Grinnell’s downtown district will be the focus of an upcoming visit from the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Downtown Resource Center, which will bring a team of revitalization specialists to town June 4-6 for an in-depth assessment. The City of Grinnell, Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce, Grinnell Private Investment Company, and Poweshiek Economic Development Collaborative have teamed up to coordinate the downtown assessment.

The assessment is an intense, on-site study of the downtown area, including interviews with community members, a public presentation at the end of the visit, and a written report with actionable recommendations to support the continued growth and vibrancy of Grinnell’s downtown.

Jim Engle, Director of the Iowa Downtown Resource Center, says “the assessment visit is a great way for a community to take a step back and get honest feedback from a qualified group of downtown professionals. The five-person team will highlight the downtown’s strengths and challenges and will offer some practical recommendations that the community can implement over time.”

The visit comes at an exciting time for Grinnell. Ongoing efforts like the construction of Renfrow Hall, the redevelopment of the Beyer building, and the recent improvements to Central Park have built a strong foundation for growth. The downtown assessment will help us build on that momentum and ensure that growth is aligned around community input.

The process will start even before the team comes to town. Grinnell residents and anyone who lives, works, or spends time downtown are encouraged to complete a brief survey to help gather early input and better understand how people engage with downtown and what they see for its future.

The survey will be open until May 16th and is accessible at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Grinnell_PublicInput_Survey