Jefferson will be one of 18 cities receiving funding for building redevelopment under the new Community Catalyst Program. The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) initiated the program in which cities identify a building in need of renovation, with the goal of spurring improvements for other property owners. Jefferson has been selected to receive more than $1.7 million for the rehabilitation of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) building and the Software Development Workforce Training Initiative. The Community Catalyst program focuses on smaller communities in Iowa, with a requirement that at least 40 percent of the grants distributed be given to cities with populations of 1,500 or less. In this first round of grant awards, the IEDA selected 50 percent of their winners from that category. The organization says they are able to help these communities save older buildings, and say they see this as an economic development tool.
