A goal of the Jefferson Matters: Main Street Board of Directors for 2019 was to submit an application to be considered a Great American Main Street. This is a national designation through Main Street America and presented at the National Conference in Dallas, TX in May of 2020. An video conference interview with the committee was held with Executive Director Peg Raney and Jefferson Matters: Main Street President Jamie Daubendiek on August 27. Info on this should be received in early 2020.
This designation was a goal of Jamie Daubendiek and other Main Street Board members who attended their first National Main Street Conference in Boston in 2012. To be named as one of the 8 semi-finalists would be amazing! The winners are revealed at the conference.
A thorough online application filled with accomplishments from this past year and earlier was involved along with challenges, partnerships, programming, leadership, commitment to historic preservation, professional development of the board and staff, transformation of Main Street District, volunteer involvement, reinvestment statistics, and innovative ideas. Jeff from Jefferson even interviewed volunteers and board members on why Jefferson should be a Great American Main Street recipient. 
Past winners from Iowa since the inception of the award in 1995 include:
- 2014 – Woodbine
- 2012 – Valley Junction
- 2004 – Burlington
- 2002 – Cedar Falls
- 2001 – Elkader
- 2000 – Keokuk
- 1998 – Corning
- 1996 – Bonaparte
- 1995 – Dubuque