If the Iowa Main Street program had held its annual awards program April 3, Jefferson Matters: Main Street would have been celebrated and honored as the recipient of a Signature Project Award for its role in bringing The Forge to Jefferson. Signature Project Awards are given to projects that rise above the traditional award categories.
Only one Signature Project Award was given this year.
The Main Street Awards ceremony, previously scheduled for April 3, was canceled due to the COVID-19 public health disaster.
This year, 19 projects were selected from 155 competitive nominations submitted in 13 different categories.
Jefferson Matters: Main Street also won in the Fantastic Fundraiser category with its We Aim High investment drive, and one of two Partner of the Year Awards, with the City of Jefferson as its partner.
Each Main Street community nominated one leader or volunteer who makes “significant contributions to the local Main Street program. Jeff Lamoureux was Jefferson Matters’ 2020 Leadership Award recipient.
“Main Street Iowa has stood the test of time since its introduction in 1985,” said Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Finance Authority. “We continue to see significant growth in the amount of business, jobs and investment in communities of all sizes due to the program, and as a result, these districts serve as inspiring examples of what’s possible for Iowa’s downtowns.”
