A $1 million project begins in downtown Jefferson this week.

Jefferson Matters: Main Street Program Director Peg Raney says the $1 million Community Development Block Grant downtown revitalization project is underway.

There are 13 buildings around the square that are involved in the project. Raney says the contractor, Pinnacle Construction from Glenwood, is starting with three major building facade renovations including Muir Embroidery, MacDonald Insurance and Don’s Ace Hardware.

“Those are the ones that are going to take the most work and (see) the most change. And then there are some of the buildings that are just small kinds of things and they want to see things happen fast too. So I think they’ll sprinkle a little bit of that in.”

She describes what the feedback has been like from the building owners who are involved.

“They know this is going to work well. I think they appreciate the experience of our architect and the construction company. I know there will be some hiccups along the way and we’ll work through them and in six months, before Christmas time, I think the square is going to look different and something that people will be really proud of.”

The $1 million grant from the Iowa Economic Authority is a match with $250,000 commitment from both the City of Jefferson and the building owners.