Main Street Lansing program, leaders honored at annual Main Street Iowa Award Celebration


Main Street Lansing was recognized as a Million Dollar Main Street District at the annual Main Street Iowa Awards Celebration held Friday, April 7 in Des Moines. The plaque above was presented to the Main Street Lansing program, signifying the achievement of the milestone of one million in private dollars invested in commercial district rehabilitation and property acquisition in Lansing's Main Street district since the program's inception. Submitted photo.

Main Street Iowa hosted the 31st annual Main Street Iowa Awards Celebration Friday, April 7 at Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines. The program honored the efforts of those who work day in and day out in downtown revitalization in Iowa. The event was attended by approximately 550 individuals representing communities across the state.

Main Street Iowa has annually presented awards honoring outstanding accomplishments, activities and people that are making a difference in Iowa’s Main Street districts. Projects large and small are recognized and serve as outstanding examples of what historic commercial district revitalization is all about.

Among the awards were a pair bestowed upon the Main Street Lansing program. The Main Street Lansing District was recognized as a Million Dollar Main Street District, having achieved the milestone of one million private dollars invested in commercial district rehabilitation and property acquisition in the Main Street Lansing district since the programs’ inception.

Main Street Lansing Board of Directors member Jana Schoh was also recognized with a Leadership Award. That award recognizes inspirational leadership and volunteers who make significant contributions to their local Main Street programs’ downtown revitalization mission.

The honors were presented by Iowa Governor Terry E. Branstad, Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds and Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA).

“The Main Street Iowa program has stood the test of time since its introduction in 1985. The program continues to bring businesses, jobs, investment and vitality to our states’ traditional business districts,” stated Branstad. “The Main Street Approach works, and Main Street Iowa has been a national model because we are creative, we embrace change, we demand local initiative and action, but, we hold strong to our roots as a historic preservation program.”

“Healthy, historic commercial districts are a key deciding factor for industrial and business recruitment,” said Reynolds. Since 1986, local Main Street programs have made a significant impact on Iowa’s economy, with 4,514 new business starts and a net gain of 13,402 jobs. More than 740 building projects have been reported, with an investment in those rehabs of over $2 billion. Last year alone, the Main Street Iowa network surpassed 156,135 total documented hours of human capital invested into Iowa’s downtown revitalization efforts. This demonstrates a tremendous commitment to Iowa’s Main Streets.”

In 1985, the Iowa Legislature adopted the National Main Street Center's Four Point Approach® to district revitalization by establishing Main Street Iowa within the agency that is now the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Since its inception, the state program and its communities have been considered examples of excellence in the national effort to revitalize historic commercial districts across the country.

For more information about Main Street Iowa and how all Iowa communities can access commercial revitalization assistance through the Iowa Downtown Resource Center, visit iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/idrc, email mainstreet@iowaEDA.com or call 515-725-3051.