Greenfield's downtown project officially awarded

The City of Greenfield formally entered into a contract with Cornerstone Commercial Contractors of Corning for work on the west side of the Greenfield Public Square as part of the downtown revitalization project.

The action was taken at the last regular city council meeting and sets in motion the next pieces of the project.

“I’m excited for this project, and I think that once people start to see the transformation they’ll be just as excited as I am,” Greenfield Chamber Main Street and Development Director Stacie Eshelman said.

Eshelman said windows that have been boarded up for years are due to be opened back up to their original full size through this project. Tuck pointing is one issue that can prove difficult to stay on top of, and this project will allow for some building owners to have that completed on their building.

The west half of the square was designated early on in the project as the focal point for this round of work. If more grant funding is secured in the future, other areas will be included.

People are also excited for the Grand Theater, which is still in the fundraising stage of the grant, Eshelman said. The facade of that historic structure, which has been updated throughout the years, is set to be returned to a more original state through this project.

In February 2023, Greenfield Chamber Main Street shared the news that Greenfield had been awarded a $530,000 Downtown Revitalization Grant for facade improvements.

This grant, through the Iowa Economic Development Authority, is funded through the federal Community Development Block Grant program. Funds can be used to rehabilitate blighted downtown buildings.

An architect from the Franks Design Group in Glenwood evaluated prospective facades for this project, which requires matching funds and city partnership on a financial level. Greenfield’s city council has passed several measures along the way to accompany the project.