Note from Storm: I agree with Governor Branstad’s claim to his state’s leadership in this regard.
From the article: Iowa is a national leader in efforts to restore and revitalize downtown districts, Governor Terry Branstad said on August 27, 2015.
For nearly three decades, Iowa’s Main Street Iowa program coupled with the work of community developers, volunteers and local officials have been looked upon as the “best of the best” in a national effort to revitalize downtowns across the country, Branstad told a statewide summit of downtown leaders.
Main Street Iowa districts collectively have logged nearly 4,500 new business starts and a net of 13,000 new jobs, he noted, adding that rehabilitation of more than 10,000 buildings has totaled more than $1 billion worth of investments.
Each dollar appropriated to Main Street Iowa program last year leveraged private investment topping $93, Branstad said, and volunteer hours committed to the effort is approaching 3 million hours.
[Photo credit: Politico.com]