Downtown revitalization project is sprucing up Wausa
WAUSA — Downtown Wausa is taking on a new look.
Downtown Wausa has been undergoing changes this fall. New sidewalks, new windows, metal siding, doors, signs and awnings are some of the new improvements being made to buildings in the downtown Wausa business district.
Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) awarded $30,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to the Village of Wausa for Downtown Revitalization Phase I in 2016. DED also awarded $350,000 in funding for Phase II grant in 2017. Phase I is for planning and Phase II is the construction implementation phase.
Lowell Schroeder from Northeast Economic Development District assisted the Village Board and city employees on the grant application.
Also, the Downtown Revitalization Committee has worked numerous hours on the project with Lowell Schroeder.
“I’m very impressed on how downtown looks. You can tell business owners take pride in their buildings. The business owners and downtown committee have helped so much to be able to get this grant. They provided letters of support and attended many meetings,” said Mayor William Schumacher. He added, “It takes support like that to make a successful downtown revitalization project.”
DED representatives visited Wausa before awarding the grants and commented that Wausa has quality businesses, quality people and has pride.
Jason Seagren is the chairman of the Downtown Revitalization Committee. When Lowell Schroeder asked for a representative from the village board to help with the project, he volunteered immediately. Other committee members are: Eric Wynia, Dawn Friedrich, Kelly Clausen, and Lance Lundberg.
“I was excited to see the support that we had for this grant from the businesses and community,” Seagren said.
The committee also worked with Miller and Associates, P.C., an engineering firm, to help with the planning and the design phase of the project. They provided façade improvement ideas, helped with conceptual computer renderings, and helped with the revitalization plan.
“Being a Knox County native, it has been very exciting for me to work with the Wausa community over the past three years in order to provide this redevelopment opportunity for downtown businesses. It takes a lot of cooperation to complete this type of major project in a small community,” said Lowell Schroeder. There will be more projects in the downtown area completed this fall and next spring.
