Jefferson Matters: Main Street recently received a Challenge Grant for a downtown building project.

Iowa Economic Development Authority and Main Street Iowa announced a $35,500 Challenge Grant for the third floor interior project of the Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency building on the north side of the downtown square. The match came from the Prairie Lakes AEA Board of $25,000 and another $10,000 from Greene County Development Corporation.

JMMS Program Director Peg Raney says last year Greene County High School student Colby Aspengren designed a 1,200-square-foot apartment space on the third floor of the building and incorporated Prairie Lakes’ idea of a shared workspace in the back 1,700-square-feet.

“To be able to draw in those people that are working from home, maybe traveling, or people that need a spot to meet a client or do some things like that. But their idea also is not to necessarily charge people to do that but in turn ask those people to mentor students that might have an interest in those different areas.”

The project will be built by the high school construction class. Greene County Schools Superintendent Tim Christensen says it’s a great opportunity for students to get real-world learning.

“To begin with, that we had a student that redesigned that apartment complex. And I really believe that that work really led to getting that challenge grant. So again it’s exciting to have the students involved in that and the school involved in that entire project.”

Representatives from JMMS were at the Botanical Center in Des Moines Wednesday night for the announcement.