A project that is over three years in the making is getting closer to coming to fruition in Jefferson.

Developer Nate Adams, along with Jefferson resident and engineer Chris Deal, and NGA Ventures are continuing to secure funds to convert the three-story portion of the former middle school into 25 studio to three bedroom apartments. Adams told the Greene County School Board at their meeting last week that several funding sources have been received, including a $694,000 Workforce Housing Tax Credit through the Iowa Economic Development Authority, an IEDA and Grayfield Tax Credit, and a $1 million, zero-percent loan through the Iowa Finance Authority. 

Adams said the last funding mechanism is the federal and state historical tax credits. The first part of the application has been submitted to the State of Iowa Historical Preservation Office. There are two additional steps that are required before the final announcement of those tax credits happens in April. Adams noted that the historical tax credits were about ⅓ of the total cost of the $6 million project. 

Greene County Schools Superintendent Tim Christensen shares his thoughts on this multi-year process and seeing it come to this point.

“It’s really good. I appreciate the work that Nate (Adams) has done on this, Chris Deal as well, (and) several other people. I really appreciate the fact that they had a vision and they’re sticking to that vision, jumping through the hoops as we have to do in these types of situations. Again just really appreciate that and I think it’s exciting that vision still exists and I think you can see the finish line. 

The School Board has already approved a contractor to remove the gymnasium as it is not designated as a historical site, but demolition was put on hold earlier this year until the apartment project secures all the funding that is necessary. Adams said if they get all of the funding, they could start construction next summer.