Adams County is the least populated county in Iowa, but it's not short on character and charm. Those are things REALTOR® Jamie McManis has worked to ensure shine through in the county's communities.
Through restoration and renovation of Main Street buildings, McManis and other Adams County leaders have worked to provide improvements to their community that will be enjoyed for generations to come.
"I was born and raised in Corning," McManis said. "Like every small town girl, I went to the city and worked in West Des Moines for several years. Then I had kids and thought, maybe that wasn't such a bad place to raise kids. We came back and I've been involved ever since."
Her involvement has included participation in the Adams Community Economic Development Corporation and an ACTION committee that looks for areas of improvement in the community.
"We basically just focus on where we can improve and where we can grow," she said. "Now our Main Street is thriving, it's incredible."
That thriving community wouldn't have been possible without the forethought by McManis and others to bring back the rich history of the corridor. The group has been integral in capturing grants and raising funds to restore a number of buildings, including the opera house, theater and building a hotel. As a member of the Accredited Main Street Iowa program, the projects have qualified for special Catalyst grants.
The group is currently in the middle of renovating and restoring a historical-adjacent building that was passed down from owner to owner and fell into disrepair. Once the building was selected for improvement, McManis and others began the long process of obtaining grants, tackling initial infrastructure improvements and determining the future use of the site.
Each project has come with its own timeline and set of often challenging circumstances. From stormwater drainage to stabilizing the outside of a building, the community has continually worked to ensure the revitalization of the Main Street district became a reality. That has often included taking a hands-on approach to the usage of the spaces.
"We said, where are we lacking?" McManis recalled. "One is office space. We have retail but not office space. With COVID and people working from home, we wanted a place that would provide internet and space for those working from home."
A portion of the building will be used for a co-working space, while retail will round out the front facade and two apartments will be available for rent upstairs.
"We really want to use the retail area as an incubator space," McManis said. "Sometimes it's hard for an entrepreneur to have all the overhead. If we could make that expense less and give them a chance, it could work. So this building is designed to give people a chance."
Between the restoration and the future business opportunities, the Adams Community Economic Development Corp. and ACTION Committee have the best interests of the community at heart.
"More than anything we're a community," McManis said. "I believe in our community and believe in wanting my children to come back to this community to raise their kids. We're proud of this area."
While Corning and the rest of Adams County are small, McManis knows that's not a reason to count the community out. Her business and family have flourished in the community and will continue to.
"I'm very committed to making sure that this county survives in the growing times and keeps up with the ever-changing times with infrastructure and housing," she said. "Everything goes hand in hand. Maintaining our Main Street also provides something for families to come back to, a place for families to grow. You can accomplish a lot in a small area with a few people when you work together."