YOU can make our downtown awesome with cool events, beautiful buildings, and hip shops!In the last year, we have introduced new events and promotions, assisted with openings of new businesses, and building restoration. Sicne 2009, our dedicated volunteers have provided over 7500 hours of service, valued at over $125,000! We have applied for grants (Community Development Block Grants, Challenge Grant, Living Roadways Trust Fund, Alliant Energy, MidAmerican Energy, North Lee County Community Foundation, etc.) for the downtown area and have acquired almost $600,000 thus far, specifically for downtown projects (not operating costs)! As lucky as we have been receiving funding for our projects, we receive all program funding from private donations, fundraisers and with support from the City of Fort Madison. Due to our recent successes and the faith that the City has in our program, they too have increased their annual pledge! However, to continue our programming, services and technical assistance we need to continue our fundraising efforts.
Our Board of Directors has recently determined three main goals that we will strive for from 2012-2014. They are:
- Increase retail and upper-story residential units in the downtown district;
- Implement a streetscape and infrastructure master plan; and
- Develop cooperative marketing strategies with other local Main Street communities.
Help us in our downtown revitalization efforts, for as little as $0.07 a day, or even $20 a month! That’s less than purchasing a cup of coffee a day!
If you’d like to donate to Main Street and help make downtown Fort Madison an even better place to live and work, take a look at the levels of giving that we have available below. Our pledge drive cycle runs a period of three years (2012-2014). Would you like to set up a monthly or quarterly donation schedule? We will help with that too, just let us know! If you click on the Donate button below, you will also have an option to make a one time donation, as well.