A community in Greene County was recently announced with a special statewide honor.

The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs has designated the City of Jefferson as an Iowa Great Place. Jefferson joins nine other communities with this recognition to support new and existing infrastructure that cultivates arts and culture, architecture, business, community diversity, historic assets, housing options and the natural environment in their neighborhoods, communities and regions. This designation also allows Jefferson to unlock additional grant opportunities for projects.

In its summary, the Department of Cultural Affairs said Jefferson has installed several public art projects around the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower, rooftop art, along with murals created by high school students, painted pianos and Ring Out for Art sculptures. 

The total number of Iowa Great Places designations is 42 and have collectively received more than $22 million in state support since the program’s inception in 2005.