area.

“It’s easy for us as people who work here to say we believe in the mission of La Luz and the importance of this building project, but to have someone outside of the community look at what we’ve presented and agree with us…it is a huge boost of confidence,” she said.

“It feels great when you hear other organizations outside of Hampton say we are doing great things and recognize we are trying to help the Latino community and everyone around us,” added La Luz Executive Director Claudia Rivera. “We want to build that great space where people can feel comfortable and be at home.”

The Iowa Development Authority hosted a virtual ceremony to announce the Challenge Grant winners on Thursday instead of its typical in person banquet. While those who earned recognition couldn’t celebrate together, Lenth said she enjoyed the opportunity to witness other organizations with similar visions receive recognition for their efforts.

“I’m from a small town in Northeast Iowa and it makes happy to see not just Hampton, but all these other towns in Iowa are taking the effort to revitalize different buildings in the community because I think growing up in a small town, it was easy to look around and ask why a building was the way it was,” she said. “To actualy be in a position where I can help make that better for Hampton and to see other towns doing this, it made me happy and struck a nostalgic chord with me.”

Rivera added that La Luz representatives are happy to have the chance to give the building new life and continue its presence in Hampton.

“When you bring historical value to a town and keep it up and restore something, you’re bringing it back to what it used to be,” she said. “It’s not just us, this was the whole town. Newton and the Chamber helped us out, so did the city. We got great letters of support and we’re happy the town is joining in to bring this to fruition.”