Marshalltown is a community made up of believers and doers. And at the heart of it all is our historic downtown.

Through volunteers Marshalltown Central Business District (MCBD) has serviced our city for more than 18 years to improve and beautify the downtown district, support our local businesses and to organize and attract events that make downtown a welcoming place in our community, but we need help to sustain the mission. Main Street Iowa (MSI) leads a powerful, grassroots network consisting of more than 50 communities throughout Iowa.

In 1985, the Iowa Legislature adopted Main Street America’s Main Street Approach model and established MSI.

The Marshalltown Central Business District is accredited with Main Street Iowa (MSI). 2020 has been a challenging year as we face continued recovery from the tornado, COVID-19 and the derecho. The pandemic changed the look of some of our favorite programs and events, but at the MCBD we continue to find ways to support and promote our downtown.

As an MSI community, our organization of volunteers work to develop comprehensive strategies to work in four broad based areas known as the Four Points: Economic Vitality, Organization, Promotion and Design.

Economic Vitality focuses on capital, incentives and other economic and financial tools to assist new and existing businesses, catalyze property development and create a supportive environment for entrepreneurs and innovators that drive local economies. Most recently Economic Vitality was able to assist downtown building owners with more than $100k in grant funding to address facades and city code upgrades in the downtown.

Organization involves creating a strong foundation for a sustainable revitalization effort, including cultivating partnerships, community involvement and resources for the district. In 2020 our organization committee was able to cultivate a partnership that secured grants for restaurants and bars in the downtown district, which helped offset the expenses of the extra COVID-19 sanitation, and lost revenue due to both COVID-19 and the derecho shutdowns.

Promotion positions the downtown or commercial district as the center of the community and hub of economic activity, while creating a positive image that showcases a community’s unique characteristics.

Design supports a community’s transformation by enhancing the physical and visual assets that set the commercial district apart.

As one year rolls out and the next rolls in, we all tend to think about where we have been, and where we want to be.

This year will be without exception of the experience; perhaps this year, a year where we all feel we deserve a “I Survived 2020” t-shirt, we can reflect, then act upon how we can positively move the community forward.

Where do you want downtown Marshalltown to be at the end of 2021?

The Marshalltown Central Business District is a community focused non-profit that is poised and equipped with a vast network of resources to make a large impact on downtown Marshalltown. Downtown Marshalltown is the heart of our community.

Our gifts go a long way in making downtown Marshalltown a better place to play, stay, shop, dine and do business.

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Deb Millizer is the executive director of the Marshalltown Central Business District.