Chamber of Commerce Working to Clean Up Fort Madison

Fort Madison, IA – The Fort Madison Chamber of Commerce wants to improve the appearance of the city by cleaning up several properties. Executive Director Tracy Vance says the Chamber's beautification and image program was started, last fall, to help clean up dilapidated properties around Fort Madison. Vance says the Chamber is working with the city to do something about these properties through the current building codes pertaining to run-down structures. He says that once the owner of a property is identified, they will have the opportunity to work with the city to clean up the site. If nothing is done, the property could be demolished. Vance says the Chamber's program is raising money to help the city pay for finding the property owners and for demolishing the structures. More than $12,000 has been raised so far. Vance hopes to reach the $25,000 plateau in the current fundraising effort.