Main Street Iowa Awards Celebration Honors Outstanding Achievements

Jefferson received the following state awards and special recognitions: Outstanding Image Activity was awarded to the Promotion Committee for their Main Street Minute promotion. Short videos of merchants in the Main Street District were shared on social media with much success. The Itty Bitty Nitty Gritty Award went to the Economic Vitality committee’s Java & Juice events where the public is invited to businesses each Friday morning to serve refreshments and tell about their business. An honorable mention for Total Building Rehabilitation was announced for the Kendall Building where Sensibly Chic is located. Jefferson sent in seven nominations for the thirteen categories of awards.

Roger Aegerter was honored as Jefferson Matters: Main Street’s Leadership Award for 2017 for his many hours spent helping the Tower View Team in their work with public art projects. A group of twenty-one people including board members, spouses, and guests of Jefferson Matters: Main Street represented the organization.

Main Street Iowa hosted the 32^nd annual Main Street Iowa Awards celebration on Friday, April 13, 2018 at Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines. The program honored the efforts of those who work day in and day out to revitalize Iowa’s downtowns – the heart and soul of communities across the state.

Main Street Iowa has annually presented awards honoring outstanding accomplishments, activities and people making a difference in Main Street districts throughout the state. Projects large and small are recognized and serve as outstanding examples of what historic commercial district revitalization is all about.

This year, 18 projects were selected to be recognized from the 117 competitive nominations submitted. The honors were presented by Governor Kim Reynolds and James Engle, director of the Iowa Downtown Resource Center (IDRC).

“The Main Street Iowa program is a powerful catalyst for local revitalization and community investment,” said Governor Reynolds. “As I travel across the state, I see over and over that Main Streeters are passionate, innovative and creative. They’re also committed to making their downtowns – and our state – a stronger, more sustainable place to live, work and raise a family.”