April 18, 2024

Main Street awards tell of Newton's growth

Chapé also recognized for leadership as Newton Main Street interim director

By Christopher Braunschweig

Newton Main Street received the Terrific Total Building Rehabilitation award from Main Street Iowa for the completion of the Historic Hotel Maytag Apartments & Event Center, which also helped net the local organization’s $5 million and $10 million investment benchmarks. (Christopher Braunschweig)

Newton Main Street hit a couple important milestones and has been recognized for its continued success in revitalizing its downtown district.

Erin Yeager, executive director of Newton Main Street, announced last week the local organization’s district reached its $5 million and $10 million benchmark. This include private dollars invested in commercial district rehabilitation efforts and property acquisition in designated Main Street districts since program launch.

Newton Main Street officially launched in 2014.

These milestones were was largely impacted by the completion of the rehabilitated Historic Hotel Maytag Apartments & Event Center, which — fittingly enough — helped Newton Main Street win the Terrific Total Building Rehabilitation award.

This award was also distributed to Ames Main Street for the rehabbed Cornbred Barbecue restaurant and to State Center Development Association for The Evans Building. Main Street Iowa Awards program recognizes efforts of those who work day-in and day-out to revitalize the state’s downtowns.

Lin Chapé, who served as interim director before Yeager was brought on board, received the 2020 Newton Main Street Leadership Award for her significant contributions and volunteer work for the local program.

Yeager said these types of awards and recognitions speak highly of Newton’s growth, compared to where it came from years ago when Maytag closed. There is more investment in Newton’s downtown, too.

“Since 2014 — so, six years out — we just made a $5 million and $10 million benchmark, and that is incredible to see the momentum where we’re at now,” Yeager said.

Awards honor outstanding accomplishments, activities and people making a difference in the state’s 55 designated Main Street Iowa districts, the Iowa Economic Development Authority said in an April 3 press release. Of the 155 competitive nominations submitted in the 13 categories, only 19 were selected.

“Main Street Iowa has stood the test of time since its introduction in 1985,” IEDA and Iowa Finance Authority Director Debi Durham said. “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.”

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com