The Black Hills Corp. Foundation is helping to ignite the city of Denison, Iowa.

The Foundation provided support to the city and the Chamber & Development Council of Crawford County to repurpose and renovate a prominent vacant fire hall in uptown Denison. The building, constructed in 1951, has been unused since 2014.

After the renovation is complete, the building will house two important entities within the community: Ignite Denison, a new incubator/accelerator space, and new offices for the Chamber & Development Council of Crawford County.

Ignite Denison’s business incubator program will accept startups based on potential economic impact and the potential to grow into new “primary employers” within the community. Businesses will be offered space rent-free for six months. After that period, rent will stairstep up in cost each month. The startups will be transitioned to other office space in the community within 18 months. Business growth experts will coach the participants monthly, and the Chamber & Development Council will host weekly business coaching sessions with tenants.

The renovation is slated to be complete March 2022.

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