Dubuque first to win Vision Iowa approval

Dubuque will likely get at least 30-million dollars in state money to help build an education and tourist center along the Mississippi River. State Auditor Richard Johnson is one of the “Vision Iowa” board members who will negotiate the details with Dubuque leaders. He says the project would help bring visitors to Iowa and would also have some educational benefits.Dubuque had asked for 58-millon for the project, which includes a discovery center, aquariums, a hotel, a theater and a bike trail. The “Vision Iowa” board gave Council Bluffs a signal that their sports arena project will get state backing, too.The “Vision Iowa” board expects 25 cities or counties to submit requests for the approximately 180-million dollars that’s available to support construction of community attractions.