The Greene County Development Corporation Board met Tuesday for its regular monthly session.

The GCDC Board heard from Chris Deal about several downtown projects. He said the apartments above The Public House at the corner of Chestnut and State Streets are fully occupied and the main floor conversion into a restaurant will begin once approval by the state is given, because the project received a state grant. He mentioned that he has met with about two dozen businesses to utilize the space at the former Forge, after Accenture paid its final portion of its lease agreement.

Deal and developer Nate Adams gave an update on the middle school apartment project. They told the Board design plans are still being adjusted and reviewed with the State of Iowa Historical Preservation Office, before the next phase can begin of moving towards receiving state historical tax credits that would give the additional funding needed for the conversion project. Deal added that they have had to request extensions on various grants the project has already received because of the longer process for the historical tax credits. 

GCDC Executive Director Ken Paxton’s report started with an update on the Multicultural Family Resource Center. He said the new director has been hired and will start June 1st and the new director has found housing within the community. 

Next, Paxton reported the first resettled Ukrainian has been in Jefferson through the program with Iowa Nice in DeWitt. He added in the future, more Ukrainians may come to Greene County, but they are waiting for the first individual to be completely settled. He also said that Midwest Missions has signed a new lease agreement for a few more years at the former Aureon building and he has started going to city council meetings in the county to give updates.