JEDCO grants bolster economic development in small towns

Four communities in Jasper County applied for and received small grants from JEDCO this past year to support their individual economic development projects.

In a presentation to the county board of supervisors last week, JEDCO Executive Director Jeff Davidson reviewed each of the projects and asked supervisors to consider renewing the funding for the JEDCO Small Grants Program. The board of supervisors devoted $25,000 to the program’s budget in 2025.

Davidson said the program — along with the facade grants program — was designed to spur economic development in the small towns of Jasper County. Towns can apply for grants up to $10,000. A local match is required; JEDCO provides 75 percent while the cities provide 25 percent.

In 2025, JEDCO Small Grants went towards improvements to the Station Street Cycle Shop in Mingo, a new comprehensive plan for the City of Sully, a new comprehensive plan for the City of Baxter and the Gard Building remodel in Colfax. Davidson provided updates on each of the projects.

Station Street Cycle Shop is located adjacent to the Chichaqua Valley Trail in Mingo. The shop sells traditional bikes, trikes and e-bikes and their accompanying accessories, and it also provides bike maintenance and repair. Davidson said the trail connects to the Des Moines metro.

The shop’s project added convenience and grocery items to the store and added a community space to the store, which offered shade, seating, lighting, free air compressors, a bottle filling station and a bike wash station. The grant offered $9,310 and the city paid $3,103.

Unlike the latter three projects, the Station Street Cycle Shop project was funded with 2024 Small Grants Program funding.

The City of Sully’s comprehensive plan was to help develop a broad vision for the community and guide economic growth over the next 20 years. JEDCO provided a $10,000 grant and the city paid $13,500 for work with Mid-Iowa Planning Alliance to develop the plan.

Likewise, the City of Baxter is working towards its comprehensive plan. Davidson said Baxter has a lot of growth issues in the community, and he argued the plan will help provide the city with much-needed guidance. JEDCO provided $10,000 for Baxter’s comprehensive plan.

The Gard Building is located just off North Walnut Street. The renovation project also received facade grant funds. JEDCO provided $10,000 of grants for the building. The small grant funds helped towards getting the real estate office into Gard Building. Davidson said the other two spaces in the building still need filled.

“I really think it has spurred what we want to see here, as well as increase the assessed valuation of the building,” Davidson said.

Supervisors agreed to release the next round of funding for the Small Grants Program to continue serving Jasper County communities.