Board begins to look for "Iowa Great Places"

The members of the “Iowa Great Places” Citizens Advisory Board begin traveling the state tomorrow (Wednesday) in search of three locations to officially recognize as extraordinary. Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Director Anita Walker says since the governor launched the initiative during his condition-of-the-state speech earlier this year, there’s been great enthusiasm from Iowans across the state. Walker says 146 places entered to be recognized under the initiative, and 77 coaches from state government agencies have been meeting with local promoters to help work on their proposals. Now, 74 of the local teams will make presentations to this citizens advisory board over the next couple of weeks. Walker says all the local Iowans have been pleased with the “Iowa Great Places” initiative. They feel their planning is much more comprehensive, that they’ve gotten good technical assistance from the coaches, and “they feel they’re in much better shape than they would have been.” The Iowa Great Places Citizens advisory Board will set out tomorrow to hear presentations by all 74 local teams still in the running, then meet on October third to choose three pilot projects. Those three will get coordinated assistance from 18 state agencies to help make their place special.