As we’ve reported, the City of Perry is participating in a pilot program this year with the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Drake University to make improvements to the downtown area.

One of the first steps in the process is talking about goals for the project, which will begin tomorrow. City Administrator Butch Niebuhr says those who helped with the application will be in attendance, including Art on the Prairie organizers, the Nudgers, business owners and others who care about improving the downtown area.

Niebuhr says Perry put in five initiatives they would like to see addressed including way-finding and the creation an art district.

“We’ll see what schools they have that would be interested in those projects, maybe there’s something that’s not their strong suit, maybe there’s something that they might have in mind.  We’re going to kind of get it nailed down to see what classes and what schools we’re going to be working with probably this semester and maybe going into the next fall semester and summer semester too.  It’ll be interesting to work with Drake (University), we’ve never worked with them before but it’s always a good experience with Iowa State (University) and DMACC so we’re expecting that with Drake also.”

The group will be meeting in the Town Craft building Thursday, starting at 8:30am.