Great Places proposal review meetings set Nov. 13-14
For Immediate Release November 9, 2006
(DES MOINES, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs will hold Great Places review meetings November 13-14, 2006 at the State Historical Building, 600 E. Locust Street in Des Moines. At this meeting, state agency partners will review the proposals to identify state project managers. State project managers, Great Places staff and local leaders will be meeting in the coming months to establish partnerships.
Agendas and meeting times are listed below:
Agenda for Great Places State Agency Advisors’ Proposal Review
Monday, November 13, 2006
9 a.m. – Noon
Heritage Classroom, State Historical Building
I. Review Process
II. Review Proposals
A. Dubuque:
1. Passenger Rail Service
2. America’s River Phase II
3. Warehouse District Redevelopment
4. Crescent Community Health Center
5. Library Renovation
6. Performing Arts Center
7. Bi-lingual curriculum and hike/bike signage
8. Mental Health Substance Abuse Services
9. Community-wide Wireless
B. Mason City:
1. The Park Inn Hotel and City National Bank
2. Wayfinding signage
3. Stockman House Interpretive Center
C. Fairfield:
1. Civic Center
2. Redevelop Downtown Streetscape
3. Sustainable Learning Center
4. Complete Trail System
5. Vedic Observatory
6. 1st Friday Art Walk
7. Bikeway/Walkway Plan
8. Investors Round Table
9. KRUU Radio Station
10. Maasdam Barns
11. Art on the Barns12. City Marketing Plan
13. Educational kiosks
14. Community philanthropy—cultural programming
15. Visitor’s Guide
16. Newcomer’s Guide
17. Business Incubator Building
18. New Chicago Depot
19. Outdoor sports complex
Agenda for Great Places State Agency Advisors’ Proposal Review
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
9 a.m. – Noon
Heritage Classroom, State Historical Building
I. Review Process
II. Review Proposals
A. Jackson County
1. Maquoketa River Canoe Trail
2. Jackson County Bike Trail
3. Clinton Engines Project
4. Bellevue’s Downtown Sidewalk Project
5. Mill Creek Walkway
6. Historic Jackson County Insane Asylum
B. Guttenberg
1. Marina Construction
2. Educational Kiosks
3. Shoreline Trail
C. Adams County
1. Lake Icaria
2. Second Home Community
3. Health and Wellness Aquatic Center
4. Johnny Carson Birthplace Society
5. Corning Opera House
6. Community Beautification
7. Corning Center for the Fine Arts
8. French Icarian Colony
Iowa Great Places is a program created by Gov. Tom Vilsack that calls on state agencies to partner with Iowans in a new way by combining state resources with local assets to make Iowa’s communities, neighborhoods, districts and regions great places where people want to live, work and raise a family.
Now in its second year, the program continues to draw interest from enthusiastic Iowans in every corner of the state. Representatives from 71 places expressed interest in visioning and enhancing their place and could choose a “short” or “long” track based on their readiness to move forward with their plans. Places that chose the long track option can work with state agency coaches to further develop their proposals for consideration in future years. Thirty-five places submitted proposals on the short track last month.
State agency advisors and the Iowa Great Places Citizen Advisory Board narrowed the group to 12 finalists in late September. The advisory board conducted a four-day tour of the 12 finalist locations this week. The Department of Cultural Affairs in October announced Adams County, Dubuque, Fairfield, Guttenberg, Jackson County and Mason City as Iowa’s next Great Places. Clinton, Coon Rapids and Sioux City were named Iowa’s first three Great Places last year.
