Main Street Rapids reports new businesses, murals and 2026 streetscaping plans

Representatives of Main Street Rapids presented their July 2024–July 2025 annual report to the Carroll County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 21, outlining business openings, grants, public-art projects and a planned downtown streetscaping project.

Main Street Rapids representative Billy Mason said the program supported three new downtown businesses during the reporting year, including Fourth Avenue Coffee and Bites and a mobile creperie operated by Kate (identified in the presentation as Rosie’s Creperie and Sips). He said a retail boutique opened at 412 Main after its owner received a startup grant from the Carroll County Grove Partnership and Main Street Twin Rapids. Mason said the board awarded a $5,000 expansion grant to wellness business owners Corey and Kaylee Sanden to add services, and that the group worked with Farm Drill to secure a $100,000 challenge grant; Mason said Farm Drill expects to complete renovations in November and will hold a roofing event to mark the expansion.

Mason described several building-improvement and public-art efforts that Main Street Rapids funded or commissioned. Where storefronts had cinder-block infill or deteriorated paint, the group commissioned removable murals that can be taken down if future modifications restore windows, he said. The group also installed an interactive patriotic mural in the downtown veterans park. Mason said Main Street Rapids achieved Main Street Iowa accreditation during the year.

The Main Street program also awards a scholarship to graduating high-school seniors who volunteer with the program; Mason said scholarship eligibility requires at least 10 volunteer hours per school year. He told the board the program has recorded more than 16,600 volunteer hours since its inception in February 2019, which he calculated as nearly $500,000 in volunteer service.

Looking ahead, Mason said the organization’s major project for 2026 will be a streetscaping effort covering roughly three blocks of downtown. He said staff and property owners will need close coordination to reduce business disruptions during construction. Other accomplishments Mason highlighted included a new concession stand built by the Rapids Lions Club, resurfacing of a combined pickleball/tennis court, a well-received trail resurfacing project and a visit from the lieutenant governor as part of a Region 12 comprehensive-planning effort.

Bruce Pitzer, identified as a Main Street Rapids board member attending with Mason, joined for the presentation and responded to supervisors’ questions about business expansions and streetscape design choices.

Mason concluded by urging continued volunteer and local-business coordination as the community prepares for the streetscaping construction next year.