Two downtown buildings in Jefferson recently received funds to help improve and maintain them.

The Jefferson City Council approved at a meeting last month two economic development agreements for the Jefferson Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Hall and Meythaler Photography. City Administrator Mike Palmer says the agreement for the VFW was for $80,000 as a ten year forgivable loan to redo the front facade. Palmer points out this was a condition of a similar agreement that was approved by the Council in December of 2021 when a four year forgivable loan was approved to replace a roof on the VFW for $42,800. He notes that the VFW already has a conceptual done for the facade and is excited to see the outcome.

“It’s going to be a really, really nice look for them. The buildings next to them that have been done recently, it’ll look very similar to those when it’s completed. It’ll be a nice place for the VFW.”   

Palmer says the other economic development agreement for Meythaler Photography was a ten year forgivable loan of $75,000 to replace a roof and tuckpointing on the brick exterior. He talks about how the funding for these kinds of projects come from tax increment financing from the urban renewal plan.

“The Council structured improvements for buildings almost five years ago, they put that on the books that people could apply to have roofs done and tuckpointing, to keep the buildings very viable for many, many years to come.”    

C&D Masonry will handle the brick parts for Meythaler and the facade renovations for the VFW, while Grell Roofing will be replacing Meythaler’s roof. Palmers adds as part of the economic development agreement for the photography studio, the building must continue to be a photography business or a similar business for ten years.