Downtown building in Jefferson received a statewide grant to help with renovations to the storefront.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority awarded Nikki and Rudy Uebel with Corner View Properties with a $100,000 Challenge Grant with the building they own at 100 North Wilson Avenue. The funds will be used to improve the facade of the building. The Uebels also received a $5,000 Jefferson Wants You Incentive Fund, as well as a $137,500 Facade Rehabilitation 50/50 match grant through the City of Jefferson. 

Jefferson Matters Executive Director Matt Wetrich is excited to see this grant get awarded to the Uebels, who also have plans to renovate the upper story apartments, which Wetrich believes hasn’t had a significant improvement in several years.

“It shows that Jefferson is doing a lot. The city’s (of Jefferson) been participating in that project and was a part of helping make this happen for them. So yeah really, really excited and just another little feather in our big, big cap of things for the downtown scene. Can’t wait. They’re going to be getting started on that here, probably I wouldn’t be surprised if not next week or two.”   

The total cost of the project is $261,478. The project includes repairing and restoring the exterior brick storefront, along with replacing windows and doors and installing a decorative rooftop. Main Street Iowa provided a conceptual design that matches the other renovated facades in the downtown area back to their historical look.