Valley Junction is a "Great Place"

The State of Iowa's Great Places grant program is back for its second year and has set aside $3 million plus the technical expertise and potential grant money of 20 state agencies to help make selected cities 'great'. At the end of September, Valley Junction submitted a written application demonstrating its vision for the future and already established strong foundation. Valley Junction was selected as one of 12 finalists, of which up to 6 will be designated as Great Places.

A 12-member Citizen's Advisory Committee will be visiting Valley Junction on October 23 at 8:30 am at the Community Center, 217 5th St, to learn about the plans for Valley Junction's future in the Oscar-themed presentation "VJ Awards." For those of you who joined us at last year's presentation, the movie premier made a lasting impression on the judges and we hope this year's awards show will have the same effect.

Community support is a large factor when considering which place will receive this unique designation so please join us at the presentation to show your support for Valley Junction!

Valley Junction's application includes the following components. The Valley Junction Foundation and the City of West Des Moines, along with numerous other partners, propose to purchase the original West Des Moines City Hall and rehabilitate it for community use; install a fire sprinkler control room system for parts of Valley Junction’s business district; purchase WI-FI equipment to make the Valley Junction residential area wireless; develop a pattern book for residents to use as a source of information for appropriate updates and logical ways to expand their homes; install public art; enhance streetscaping on Railroad Avenue; redevelop Railroad Park to make it more pedestrian- and event- friendly; enhance the VJ area with streetscaping; restore a historically significant building for a small business incubation center; implement a community-based design/build project to replace playground equipment for Phenix Early Childhood Center; and link Valley Junction to the City of West Des Moines’ trail system. Please help us demonstrate how many people think Valley Junction is a great place by attending the "VJ Awards" on Monday, October 23!