A new face for Grundy Center: MSGC unveils $1 million downtown revitalization project

GRUNDY CENTER – Big things are happening in downtown Grundy Center, and on the top of that list is the $1 million downtown revitalization project set to begin around June of this year.
 
During an Open House on Thursday, members of the MSGC organization joined with an architect to unveil the plans and specifics for the project, and answer any questions from the public.
 
MSGC President Paul Eberline says he’s pleased to finally show off the work of MSGC and all of the volunteers that helped bring this vision to life.
 
“It really is a culmination of all the behind-the-scenes work done by our volunteers,” he said. “It’s exciting to have something like this to show the community, and to show them what Main Street can bring to a community.”
 
The project, which has been in the works for some time, will restore and revamp the exteriors of 12 historic downtown buildings, including: Whink Services, American Family Insurance, 319 Décor and Design, Grundy Mutual Insurance, Outlaw Fitness, Gram’s, Movement Dance, Crazy Daisies, Hair Mechanic, Friends Boutique/The Fluerist, Edward Jones and Grundy Veterinary Clinic.
 
Half of the project cost – $500,000 – came from a state-funded grant, while the other half is being split between the city and building owners, with the city paying up to $250,000 of the project, and the building owner paying the remaining balance of the project.
 
Eberline says the project is aimed to preserve and restore Grundy Center’s historic downtown building-fronts, while making the downtown area and the town itself a more vibrant community.
 
“The final product downtown will look amazing,” he said. “Not only do we want to make our downtown more vibrant; we want it to be a destination instead of someplace you just stop to grab something and move on. We want people driving by to stop and look, we want to keep shoppers local and keep dollars in our town, and we hope to attract new businesses to town by showing them what a strong downtown district we have.”
 
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