Main Street groups brief Linn County on projects and FY26 grant requests

Representatives from three Main Street organizations presented to the Linn County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 29 to highlight recent work and to seek support for fiscal year 2026 Main Street grant applications.

Lacey Schroeder, who identified herself as the Uptown Marion representative, told supervisors that Main Street Iowa programs have helped catalyze private investment and business creation across the state. "With over 2,800,000,000 invested into main street buildings, they've catalyzed over 5,500 new businesses and created nearly 17,000 new jobs," Schroeder said, citing statewide program figures and outlining Uptown Marion's placemaking, business curation and organizational development goals.

Jesse Thurn, with the Mount Vernon Lisbon Community Development Group, summarized local outcomes including a new social media manager, five facade-improvement awards funded by the CDG ($10,000 total), ribbon cuttings and a reported 25% growth for participating businesses. Thurn said the group is rebranding the social-media role as a digital marketing specialist and is planning entrepreneurs' workshops and streetscape and trail investments.

Jennifer Borcherding, executive director of the district Czech Village and New Bohemia, described volunteer-driven committees that handle economic vitality, design, promotion and organization — the four Main Street program pillars. Borcherding said the district plans an "Inside Out" neighborhood awareness campaign to boost resident engagement and an "Outside In" digital marketing campaign using 45‑second videos to attract visitors.

Supervisors thanked the presenters and noted the role of Main Street programs in local economic development. The presentations were informational; no board action on the grant applications was recorded at the meeting.