Mt. Pleasant Main Street recognized with state award

DES MOINES — Main Street Mt. Pleasant received recognition at the annual Main Street Iowa Development Awards celebration, Friday, April 21, at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines.

Main Street Iowa hosted the program to honor the efforts of those who work tirelessly to revitalize Iowa’s downtowns and to make a difference in the state’s Main Street districts.

During the celebration, Main Street Mt. Pleasant received the state Leadership Award thanks to the many hours of work the Watering Nymphs put into taking care of the downtown flowerpots and beds.

According to Main Street Director Lisa Oetken, this group includes Ashley Lohmann, Chuck Albright, Penny Rauenbuehler, and Grace Vandenberg.

Mayor Steve and Karen Brimhall, Dave and Lisa Oetken, Ashley Lohmann, Adam Moehle, Kevin Dameron, and Travis, Chris, and Grace Vandenberg represented the Mt. Pleasant community at the event.

Executive director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) Debi Durham, and Main Street Iowa state coordinator Michael Wagler presented the honors.

“The Main Street Iowa program is a powerful economic development tool that has stood the test of time since its introduction in 1985,” Durham said. “We continue to see significant growth in businesses, jobs, and investment in communities of all sizes because of the program. As a result, these districts serve as inspiring examples of what’s possible for Iowa’s downtowns.”

“Main Street is grassroots economic development,” Wagler said. “It is inspiring to witness the impactful work of local Main Street program staff, volunteers, and community partners.”

This year, 14 projects received recognition and 47 leadership award recipients were honored for significant leadership and volunteer contributions to their local Main Street programs.

During the event, 10 communities also received recognition for reaching new milestones in the amount of private investment in their commercial districts:

•$1 million benchmark: Clarence

•$3 million benchmark: Avoca and Sac City

•$5 million benchmark: Lansing

•$10 million benchmark: Centerville, Elkader, Jefferson, and West Union

•$20 million benchmark: Washington

•$50 million benchmark: Charles City

In 1985, the Iowa Legislature adopted Main Street America’s Four Point Approach® to district revitalization by establishing Main Street Iowa within the agency that is now the IEDA. Since then, the Main Street Iowa program has had a significant impact on Iowa’s economy, including more than $2.6 billion in private investment, more than 3.7 million volunteer hours, more than 5,300 new businesses, and more than 16,000 jobs.

For more information about Main Street Iowa and how all Iowa communities can access commercial revitalization assistance through the Iowa Downtown Resource Center, visit iowaeda.com/downtown-resource-center/, email Michael.Wagler@iowaeda.com or call 515.348.6184.