While common in large and even medium-sized cities, renovation of historic buildings on the scale of The Elks isn’t commercially viable in small, rural markets like Webster City.

“An average business, or business person, could never justify a project like this,” Zach Chizek, a LIFT WC board member, said. “Financing a $3 million renovation of an old building would never cash-flow, and banks can’t loan money for it.”

LIFT WC — Local Initiative For Transformation Webster City — is the nonprofit that undertook The Elks project.

Does everything in America need to make a profit?

Some would say yes; thankfully, many have the foresight to say no.

Take HERO — Help Entertain and Restore Organization — for instance. It was formed to operate the beloved local movie theater when Fridley Theaters declared it unprofitable. Thanks to HERO, movie tickets in Webster City still cost $4 to $5 for 2-D films, a far cry from common ticket prices in Des Moines.

And, impressively, Webster City citizens and businesses have rallied to save the Webster Theater twice in the last 10 years; the most recent renovation cost nearly $2 million. The story of the Webster’s 2013-14 renovation made national news when the short video clip “Made in Iowa” brought national attention to the spunk which saw the community through closure of Electrolux and its attendant loss of 1,700 jobs.

The passion Webster Citians have for the Webster extend to The Elks.

From the start of the effort to renovate it, LIFT WC knew the work would be a pay-as-you-go affair.

According to LIFT WC board President Darcy Swon, $1.2 million in grants — 40% of the expected total cost of the renovation — was received from diverse sources, including a Community Development Block Grant for $800,000. LIFT will soon submit an application for a CAT grant — Community Attraction and Tourism — from the Iowa Economic Development Authority. It’s hoped proceeds from that grant will carry the project over the finish line.

Just as they did for the Webster Theater, generous citizens and companies stepped forward to support the comeback of The Elks. Here’s a list of the largest donors who qualify for naming rights within the renovated building:

— Silverstein family — courtyard entrance at back of building;

— People’s Credit Union — north back vestibule and elevator lobby;

— Andy and Tami Hejlik family — north room, main floor;

— WCF Financial Bank — south room, main floor;

— Platinum Connect — open space, main floor;

— Phil and Alberta Voge — front vestibule;

— Bowden family — elevator and ballroom;

— Webster City Custom Meats — ballroom stage.

Apparently, these good people and others who are not named, realized early on that the community couldn’t afford to lose one of downtown’s historic buildings over the cost of masonry repairs and other, worthwhile, renovation.

Their generosity underscores this thought: There’s more at stake here than money.