Jefferson Receives Challenge Grants

A contingency of Jefferson Matters: Main Street and City of Jefferson officials were in Des Moines on Tuesday, Nov. 29 to receive two grant awards.  The Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant of $74,500 was received for the Kendall Building on Lincoln Way.  This building was acquired by the City with a commitment of $150,000 in TIF funds for an excellent business plan that included historic preservation of the property.  Rosie & Ray Tucker returned to their hometown of Jefferson to open their boutique, Sensibly Chic.  The Tuckers also plan to renovate the second floor as their living quarters.  A match of funds from the TIF money and Tucker’s own financing made this grant successful for the Main Street Iowa staff.  The Tuckers plan to refinish the original wood floor, refurbish the original tin ceiling, add a vintage staircase in the alley to their living quarters, add new electrical and plumbing, tuck point the façade on the front and alley, and add vintage exterior doors and lighting with the grant funds.

Each Main Street community can apply for one Challenge Grant a year for interior and exterior work of a building in the Main Street District.  This is the first year Jefferson has been awarded this grant since it became a Main Street community in 2012.

The second grant was a Technical Assistance Challenge Grant for $5,000.  This was offered for professional services only so Jefferson applied to work with RDG of Des Moines on an updated brand and plans for wayfinding signage throughout the community.  A committee of Main Street, City & Chamber reps will work on this during the winter months.