Main Street Lansing receives recognition at Main Street Iowa Development Awards

Main Street Iowa hosted the annual Main Street Iowa Development Awards celebration April 22 at Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines. The program honored the efforts of those who work to revitalize Iowa’s downtowns - the heart and soul of communities across the state. The awards honor outstanding accomplishments, activities, and people making a difference in the state’s Main Street districts.

Main Street Lansing received recognition for becoming a $3 Million Dollar District, which means that over $3 million of private funds have been invested in downtown Lansing since Main Street Lansing’s inception in 2012. Additionally, Main Street Lansing was recognized for reaching its tenth anniversary as a Main Street Iowa program.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and Debi Durham, executive director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and Iowa Finance Authority, presented the honors.

“The Main Street Iowa program is a powerful economic development tool that has stood the test of time since its introduction in 1985,” said Durham. “We continue to see significant growth in business, jobs, and investment in communities of all sizes because of the program. As a result, these districts serve as inspiring examples of what’s possible for Iowa’s downtowns.”

“Main Street is grassroots economic development,” said Michael Wagler, Main Street Iowa State Coordinator. “It is inspiring to witness the impactful work of local Main Street program staff, volunteers, and community partners.”

In 1985, the Iowa Legislature adopted Main Street America’s Four Point Approach to district revitalization by establishing Main Street Iowa within the agency that is now the IEDA. Since then, local Main Street programs have made a significant impact on Iowa’s economy, including 5,237 new businesses, 15,759 jobs, and more than 13,000 building projects totaling more than $2.4 billion in private investment.

“Lansing has seen a remarkable amount of growth recently, and much of that momentum is due to the efforts of citizens who care about the community,” shared Andy Kelleher, Executive Director of Main Street Lansing. “Our volunteers make things happen and serve as true champions of Main Street. Since 2012, Main Street Lansing volunteers have spent over 27,000 hours working to make Lansing a better place to live, work, and play. These efforts have worked wonders. The year 2021 saw more new businesses and sales than any other year in Main Street Lansing’s history, and we look forward to maintaining this momentum during our next ten years!”

For more information about Main Street Iowa and how all Iowa communities can access commercial revitalization assistance through the Iowa Downtown Resource Center, visit iowaeda.com/downtown-resource-center/, email Michael.Wagler@iowaeda.com, or call 515-348-6184. To learn about Main Street Lansing and the projects that helped it reach the $3 million benchmark, visit lansingiowa.com, email director@lansingmatters.com, or call 563-538-9229.