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

President Sid Jones opened the meeting with an update on some housing projects. He talked about taking community tours of different projects with Kading Properties and how that would look as far as housing development in GCDC’s east business park that is along south Highway 30, across from Sparky’s One Stop gas station. Jones noted the development could also include 3-D printed housing with Zach Mannheimer and his company, Alquist 3D.

GCDC Executive Director Ken Paxton said they did not receive the federal grant that applied to get additional funding for Neuva Vida en Greene County. In light of that, he said they are applying for a state grant, but are evaluating the budget and will look to see how to move forward with the initiative to attract the Latino population to work and live in Greene County. He also mentioned that Aureon has left their location in Jefferson and now GCDC is looking for a new tenant or to sell the property. He added the appraised value of the building is $380,000.

Jefferson Building Official Chad Stevens gave an update. He said the city is looking to take possession of the Greene County Animal Shelter in January and the two properties the city acquired, including 307 North Wilson Avenue and 207 East Perry Street, are having the abandoned homes torn down. Chirp Coffee along south Highway 30 in Jefferson had its foundation and utilities installed. 

Region XII Council of Governments Executive Director Rick Hunsaker talked about receiving additional funding for projects. One was an $850,000 grant to rehabilitate existing homes and those funds could be used across the region, including any communities in Greene County. The other was a $15 million loan from the US Department of Agriculture to increase the meatpacking industry in Iowa, that is outside of the four main meatpacking companies in the country. 

Finally, Jefferson Matters: A Main Street and Chamber Community Executive Director Matt Wetrich announced that they have hired Molly Cunningham as the new events and tourism coordinator, who starts January 3rd.