Driving Change
in Des Moines Neighborhoods
Every day at Invest DSM, we focus our full attention on four extraordinary Des Moines neighborhoods. Although each one is different, we have a shared goal for all of them — to unleash investment that will strengthen the neighborhood, support local businesses, increase property values, and improve quality of life for the residents.
Invest DSM dollars — largely distributed through grants to homeowners — serve as the catalyst for a chain reaction. The funding we provide inspires homeowners, small business owners, landlords, developers, and others to invest their own dollars to improve their properties.
Our IMPACT
$46.9M
of total investment through grant programs
$37.9M
from other sources
$9M
granted by Invest DSM
1,014+
projects completed
$4.14
leveraged from other
sources, for every dollar
granted by Invest DSM
95%
of the completed projects have involved existing homeowners
2023 Special Investment Districts
Columbus Park
$1.4M
in investment through grant programs
27
projects completed
Drake
$14M
in investment through grant programs
48
projects completed
Franklin Area
$4.6M
in investment through grant programs
134
projects completed
Oak Park / Highland Park
$1.9M
in investment through grant programs
18
projects completed
“Because Invest DSM invested in our home, we have put a considerable amount of money into projects that otherwise would have not been done. We were looking to move, but we decided to reinvest in our home and make it what we want.”
– FRANKLIN AREA HOMEOWNER
Invest DSM Development Work
Invest DSM also takes on development work that the private market would not complete on its own. As with everything we do, this work reinforces high standards of quality and diversifies the housing available.
PROPERTIES ACQUIRED
RENOVATIONS COMPLETED
HOMES IN POOR CONDITION DEMOLISHED
NEW BUILDS ON VACANT LOTS
“We love seeing the area continue to improve, and we’re so thankful the program exists to help us and our neighbors be able to afford to have these improvements happen.”
– OAK PARK/HIGHLAND PARK HOMEOWNER
2023 Grant Programs
BLOCK CHALLENGE GRANT
5
teams
50
participants
$221K
in total investment
$1.49
spent by homeowners for every dollar spent by Invest DSM
HOMEOWNER RENOVATION PROGRAM
155
projects completed
95+
projects under construction
$6.2M
in total investment
(completed projects only)
$1.96
spent by homeowners for every dollar spent by Invest DSM
COMMERCIAL GRANT PROGRAM
8
projects completed
$12.4M
in private investment
$190K
contributed by Invest DSM
$63.31
spent by business owners and developers for every dollar spent by Invest DSM
SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPER PROGRAM
11
projects completed
(2 rehabs and 4 new-construction homes)
$3M
in private investment
$757K
contributed by Invest DSM
$2.93
spent by developers for every dollar spent by Invest DSM
RENTAL REHAB PROGRAM
3
projects completed
$48K
in private investment
$16K
contributed by Invest DSM
$3
spent by developers for every dollar spent by Invest DSM
special projects
TREE PLANTING
Partnered with Trees Forever to plant 1,300 trees in the SIDs
PUBLIC ART
Supported more than a dozen public art projects and community-building events.
DOGTOWN LIGHTS
Annual Dogtown Lights organized and supported three years in a row
ART WEEK
Sponsored Annual Art Week activations in each Special
Investment District three years in a row
