The Fort Dodge City Council on Monday applied for a $600,000 grant to support the creation of a new childcare facility.

The council voted unanimously to seek the Community Development Block Grant for the planned Sprouts Early Education and Development School in a former Becker Florists building at 407 Kenyon Road. The grant application will be filed with the Iowa Economic Development Authority.

When it opens, the center will be able to accommodate 103 children.

The center is a project of Linking Families and Communities.

Earlier this month, the council approved a $750,000 loan for the project. That money will come from a local economic development revolving loan fund.

Also on Monday, the council hired RDG Planning and Design Inc., of Des Moines, to complete an historic structure report on the former Sacred Heart Church at 211 S. 13th St. The company will be paid $26,350.

The city received a $16,573 state grant to help pay for the report.

The report will include the history of the building, a physical assessment of it and a plan of action for preservation and future use.

The 102-year old church is on the National Register of Historic Places. The last Mass was celebrated there in 2019, before the new Holy Trinity Catholic Church opened on Sixth Avenue North.

Also on Monday, the council purchased a large vacuum machine to be used to clean out sanitary and storm sewers. The $465,375.71 machine was bought from MacQueen Equipment, of Des Moines. It will be mounted on a truck chassis that will be bought later.