About six months ago, the City of Coon Rapids created a new Community Coordinator position. Native, Katie Mason, accepted the job and is working to introduce herself and explain their goals for the future of the Carroll County community as well as to outline their economic development efforts. Mason says the issues they are facing are being seen in rural areas around the state, and they are tackling those issues head on.
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She says there is a progressive spirit with community leaders who will be looking to leverage the great things happening at Whiterock Conservancy. They are also working to keep the school strong and are offering great recreational opportunities. Mason says national trends are actually turning in their favor.
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As a part of the revitalization of Main Street, one of the major projects is the rehabilitation of a former seed corn company hub that suffered major damage after the building was gifted to the city in 2015 by the current owner, Hartung Brothers, Inc.
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The city is now structuring a three-way partnership with POET Biorefining and Buena Vista University (BVU) to turn this into a Center for Excellence.
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In the future, BVU may be holding facilitated online classes and business incubator sessions in this space as well. Mason wants to work with county leadership as they apply for grants, deal with housing shortfalls, continue the Living Roadways initiatives for a Safe Routes to Schools trail connector, street-scaping and façade renovations. She says Coon Rapids has just been re-designated as an Iowa Great Place and they are looking at becoming a Main Street Iowa community.