The architect in charge of the downtown revitalization project for the City of Jefferson will be making visits this week.

Jefferson Matters: Main Street Program Director Peg Raney says Pete Franks with Franks Design Group will be meeting with each of the 16 building owners the next two days for initial plans and renovations before the project begins next spring. The City was awarded a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority in May. The local match came from the building owners and the City, each paying about $250,000.

The grant will help renovate the exterior of the participating downtown area businesses. Raney says the project will hopefully catch fire to other building owners to do something with their buildings.

“This is really the project that just will make a transformation in the downtown. I think even these spruce up projects that we’ve been doing, other people are starting to look at their buildings and think, ‘Ya know, maybe I need to do a little paint, maybe that door needs to be replaced.’ And I just think we’re seeing the results of that focus.”

Raney adds that the bids for construction will go out in January or February, with construction to begin by next spring. She anticipates the project to be completed by August of 2017.