SPARK Consulting

05/20/2026

Nice to be back in downtown Mount Pleasant yesterday for the public meeting on the Mount Pleasant Downtown Historic District and the National Register of Historic Places... and had a good group of residents to hear the presentation. The nomination is slated for review at the State Nomination Review Committee in June so approaching the end of this project that has spanned portions of four years since the initial public meeting on the survey project!

05/18/2026

Looking forward to speaking about the Mount Pleasant Downtown Historic District and the National Register of Historic Places on Monday evening at 6:30 in Union Block in downtown Mount Pleasant!
https://www.southeastiowaunion.com/mt-pleasant/news/meeting-on-proposed-mount-pleasant-downtown-historic-district-may-18/article_1c86a1b5-4ff4-44fa-9f09-117790882b44.html
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A public hearing for the proposed Mount Pleasant Downtown Historic District will take place May 18 at Union Block, offering community members an opportunity to learn about the historic district,

05/12/2026

Three weeks left to register for the Preserve Iowa Summit in Ankeny on June 2-3, the statewide historic preservation conference for Iowa! Discount codes available for members of CLGs/HPCs and for members of Preservation Iowa. Schedule and more information at the link below. Who will I see there???
https://web.cvent.com/event/15fb3f27-c3e4-4975-9570-c3263f2ee0cd/websitePage%3A3e2be775-d401-41ce-b3e4-f454309ac181

04/03/2026

Still time to submit a nomination for the Preservation at Its Best awards from Preservation Iowa! See below for categories related to historic preservation project and people who make an impact!

03/26/2026

Nominations for Preservation at Its Best awards from Preservation Iowa are due in one week on April 1! A wide variety of categories are included in these statewide awards in Iowa for projects that were completed between January 2025 and April 2026. Categories related to people and organizations who made an impact on preservation may relate to this period or earlier. Self nominations are accepted and encouraged! Follow the link below for additional information.

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Nominations for the Preservation at Its Best Awards are accepted across a range of categories that reflect the diverse ways Iowa’s historic resources are preserved and celebrated. From rehabilitation to rural preservation, sustainability, and community-driven efforts, each category recognizes projects, individuals, or organizations that demonstrate excellence, creativity, and a lasting impact on Iowa’s architectural and cultural heritage. These categories ensure that all forms of preservation work – whether a restored home, a revitalized downtown building, a key individual, a historic preservation commission, or a storytelling project that promotes Iowa’s history – receive the recognition that they deserve.

Residential Rehabilitation (Single/Multi-Family) – Rehabilitation and continued use of single-family homes as well as multi-family residences.

Commercial Rehabilitation (Small and Large) – Rehabilitation of a historic commercial building. Nominations accepted in two categories: small (under 5,000 total sq) and large (5,000 or more total sq).

Adaptive Reuse – Conversion of a historic structure for a new or compatible use while retaining its architectural integrity. This category includes any mixed-use project.

Public/Non-Profit Rehabilitation – Rehabilitation of a publicly/government/non-profit owned building.

Maurice Losey Sacred Place – Rehabilitation/restoration/reuse of a sacred site, ground, space, place of religious assembly, such as a church, synagogue, mosque, or other related property.

Rural Preservation – Preservation, restoration, or rehabilitation of the Iowa rural landscape, heritage, or built environment.

Sustainability in Preservation – Incorporation of sustainable practices into the rehabilitation of a historic building. The project does not need to be LEED certified, but should demonstrate how it illustrates sustainable practices.

Special Projects – Films, Books, Websites, Podcasts, Plays, etc. that tell Iowa’s stories and promote the preservation of Iowa’s historic resources.

Community Effort Award – A community’s concerted effort to preserve, protect, and/or promote a historic building, structure, district, site, or cultural resource.

Martha Hayes Preservationist of the Year Award – Individual or group that has championed historic preservation planning, policy, or activities in Iowa.

