The Vision Iowa Board today awarded Sioux City 21-million dollars for its “River’s Edge” development project. The 75-million dollar Sioux City project includes a 10-thousand seat arena, a Lewis and Clark interpretive center on the riverfront, and a ground transportation center. Sioux City MayorMarty Dougherty says they’re happy, although they’d hoped to get a little more money. Under an agreement negotiated with the board, Dougherty says the city will have to find eight million more dollars to fund the project. Dougherty says they’re confident they can come up with the extra money. He says they’re anxious to get the project underway.They’ll break ground on the interpretive center in a week or two and will take bids on the ground transportation center soon. Sioux City lawyer Marvin Berenstein is on the Vision Iowa Board. He quoted his son, who’s a councilman in Sioux City, calling the project the “Crown Jewel” of downtown Sioux City.Berenstein was asked if his position on the board helped Sioux City win the award. He said, “Probably not, I’m just a quiet, unassuming guy.”This is the third award made by the Vision Iowa Board for a major project. Officials in Dubuque and Council Bluffs were the state’s first “Vision Iowa” communities.
