A new grant will hopefully help with construction of Jefferson’s new welcome center.

The Greene County Chamber in conjunction with Thomas Jefferson Gardens and Jefferson Matters: Main Street have created a task force to apply for a Challenge Grant through Main Street Iowa to aide in the construction of the welcome center.

Assistant State Coordinator with Main Street Iowa Darlene Strachan points out that the biggest qualifying criteria for the grant is that you must be a Main Street Iowa community which includes Jefferson and 48 other communities in the state.  She says that you can apply for up to $75,000 and describes how the funds will be distributed to those who receive it.

“You know after $150,000 worth of expenses have been entailed, then you can get $75,000 back so to speak.  So there is some matching that happens down the road.  But this money can be used to finish some of these touches you want for this needed welcome center”.

Committee Co-chair Ben Yoder says they will be applying for the full amount and adds that this grant will go a long ways to the estimated $290,000 project to renovate the current building on the southeast corner of the downtown square.

Strachan comments that there’s about $900,000 in total funds to give away for this grant and it isn’t awarded every year.  She notes that two years ago, 13 Main Street Iowa communities received funding.

The deadline for the Challenge Grant is today.