INDIANOLA, Iowa — Indianola is enhancing their downtown district by supporting local businesses, revitalizing historic downtown buildings, and developing public art projects.

Last summer, Indianola received a Main Street designation by the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Main Street Iowa is a part of the Main Street America organization, which provides communities ways to leverage preservation, economic development, and community-building efforts to strengthen their city’s downtown.

In Indianola, a board of directors was created to help bring their Main Street project to life. The group consists of 11 people. They’re also creating committees that will focus on different parts of enhancing their downtown. These include design, promotion, economic vitality, and organization.

The executive director of Indianola Main Street, Erica Roberts, says the project is in its infancy stages, and this year their main focus is to promote education of the project to residents and business owners.

Above is a map of the Indianola Main Street District. The city will create ways to grow and develop businesses within this area of their downtown.

“We don’t have a set timeline. I think it’s really important that we be mindful of just putting one foot in front of the other and learning this process and going at our own pace is what’s going to work best for Indianola,” said Roberts.

There are over 50 main street communities in Iowa, and Roberts says being able to learn from them has been helpful for their own project.

“I think that’s probably been one of my favorite parts, being part of 52 other communities, and having network, and being able to leverage those communities that are going through the exact same thing you are, has been a tremendous amount of support,” she said.

There will be a workshop, called HEART Workshop, where local businesses can learn more about the program. It will take place on February 10th from 9 a.m. to noon at the Sagewood Events Venue.

They also launched a new website as well.

In the Fall of 2023, the city was awarded $125,000 to put into the downtown district. The funding was used to maintain, preserve, and improve downtown aesthetics to elevate local business.

Further, in June 2024, the city was awarded $650,000 by the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) to support revitalization efforts of eight historic downtown buildings.

Earlier this month, the Indianola Public Arts Commission (IPAC) announced its Illuminate Indianola initiative. They plan to enhance the alleyway between 111 and 115 N Buxton Street to the Indianola Downtown Square by adding murals and lights to the alleyway.

These projects will also enhance the area within the future Indianola Main Street.