Paula Mohr Certified Local Government of the Year Award – Honors invaluable contributions by an individual or organization to Iowa’s CLG Program and to historic preservation locally, statewide, regionally, and nationally.

https://preservationiowa.org/programs/preservation-at-its-best-awards/nominate-a-property/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQyVmNleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF6MFUzTlZqVWM2NUdWNHVTc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHs-_d-1GdPNjMFdZeQpYnpnw6-rVLXCBQKLx2Vlhhp4IOfrfWT6tpfETavb4_aem_4trh9A8v1BTt7bkbfjCwTg

Discover the nomination categories for Preservation Iowa’s Preservation at Its Best Awards, recognizing excellence in residential and commercial rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, rural preservation, and community-driven historic efforts.

03/26/2026

Historic Resource Development Program (HRDP) grants are due on May 1, 2026 - just over a month away! These grants fund historic preservation projects, such as building rehabilitation, National Register nominations, architectural survey, interpretative programs, and workshops/training. These matching grants vary from $1,000 to $50,000 in scope. They also fund museum and documentary collections projects, such as digitizing historic images, newspapers, and records. If you need help figuring out a scope of work or a good budget, please reach out to myself or another professional! More information can be found at

Learn more about the Historical Resource Development Program from State Historical Society of Iowa, which helps preserve and conserve historical assets.

03/05/2026

Spent parts of Thursday, Friday, and Saturday driving around Keokuk as part of the windshield survey for the Planning for Preservation project. Keokuk has some interesting history among the towns in Iowa, and found some old and unique resources in town. Also arrived at Keokuk National Cemetery at a picturesque moment with sunset... only national cemetery in Iowa.

02/10/2026

Less than one month before applications are due for the Iowa Rural Heritage Revitalization Grant program are due on March 6! These grants fund historic rehabilitation projects for buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places owned by a non-profit organization or local/county government. Properties must be located in a "rural" area - under 50,000 in population. Grants range from $75,000-$150,000, with a cash match of 30% of the grant amount (i.e. $150,000 project would be eligible for $105,000 grant with a $45,000 match). These grants are large grants for actual work on historic buildings, funded by a grant to the Iowa SHPO from the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant Program of the National Park Service.

Supports the rehabilitation of historic properties in rural Iowa.

01/27/2026

Nominations for Iowa "Excellence in History" awards are due on February 1. Award categories include several for rehabilitation projects using historic tax credits that were completed in the prior fiscal year!

Know someone who made Iowa history shine in 2025? ✨ Nominations are NOW OPEN for the Excellence in Iowa History Awards. 🏆 We’re celebrating the publications, preservation projects and big achievements that helped tell Iowa’s story in 2025.

📅 Nominations close February 1.
🌟 Award recipients will be selected in March, with ceremony details to come.
💡 Learn how to learn more and submit nominations here: https://history.iowa.gov/iowa-history-awards

01/08/2026

Preservation Iowa is the only statewide non-profit organization dedicated to promoting historic preservation and advocating for historic resources in Iowa. If you have been a member in the past, please consider renewing your membership for 2026. If you have never been a member, the time to join is now!

Preservation Iowa invites you to renew your membership (or join us for the first time!) to help support the act of preserving Iowa’s history, particularly the spaces and places that make Iowa a great place to live and explore. Membership in Preservation Iowa provides a connection to others who value and advocate for preservation of Iowa’s historic resources. Your membership supports many programs:

• Partnership for the annual Preserve Iowa Summit providing educational opportunities and networking to learn from others working to share the value of our historic treasures.
• Quarterly newsletters highlighting success stories, available grants and latest preservation efforts.
• Preservation at its Best awards program to recognize significant projects and promote future preservation efforts.
• Most Endangered Properties Program that shares the stories of historic treasures in critical need of love, attention and an advocate.
• An educational website that offers a wealth of information helpful to preservationists, including a list of preservation consultants and contractors.
• Advocacy efforts to protect and retain state and federal historic tax credits and promote legislation favorable for historic preservation.

Go to www.preservationiowa.org and click on Become a Member in the upper right-hand corner. You can join using a credit card or print out a membership form and mail a check.
Thank you for your continued support of our efforts!