Guthrie Center Main Street Seeks Community Input

Downtown revitalization group to host public session on survey results and future plans.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 3:27pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a classic 1950s-style neon sign on a downtown storefront, repeated in a tight grid pattern to capture the vibrant energy and character of a small-town main street.A community-driven approach to revitalizing Guthrie Center's historic downtown aims to capture the local flavor and character of this small Iowa town.Guthrie Center Today

Main Street Guthrie Center, a downtown revitalization organization, is holding a community input session next week to discuss the results of a recent survey and gather feedback on the future of the city's central business district. Executive Director Becky Peterson says the event will review survey findings on what local businesses, property owners, and community members want to see in terms of store hours, merchandise, business mix, and the overall look and feel of downtown.

Why it matters

As small towns across the Midwest work to reinvigorate their historic downtowns, community input is crucial to ensure development plans align with local needs and priorities. Guthrie Center's Main Street program is taking a proactive approach to engaging residents and business owners in shaping the future of their commercial core.

The details

The community input session will be held on April 22nd from 5:30-7pm at the Guthrie Center Activity Center. Peterson says the event will first review the findings of a survey conducted earlier this year that gathered feedback from business owners, property owners, and community members on their desires for downtown Guthrie Center. After presenting the survey results, organizers will seek additional input and advice from attendees to help determine strategies and goals for the future of the downtown area.

  • The community input session is scheduled for April 22, 2026 from 5:30-7pm.

The players

Becky Peterson

Executive Director of Main Street Guthrie Center, the downtown revitalization organization hosting the community input session.

Main Street Iowa

A statewide program that provides training and technical assistance to local Main Street organizations in Iowa, and is partnering with Guthrie Center's Main Street group for this event.

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What they’re saying

“The surveys reviewed everything from what business owners want to see with our downtown, what building owners want to see, and then also what the community and anybody who visits, shops, our local downtown, what they want to see regarding store hours, merchandise that's offered, whether we have retail, non-retail businesses, what the look and feel, the environment of our downtown is. It kind of encompasses everything that people want to see in their downtown Guthrie Center.”

— Becky Peterson, Executive Director, Main Street Guthrie Center

What’s next

After the community input session, Main Street Guthrie Center will work with Main Street Iowa to review the feedback and develop specific strategies and goals for the future of the downtown area.

The takeaway

By proactively engaging the community in shaping the future of its historic downtown, Guthrie Center's Main Street program is taking an important step towards ensuring its revitalization efforts align with local needs and priorities, ultimately creating a more vibrant and sustainable commercial core.