Main Street Lansing hires Jackie Cooper as new executive director

Community members are invited to meet new director and learn more about MSL at an Open House this Thursday, November 7 at The Works in Lansing

by Julie Berg-Raymond

Main Street Lansing (MSL) has hired a new executive director; and although she wasn’t born and raised there, a person could be forgiven for thinking she was. “Lansing has always been my second home,” she says.

Jackie Cooper grew up in rural Fayette and currently lives in the Churchtown area with her husband, Jalen - who was born and raised in Lansing - and their three children, all under five years old. She and her husband both fish and hunt (bow and shotgun), and they both love the Mississippi River. In a recent Main Street Lansing newsletter, Cooper introduced herself, saying, “My family and I spent countless summer days enjoying the beauty of the river and the warmth of the Lansing community.”

With the MSL executive director position being a part-time job, Cooper says, “it allows me to focus on my family and to make an impact in my community” - which is something, she adds, she wants to pass on to her children. “I really want my kids to see how important it is to show up as a volunteer, whether it’s to plant flowers or help plan a community event,” she says. “My big thing is, how can I make an impact where I’m at?”

BRINGING RURAL AND DOWNTOWN LANSING TOGETHER
Cooper and her husband run Cooper Seed Solutions, selling corn and soybeans to farmers. “Farming and rural Iowa have a special place in my heart,” she says. In fact, an important part of her vision for MSL is “strengthening the bonds between our in-town and rural communities. Lansing is more than just downtown; it’s also important to include rural Iowa.”

In particular, she says, “there are so many entrepreneurs that are outside of Lansing”; and she’d like to foster “collaboration to help everyone succeed in their businesses.” In addition, Cooper has a plan for building connections between downtown and rural Lansing, called “Farmers Take a Break” - where Main Street Lansing volunteers and local restaurants collaborate to take food out to farmers. “Let’s go out to them and give them a break,” she says.

“THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX”
Cooper graduated from Upper Iowa University in Fayette, studying graphic design, marketing and management during her academic career. She says she is excited about the opportunity MSL offers her to put her expertise to work - “to be creative and think outside of the box, whether it’s an event, or a promotion.”

Cooper describes herself as a “social butterfly”; she loves to be around people and loves planning and creating events. One event she has in mind is a program she’s calling “Coffee and Connections” - a quarterly community gathering, rotated in different venues, and open to anyone in the community, rural or downtown. “I see this as a way we can just come together, have a networking opportunity, and catch up,” she says.

Cooper says she is also working on establishing an internship program and volunteer opportunities for area students.

In her working life, Cooper has “kind of landed in non-profits,” she says - contributing to organizations like the Allamakee County Conservation Office, Winneshiek County Extension and InspireHer (formerly Lansing Women in Business). “I feel like my values align with non-profits,” Cooper says. She is also a certified coach with Sister Circle - a La Crosse-based organization which involves guiding and providing “community, connection, and coaching for female small business owners” so they can build “scalable, sustainable, profitable businesses” (sistercircle.co).

OPEN HOUSE NOVEMBER 7: “A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT”
MSL is holding an open house this Thursday, November 7, from 4 to 6 p.m., at the Main Street Lansing Office (The Works), 274 Main Street in Lansing. All business owners and community members, downtown and rural, are invited to attend. Aside from what Cooper describes as “a big announcement” being made that evening, highlights of the event will include a preview of events planned for the months ahead; hearing about opportunities to volunteer - “wherever your interests and skills are,” Cooper says; learning how to use the Lansing Iowa/MSL website to promote a business, share events and connect with the community; networking with other attendees; and getting a sneak peek at projects launching in 2025.

“Volunteers are the heartbeat of our program,” Cooper says. Opportunities to volunteer are offered through four committees: Organization - fundraising, volunteer recruitment and partnerships; Promotion - marketing, social media and event promotion; Design - beautification projects and preservation; and Economic Vitality - supporting local businesses and economic growth. Volunteers may also get involved with helping to plan events; participating in special projects; and assisting with administrative support.

Information will also be available at the open house about MSL’s Annual Investor Drive. Aside from grants, the organization’s operating budget is funded solely through this investment drive. MSL offers three ways to invest: tax-deductible donation; contributing to an Endowment Fund; and donating towards a specific project.

According to the packet provided by MSL, an investment in MSL will help “preserve and promote the historic charm of Lansing’s Main Street, ensuring it remains a source of pride for generations to come; boost the local economy by attracting new businesses, supporting existing business, encouraging entrepreneurship and creating job opportunities; foster a sense of community by bringing people together through events, activities and beautification efforts; strengthen Lansing’s identity as a historic riverside town, enhancing its appeal to visitors and increasing tourism.”

Cooper says she is excited to take on the challenges of her new position. “I look forward to strengthening the bonds between our in-town and rural communities, fostering economic growth, and ensuring that Lansing remains a vibrant and thriving place for all.”

Main Street Lansing is dedicated to preserving Lansing’s historic downtown while creating a thriving, connected community through engaging events and strategic initiatives that benefit residents, visitors, and local businesses. For more information, call 563-538-9229; email director@lansingiowa.com; visit lansingiowa.com.