perry logoPerry is hoping to be part of a new partnership program that sets college students up with cities to help improve their downtown areas.

Chamber of Commerce executive director Bob Wilson helps explain the program.

“Iowa Economic Development Authority and Drake University are partnering with the Downtown Resource Center as a pilot program to get Drake students from all kinds of different disciplines, design, engineering, marketing, business, into rural communities and developing programs to better enhance their downtown and better enhance their community overall.”

Wilson says Perry submitted an application for the program last month and made it on to round two of consideration.  He says he’s looking forward to the many possibilities ahead.

“The focus of ours is empty storefronts and the revitalization of downtown, how to enhance entrepreneurs.  Not only Anglo but Latino and other immigrant populations, as well as way finding signage throughout the community for bicyclists and tourists and just being able to find our shops, being able to find our stores, our services.  So it’s pretty exciting.  It’s really dynamic, we have a really great success record with the Iowa State University college of design and also DMACC so working together with these students and getting a creative mind and fresh set of eyes to come in is really positive for everybody.”

Perry should find out this week if they have been selected as one of the two communities to participate.

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