Greene County Development Corporation director Ken Paxton had plenty of good news to share when he provided his quarterly update to the Jefferson city council Aug. 22.
“We’ve had some pretty good news lately. We’ve been on a pretty good roll,” Paxton said. “Not just GCDC, but the city and the county – a lot of things have been going right for us lately.”
He reported GCDC and Kading Properties have signed a development agreement for a project that will include 100-140 new rental housing units on a 27-acre parcel east of N. Elm St and south of Gallup Rd in Jefferson. The units will include duplexes, town homes and single-family homes.
The city of Jefferson has agreed to provide an access road to the site. Paxton also reported that AAI/Spalding is interested in purchasing land just north of the Kading site. That makes construction of the road eligible for funding under the Iowa Department of Transportation’s RISE (Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy) program. The city and GCDC are working with Region XII Council of Governments in preparing an application for RISE funds, which could provide as much as half the cost of the road.
Paxton also made the first public announcement that Jefferson was awarded Thriving Community designation by the Iowa Finance Authority and the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Eighty towns applied for the designation; only 11 received it.
The designation followed a written application and a presentation by Scott Peterson, John Rigler, Chris Deal, Mary Nieto, Matt Wetrich and Kristin Russell.
The 11 new Thriving Communities will each have a booth and present at an Iowa Housing Conference in Cedar Rapids in early September. City administrator Scott Peterson said the conference will be an opportunity to talk with developers from across the state about opportunities in Jefferson and Greene County.
Developers of workforce housing in a Thriving Community have an advantage in applying for the Workforce Housing tax credit program through 2024. Paxton called Workforce Housing tax credits “the gold standard for any type of development outside of Des Moines or Cedar Rapids.” (Thriving Community designation is available only towns with population less than 20,000).
“Kading found out about that and they were extremely happy. They will need large amounts of Workforce Housing tax credits,” he said.
Paxton added that the Kading project will probably be the largest housing project in the history of Greene County, and in western Iowa. “This is more than a significant project. This will change the community for decades to come,” he said.
He said efforts to recruit new residents and employees for local manufacturers have stumbled because of a lack of housing. The Kading project can take out that stumbling block.
Andy Rowland of Rowland Real Estate was notified earlier this month of receiving Workforce Housing tax credits for the units he is building near Head Park. According to Paxton, Rowland is now considering more work in Jefferson.
Happe Homes of Ankeny is looking at property near Greene County Medical Center on which to build single-family homes. Paxton said the Thriving Community designation has changed what that company is thinking, and he expects to receive a development proposal.
“We’re coming into a new era that’s going to be pretty positive for our community,” he said.
Paxton reported GCDC received a $100,000 USDA grant for a Multicultural Family Resource Center. GCNO reported on that earlier this month. The project originated as Nueve Vida en Greene County. It has been renamed to indicate a broader focus than only the Latino population.
He also said Nate Adams and Chris Deal are ready to move forward with the remake of the 1921 school building as apartments. The two, dba NGA Ventures, hope to begin work next year, Paxton said. There will be 25 apartments in the building.
GCDC is changing its annual meeting this year to make it open to the public. The event is slated for Monday, Oct. 2, in the Greene Room at Wild Rose Casino. Beverages and appetizers will be served starting at 6 pm, with presentations starting at 6:30. The public is invited to learn more about GCDC projects and what the group has accomplished.
