A new business recently opened on the downtown square in Jefferson.

Heartland Bank opened Tuesday at 200 East State Street. Heartland Bank Business Development Officer Scott Weber is also in charge of the Jefferson operations and says the current location was ideal and they worked with the City to obtain one of the two bays in the building. With Heartland Bank’s locations in Gowrie, Callender, Somers, and Manson, Weber explains that their President Kevin Black saw an opportunity to expand the business into Jefferson.

“He was driving through downtown and saw all the work we were doing on the (downtown) buildings on the Community Development Block Grant, and he noticed the Thomas Jefferson Gardens and how neat it was. Then the school bond (passed for the Greene County School District) and the (Wild Rose) casino, and Hy-Vee expansions,and our manufacturer expansions, and it just hit him, he’s like, ‘We’ve got to do this. We want to be a part of the growth.’”     

Weber applauds the City and contractors that restored the hardwood floors and tin ceiling, along with installing new interior woodwork and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) restroom, and storefront glass. He adds, they also hired two full time employees, with an opportunity to hire more and possibly build a modern facility, as the bank purchased a lot in the Greene County Development Corporation west business park on Highway 4.

Weber is happy with the position the new bank is in and looks forward to continue growing the business in Jefferson.