The CAT grant, in the amount of $104,925, was awarded to the Local Initiative for Transformation, Webster City (LIFT WC) during its monthly board meeting on Friday.

The CAT grant is administered through the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA). This grant provides financial assistance for the development of recreational, cultural, and entertainment facilities that enhance Iowa’s appeal as a destination for visitors and residents alike.

“It’s a great sense of relief,” said Darcy Swon, president of LIFT WC. “We can see the finishing line now.”

Mayor John Hawkins confirmed that Swon was probably the most relieved.

“She was heavy in the pipeworks in all of this,” he said. “It was pretty critical that we got this grant.”

The ballroom renovation marks the final phase of LIFT WC’s seven-year, $3 million rehabilitation effort of the Elks Building. The comprehensive project has transformed the structure into a vibrant, mixed-use facility, preserving its historic character while adapting it for modern community use, including the addition of Wildcat Distilling Company on the main floor, which is scheduled to open in the near future.

The Wildcat has at least one class reunion scheduled for the main floor space in late June 2026. The seating at the Wildcat will be much less than the ballroom, but will be greater than its prior location. The progress on both the Wildcat Distilling Company and The Elks has been a source of much speculation.

“People were getting tired of hearing about it,” said Swon.

But the team that has persevered throughout the project can now see the plan coming together.

Swon and Hawkins are joined by Lindsey Henderson, Zach Chizek, Shannon Swon and Jake Pulis on the board that physically devoted hundreds, if not thousands of hours on saving the building.

“This grant is an important step in bringing the project to completion.” Swon said. “We are incredibly grateful to the State of Iowa for their support and for recognizing the impact this space will have for our community. The ballroom represents the final piece of a project that has been driven by a shared vision to bring new life to a historic building and create a space for people to gather.”

The grant takes into account other funds that were necessary to complete the work. Many individual donors contributed and fundraisers were held, in addition to some funds provided by the City of Webster City and Hamilton County.

This helped with the matching funds required by the grant, as it demonstrated strong regional commitment to the project and its long-term community impact. The total cost to complete the ballroom project is estimated at $430,926.

“We’re right there; there won’t be much left to operate,” said Hawkins. “But we don’t have a problem finishing the job now.”

Construction is expected to begin immediately upon receipt of grant funds, with an anticipated completion date of September 2026. Hawkins confirmed that workers would be on site in the next few weeks.

“This investment represents a significant milestone in the revitalization of one of our community’s most treasured historic assets,” said Pulis. “The completed ballroom will provide a versatile space for events, gatherings, and cultural activities that will enhance quality of life and strengthen Webster City’s position as a regional destination.”

Swon said they can start booking events for 2027. Those interested can contact her directly at info@liftwc.org. The ballroom should be able to seat between 140 and 170 people.

“We don’t really know until we get closer to completion,” said Swon.

With the contractors preparing for their busiest season, Hawkins said there should be a lot of activity pretty soon.

“We’ve already got people coming next week to get the balldroom done.” Hawkins said..” Hawkins said. “It’s all hands on deck now.”

“It would have been nice if we had done this building in three or four years; it was never meant to be one and done, the idea was always to do more buildings,” he said, “If we’d finished three or four projects, we’d feel even better.”

So then what.

“We will still need donations,” said Hawkins, “We’ll move onto another building. That’s our mission, to fix up buildings downtown.”