As we look forward to the new year, the Jefferson Matters: Main Street Board of Directors have established their priorities for 2019.

Program Director Peg Raney says the Board has determined five priorities for next year and through the priorities, the committees will establish their specific projects to work on and implement. The priorities include: create upper story housing visibility; recruit traffic generating businesses; apply for Iowa Great Place and Great American Main Street designations; involve youth and schools; and attract people to the downtown Main Street district.

When asked about why the Board felt it necessary to involve more youth and the schools in JMMS, Raney explains. “There are very creative kids. And I think we need to empower our youth to be involved and that their ideas really matter, and they can see things happen, and they become proud of the community. I think they can definitely be entrepreneurs of our community, or volunteers, or hopefully residents that will stay here and raise their family.”

Raney adds that the 2019 priorities also help the Board determine their vision, targeted audience and set measurable outcomes for the next three to five years.