Two more recipients of the Jefferson Wants You Incentive Fund have been announced! Abby & Alex McConnell, Legacy Events received $5,000 toward their start-up costs, and Bill & Pauline Allen, Good Stuff received $2,500 for their respective new Jefferson business.

Abby & Alex McConnell have purchased the property at 217 E. Lincoln Way and will be opening Legacy Events this spring. This business will focus on event rentals, services, and supplies for all types of events such as weddings, parties, social gatherings, and business events.

Not only will there be a physical location but a website can be accessed at www.legacyeventsiowa.com. The McConnells are in the process of remodeling the interior and exterior to accommodate the business. Abby & Alex are local graduates who returned to Jefferson to live and raise their family.

Bill & Pauline Allen have been involved in collecting antiques, vintage furniture, and décor along with homemade items for years and have decided to open a storefront at 702 E. Lincoln Way.

They have been buying and selling items in stores in nearby communities but now plan to bring it all to Jefferson. The business is called Good Stuff by Bill & Pauline and is now open for business. The Allens are long-time residents of Jefferson.

The Jefferson Wants You Incentive Fund is a project of the Rural Return project through Jefferson Matters: A Main Street & Chamber Community.  This project is funded through contributions from Jefferson Telecom, Home State Bank, Heartland Bank, Peoples Bank, and Alliant Energy.  The Selection Committee was also awarded a Grow Greene County Grant in April 2022. 

This fund is open to new businesses filling a gap in Jefferson for start-up funds of up to $5,000.  Applications are available on www.jeffersonmatters.org and questions can be directed to Matt Wetrich, Executive Director at his office at The Welcome Center.  Personal interviews are conducted by the Selection Committee. 

Applications are also available for current and new remote workers in Greene County for a year’s membership at Gravitate Coworking - Jefferson. Gravitate is the local coworking space in downtown Jefferson.  More details can also be found on the www.jeffersonmatters.org website under Resources.