Fairfield earns designation as Main Street Community

FAIRFIELD – Fairfield’s downtown is about to receive a “shot in the arm” now that the city has officially won designation as a Main Street Iowa Community.

The announcement was made Tuesday, Aug. 5 at the 2025 Iowa Downtown Conference in Muscatine, where a team of five representatives from Fairfield accepted the honor from the Iowa Economic Development Authority. The agency’s director, Debi Durham, said Fairfield has long stood out for its “cultural depth and entrepreneurial energy.”

“Now they’re building on those strengths to create a more welcoming downtown — one that brings people together, supports local growth and makes residents proud to call it home,” Durham said in a news release courtesy of IEDA.

Durham will personally welcome Fairfield into the Main Street Iowa family during a ceremony at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 12 in Central Park. She will hold a press conference, then take a walking tour of the Main Street District.

Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mendy McAdams said she was proud of Fairfield’s accomplishment, becoming the 54th Main Street Community in the state.

“This achievement represents the dedication, collaboration, and perseverance of so many individuals,” she said. “It took a second application and a tremendous effort to reach this exciting milestone.”

McAdams was referring to the fact that Fairfield applied for Main Street designation in 2024 but did not receive it. Fairfield Mayor Connie Boyer said the city was told to step up its game, and that’s exactly what it did. For this year’s application, Fairfield’s Main Street Steering Committee secured more community involvement than before, and more financial support from a broader base of contributors over a longer period of time, to ensure Main Street Fairfield would remain vibrant for years to come.

McAdams said the steering committee of 20 people, along with countless other volunteers and donors, “poured time, energy and passion into this process.”

“This truly has been a community-wide effort, and we are deeply grateful to every person who played a role, large or small, in helping us get here,” McAdams said. “The future of our downtown is bright, and we’re excited to take this next step together.”

Denise Hall, chair of the steering committee, said she was honored and excited to learn of Fairfield’s designation.

“This means so much to me and our community,” Hall said. “We’ve worked towards this for three years and we finally did it! It’s a great opportunity for our community to come together, breathe new life into downtown, and build something great for future generations.”

Hall said she can’t wait to roll up her sleeves and get to work making Main Street Fairfield “a place we’re all proud to call home.”

Boyer said Fairfield’s downtown will benefit from the special attention it will receive from the Main Street. Becoming a Main Street Community will allow Fairfield to improve historic preservation and attract more businesses, especially retail.

“I think we’re at a low point,” Boyer said about the health of the downtown. “We did not recover after COVID. Main Street will put a focus on downtown and help us get out of our doldrums.”

According to the news release from IEDA, Fairfield plans to “prioritize walkability and façade improvements; fill underused commercial spaces; mobilize volunteers; promote arts and culture; and reinforce downtown’s role as a destination for dining, shopping and connection.”

Main Street Iowa began in 1985 and has generated nearly $2.9 billion in private investment, according to IEDA. It has supported the opening of more than 5,600 new business, and created more than 17,000 new jobs.

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Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com