DES MOINES – At a ceremony in Des Moines March 4, Mount Vernon was named one of four communities selected to join the Main Street Iowa program.
For more than 20 years, the Main Street Iowa program and its communities have been looked upon as the “best of the best” in a national effort to revitalize downtowns across the country. The addition of Mount Vernon, Washington, Belle Plaine, and Woodbine brings the total number of Main Street communities in Iowa to 39.
The selected communities demonstrated strong partnerships, a high level of volunteerism, and a commitment to the revitalization of their downtown districts. They must demonstrate support from local organizations, businesses, and lawmakers; funding and in-kind support must be secured and documented; strategic plans outlining short- and long-term goals must be in place; city resolutions and historic preservation ordinances must be passed and signed. Most importantly, community officials, business owners, and volunteers must agree to work together with the common goals of 1) preserving Iowa’s historic buildings and unique downtown business districts, and 2) improving the local economy by following the Main Street four-point approach to downtown revitalization.
“Mount Vernon has a wealth of historical assets, a small college, and a giving community. We love to meet and discuss our problems and the solutions but we tend to have difficulty developing the plans and putting them to action,” said Ed Sauter, executive board member of the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Board. “The structure, coordination, and expertise will help us go to the next level.”
Cornell College is offering funding and volunteer support. College communications director Dee Ann Rexroat serves on the executive board of the Community Development Board, and several other Cornell staff members—including Karla Carney-Hall, Megan Comer, Trish Kohl, Mike Williamson, and Gretchen Lindenbolt—serve on the board’s four committees.
During the first three years of the program, each community receives 40 days of on-site training and technical assistance from Main Street Iowa, National Main Street Center staff and private consultants, as well as 30 days of training for volunteers and local staff, resulting in a state investment of $100,000.