The City of Jefferson recently took another step toward applying for the $1 million Community Development Block Grant.

City Administrator Mike Palmer says the City Council selected Franks Design Group from Glenwood, Iowa as the architect for the project.  A ten-person committee interviewed five architect firms, with the assistance from grant writer, Region XII Council of Governments.  The four-person firm has previous experience with CDBG grants in Manning, Le Mars and Sac City.

The Council will consider approving a contract with Franks Design at their next meeting.  If the contract is approved, Palmer notes that a blight survey will be done of the 20 downtown buildings that are being considered for the grant.

“That’s what makes and breaks the grant application is how much blight is in the area.  We’re actually going to have to work pretty hard at getting enough blight.  The indication from the state and our architect is that the downtown is actually in pretty good shape, especially as far as meeting the blight criteria.”

Another major component of the grant is a $500,000 match from both the City and the building owners.  The application is due by the end of January and the City will be notified if they get the grant by next spring.