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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- Main Street Ottumwa received word on Tuesday that it has been recertified for another year.

For a lot of people, this comes as no surprise. However, there is a lot of hard work that goes into the process.

They come and go through all of your programs’ information. They look at all of your files, check your financials, what individual goals were at your action plans, and they make sure that you are meeting national standards in order to be a main street community,” says Cindy Woodbury, Main Street Ottumwa Executive Director.

Being certified as a main street community is very important. There are certain services that the state will offer free of charge.

“They will provide design work for many of the downtown businesses, free of charge,” said Woodbury.

Woodbury added that it is an honor to say that Ottumwa is a main street community, as it puts the city in a category with other successful main street communities around the country.