The Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa’s Department of Cultural Affairs are combining to host the Preserve Iowa Summit in Cedar Rapids next month, and it’s an event Main Street Guthrie Center Director Julie Bailey feels town residents should consider attending.

With facade construction underway and Main Street Iowa routinely visiting town to check on Guthrie Center’s progress, a lot of changes are currently happening in town, and Bailey says she sees this year’s summit as a quality learning opportunity as it pertains to historic preservation.

“They’ve got just a lot of great sessions and great speakers that are going to talk about the future of historic preservation, historic tax credits, green renovation will be on the agenda.  There will also be discussion about the economics of historic preservation, which is something a lot of people don’t fully understand.”

Bailey also says town residents have the opportunity to attend the summit on the cheap because of Guthrie Center’s new designation as a Main Street Iowa community.

“Now is the prime opportunity for people–whether it’s business owners or just your everyday resident interested in historic preservation–to be able to go.  Plus, the IEDA is offering Main Street communities a registration rate of only $50 per person and you can’t get it any cheaper than that to go to an event that is this significant.  We’re hoping (Guthrie Center) has a good showing.”

The Preserve Iowa Summit will be held from August 21st through the 23rd, and sessions will take place in various locations around Cedar Rapids.

More information about the event can be found by CLICKING HERE.