Ripple Effect Supports Possible Bakery in Kalona

The city of Kalona is the recipient of a $1,500 Ripple Effect planning grant to assist with a building appraisal and business planning services in connection with the former Kalona Bakery building in downtown Kalona. The application was made to Aureon by Kalona Cooperative Technology Company (KCTC) on behalf of the city. KCTC will match the Aureon grant to make a total of $3,000 available for the studies which are estimated to cost $3,500.  A check presentation was made at the KCTC office on Tuesday, February 26 to city representatives by Casey Peck, General Manager of the KCTC and Sue Cosner and Brittany Wirtz both with the Iowa Area Development Group.

“The Ripple Effect grant in addition to our matching grant will allow the city to proceed with both a building appraisal and a business evaluation for a new bakery in the building that once housed Kalona Bakery which was a very important retail anchor in the community. We hope this is the first step leading to other partners investing in a new bakery operation in the building,” says Casey Peck, General Manager of KCTC.  MRS Appraisals L.C. located in Iowa City will be conducting the building appraisal and the University of Iowa’s Small Business program will be assisting with the business evaluation.