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The Greene County Development Corporation Board met Tuesday in regular session.

The Board heard about a program called Rural Housing 360 with Owner Steve Gilbert. The program works with local government entities, employers, contractors, real estate agents, banks and other financial institutions to provide resources to build workforce housing. Housing plans range from 800 to 1,700-square-feet and they work with government entities for available lots to build homes on. They also work with employers who have qualified employees that need financial assistance due to lack of funds for a down payment, have credit score issues, and those with a financial gap with the appraisal/comparable prices and a widening gap of affordability. Following the presentation, no action was taken by the Board.

GCDC Executive Director Ken Paxton gave an update on the Highway 30 coalition. He said if they can show enough support and data at the next Department of Transportation Highway 30 Committee meeting this summer, they might get approved for a Planning and Environmental Linkage (PEL) study. If so they could be closer to expanding the highway to four-lanes from Boone through Greene County and be put on the construction program for 2025-2030.

The Board also voted to end their agreement with Midwest Partnership.

During reports, Jefferson Matters: Main Street Program Director Peg Raney talked about the Available Buildings Tour on April 25th and 27th. She said several downtown Jefferson area buildings will be on display for people to walk-through and look at to purchase. As for a Greene County Chamber and Tourism update, Board Past-President Mike Holden said Beth Vander Wilt will be the new office coordinator at the Welcome Center five days per week.

Greene County Early Learning Center Director Cherie Cerveny said they hired two additional staff, however their waiting list has increased to 22 kids. Wild Rose General Manager Travis Dvorak said he is cautiously optimistic that sports betting will become legalized in the state. Once it does, he thought some minor adjustments would be needed in the Coaches Corner restaurant as well as the casino itself. Both bills in the Iowa House and Senate want it to be regulated through the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission with the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) as the investigative entity, as they are now with each casino.