Jefferson Matters: Main Street recently went through its two-day program review conducted by officials from Main Street Iowa.

Program Director Alan Robinson says during the review process, Main Street Iowa officials met with members from each of the four Jefferson Matters committees including design, organization, business improvement and the Tower View Team.  Plus, they met with City of Jefferson officials, representatives with Greene County Development Corporation and the Greene County Chamber.

Other areas that were also reviewed were the operating budget, bylaws, program director’s job description plus several other portions of the overall program.

Robinson points out that they were challenged in their last review to establish a promotions committee.  He believes that since they’ve made one, there’s been more projects and activities happening in the downtown district for people to enjoy.  The other challenge was to create an organizational committee which Robinson comments that they’ve recently had new board member volunteer to be a part of that group.

Robinson notes some of their accomplishments since they became a Main Street community with 15 new or expanding businesses in the downtown district which created 33 news jobs and there was a total of 15 buildings being renovated.

Robinson talks about another long-term project he would like to see happen in the downtown area.

“So that’s another area that we’re looking very strongly at is upper story rehabilitation to turn these into market-rate apartments.  It will bring a greater value back to the landlord or the building owner and bring in a level of resident who will be living in those market-rate apartments.”

He adds that they also passed all 11 criteria to keep their National Main Street status for another year.