The latest community in the Hawkeye State to request money from the “Vision Iowa” fund didn’t have far to go to submit its application today. Polk County leaders are requesting the maximum of 75-million dollars for a proposed entertainment arena and exhibit hall in Des Moines.Polk County spokesman Phil Roeder says the proposed Iowa Events Center would include a 16-thousand seat arena and a 100-thousand square-foot exhibit hall downtown to complement the existing Veterans Memorial Auditorium and the Polk County Convention Complex.The Vision Iowa money is considered a “matching fund,” meaning the communities who request money for a project have to put in at least the same amount of cash. Roeder says the grant request represents just about one third of the cost.Last spring, state legislators dedicated 300-million to the “Vision Iowa” program, but at least 100-million will be spent paying the interest on bonds. The “Vision Iowa” board meets tomorrow to begin reviewing the applications from cities hoping to land grants for planned attractions.
