A small northeast Iowa community is ambitiously overhauling its downtown area to make it more environmentally sustainable, hoping to lure new businesses while providing a model other rural towns can emulate.

West Union, a town of 2,500 residents, hopes to begin work this summer on an $8.6 million green renovation of its six-block downtown district. Plans include porous pavement that lets water seep into the ground, a geothermal heating and cooling system, and storm water-filtering elements such as rain gardens and bioswales.

“We truly believe this will be a national model,” said Jeff Geerts, a special projects manager at the Iowa Department of Economic Development.

The state gave the effort an early boost last fall with a $1 million grant. The city plans to chip in about $2 million, and other state, federal and private funding should cover the remainder of the fundraising.

Fayette County economic development director Robin Bostrom said nearly all the design and development work has been completed, and officials hope to put contracts out to bid in May. Some work should begin this summer and the entire project is expected to be finished by late 2011.

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