Colfax and Newton Receive Main Street Iowa Development Awards

Colfax Main Street and Newton Main Street were among the communities that received state awards and special recognitions at the Main Street Iowa Development Awards held on Friday, April 21, in Des Moines.

Saving Colfax’s Historic Pharmacy was awarded ‘Best Main Street Business Support Project for a Community under 5,000.’ The award recognized the combined efforts of local business owners, property owners, and Colfax Main Street volunteers to help save Downtown Colfax’s historic pharmacy.

The pharmacy on the corner of Walnut and Howard Streets has been an anchor business in Downtown Colfax since the 1880s. In early 2022, the out-of-state chain that owned the pharmacy announced it would close the pharmacy in March 2022, leaving Downtown Colfax without access to pharmaceutical resources and causing the loss of a local anchor business. Local business and property owners Brenda and TJ Tjaden, Brad Magg, and local pharmacist Brittney Van Houweling and her husband Vance Van Houweling combined their resources and skills to start Spring City Pharmacy to take over the business. Colfax Main Street granted a low-interest rate loan from its Revolving Loan Fund Program to assist with the pharmacy start-up cost.

Spring City Pharmacy opened last year. The shop provides prescription medications and sells gifts, toys, and over-the-counter remedies. The pharmacy also features a soda fountain with homemade ice cream flavors.

Colfax Mainstreet and Newton Main Street both had Leadership Award Recipients. The Leadership Award recognizes inspirational leadership and volunteers who make significant contributions to the local Main Street program.

Colfax-Mingo High School’s GenerationOn Students received a Leadership Award for outstanding volunteer work in Downtown Colfax. GenerationOn is a high school student-run club that does volunteer work and community service projects in the district.

Tanya Michener, Associate Director of the Newton Development Corporation, was recognized for her leadership and contributions to Newton Main Street. Tanya is currently the Past President of the Newton Main Street Board of Directors. She has served on the board since 2018.

Main Street Iowa has been a state program supporting downtown revitalization since 1985. Colfax has been a Main Street community since 2009; Newton joined the program in 2014. For more information

Visit Colfax Main Street’s and Newton Main Street’s websites for more information about the organizations and their work.

For more information about the Main Street Iowa Development Awards, visit the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA).