DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs today announced it has awarded more than $1.2 million in Iowa Great Places funding for 10 projects in seven Iowa communities.
DCA awarded $1,215,664.94 in Iowa Great Places funding to Danish Villages; Iowa City/Coralville/North Liberty; Hamilton/Webster Counties; Marion; Tama County; Turkey River; and the Villages of Van Buren County. The seven communities requested a total of $1,571,566.94 for 14 different projects. The awards announced today come from the Iowa Great Places program to support vertical infrastructure projects.
“These grant awards are significant because they help enhance quality of life in Iowa communities, generate economic activity and encourage job growth,” DCA Director Mary Cownie said.
This year’s grants will leverage local funding in public-private partnerships for projects that are represented by everything from public art to adaptive re-use of a historic property.
Once completed, the projects will offer residents and visitors exciting and unique quality of life experiences. In turn, those experiential attractions are expected to draw tourists, and attract businesses and prospective employees while boosting the local economy.
According to a 2010 Economic Impact Report by O’Brien Economic Consulting, the first nine Iowa Great Places from 2005-2009 saw the following results:
- Iowa Great Places grants created 1,012 construction jobs and 707 permanent jobs.
- More than $400 million invested in projects that are currently under construction or completed.
- Iowa Great Places grants have been leveraged on an average of 22-to-1 by local communities.
