MCGREGOR, Iowa (KCRG) — A Parkinson’s disease diagnosis reframed Jen Westphal’s priorities two years ago.
“When you have those kinds of health scares, it’s a big reminder that we’re not here forever, right?” said Westphal, whose husband, Jeff, was diagnosed with cancer just one year earlier. “We’re doing good. We’re both in great shape.”
The pair of diagnoses left Westphal with a question.
“What does real impact look like?” Westphal said. “Is it just writing a check to a group that you love and then walking away or is it actually taking the good fortune we’ve had and helping create something with real lasting meaning?”
A vision for lasting change
Westphal launched The McGregor Project, a long-term development initiative in her hometown, designed to preserve the history and character of the community while drawing more visitors and residents to the area.
“The intention of the project is to build off the history of the area, but take it into the future,” Westphal said.
The initiative’s first visible effort is The Station on Main, a burger restaurant built on the site of a former 1930s Standard Oil gas station. The Station is set to open Friday, July 3, under General Manager Chad Miller.
“Being part of something that’s going to just make McGregor even better than it already is, just uplifting the spirit and the homage of McGregor, especially starting with the station,” Miller said.
Inspired by the cuisine of the now-closed McGregor staple Woerm’s Wiggle Inn, the restaurant fits into what the community already offers.
“Here at The Station, you can get a maple syrup-flavored ice cream and it’s based on the local people up here who sell maple syrup,” Westphal said. “If they succeed, we succeed, but if we succeed and they don’t, we’re not going to succeed. That’s how you build economic development, making sure that all boats rise.”
Broader plans include housing, a hotel and a riverfront park
Westphal’s plans extend to redeveloping a historic hotel, adding a riverfront park, building affordable housing, and creating a McGregor Experience Center to document the community’s history.
Westphal said she expects to invest millions of dollars of her own money in the effort.
“It means a lot to me to be able to do this for my parents, my friends’ parents. We all grew up here, the town we all loved,” Westphal said.
The McGregor Project Community Development Fund will offer grants to 501(c)(3) organizations and businesses for startup funding, upgrades, beautification and public space development and more.
“It could be a great model for future people, people in the future who want to give back to their hometown, who want to build something that has impact,” Westphal said. “Help local businesses get those things done that they just can’t afford to do right now because small businesses, it’s very expensive and hard to run.”
Funding sources for the initiative are being finalized.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Previous version of the story incorrectly noted The McGregor Project Community Development is accepting donations.
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