Students enrolled in the Retail Scapes studio class at Iowa State University this semester are working with residents in Jefferson to come up with community betterment plans. Last month students took a tour of the city and spent time talking with people in order to get a better idea of Jefferson’s hidden identity. Student groups have been working on their projects since then and will return to present their ideas in just over a week. ISU Class Instructor Lisa Bates says student teams will first give their presentations and then listen to resident feedback. Then those in attendance will work together brainstorming ways the proposed identity and visions could be made stronger and also letting students know if there is something missing or misinterpreted in their plans.
The public is invited to attend the session which will be held from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Jefferson’s City Hall on Monday, February 22. Officials in Jefferson are working towards developing a brand identity for the city with an implementation goal set for this year. Jefferson Matters: Main Street Program Director, Peg Raney says over 40 community members attended the previous ISU Design Scape session and provided valuable input for the students so they’re hoping for a similar turnout this time. The project is a cooperative effort involving Jefferson Matters: Main Street, the City of Jefferson, the Greene County Chamber of commerce, and the ISU Extension. For more information about the project visit the Jefferson Matters: Main Street webpage.
