Main Street Iowa celebrated leadership and volunteer contributions during its annual Development Awards celebration last week. During the ceremony, held Friday at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center, 14 projects and 47 leadership award recipients were recognized. The program honored efforts to revitalize Iowa’s downtowns and to make a difference in the state’s Main Street districts. Among the award recipients was Peg Raney, president of the Why Not Us development group in Jefferson, who received the Spirit of Main Street Award, which is presented to an individual or group who demonstrates the spirit of Main Street at work throughout Iowa. A full list of winners can be found on the Iowa Economic Development Authority website. Iowa Main Street was created by the Legislature in 1985. Since then, the program has resulted in more than $2.6 billion in private investment, more than 3.7 million volunteer hours, more than 5,300 new businesses and more than 16,000 jobs.