Senate reworks plans for funding tourism and other projects

The Iowa Senate has rejected a House plan to put 60-million dollars into the Vision Iowa program — opting instead to put 72-million dollars into the Community Attractions and Tourism , or CAT program. Republican Senator Jeff Angelo of Creston says the difference is the Senate doesn’t want to borrow the money to reinvest in the CAT program. Under the Senate plan, the state will put 12 million dollars a year into the CAT program for the next six years. Angelo says the program will also be expanded to allow communities with projects worth more than 20-million dollars to apply. Those projects have previously been limited to Vision Iowa grants. Angelo says supporters of the program are excited about that because it gives major projects a chance at the funding.Senator Angelo says the most money they would give to one project is 24-million dollars at four million dollars for six years. Urbandale republican Scott Raeker initially proposed 60 million dollars for Vision Iowa, but says he can support the change. He says it meets the goal of continuing the momentum to enhance the types of projects in both large and small communities across Iowa. Raeker says it was important that they don’t leave this session without addressing the issue. He says it was important to get money into the funds so Iowa can continue to grow. Lawmakers are call the compromise “Super CAT.”