Governor Kim Reynolds (middle) at The Centennial

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds stopped in Greene County for lunch on Friday and learned about a successful project.

Governor Reynolds visited The Centennial and heard about the story of the all-female group of Why Not Us. They talked about how the organization invested funds to initially purchase the building at 100 East State Street from the city of Jefferson and then renovated it after it was abandoned due to a water main break in 2019 that flooded the restaurant. Now Why Not Us is working on renovating two one-bedroom apartments in the second story.

Governor Reynolds talked about what impressed her the most about Why Not Us and The Centennial.

“So many times people talk about doing things like this but they actually did it, stood it up, and did it relatively quickly, (and) had people not only that live here but people that were from here that wanted to be a part of it. To have 71 women step in and be a part of Why Not Us and really save a historic site like this, and to bring the restaurant here. The food, by the way, is phenomenal. And they followed through with it.”     

Reynolds was also in Lake Panorama in Guthrie County earlier in the day.