303.3C Iowa great places program.

1. a. The department of cultural affairs shall establish and administer an Iowa great places program for purposes of combining resources of state government in an effort to showcase the unique and authentic qualities of communities, regions, neighborhoods, and districts that make such places exceptional places to work and live. The department of cultural affairs shall provide administrative assistance to the Iowa great places board. The department of cultural affairs shall coordinate the efforts of the Iowa great places board with the efforts of state agencies participating in the program which shall include, but not be limited to, the economic development authority, the Iowa finance authority, the department of human rights, the department of natural resources, the state department of transportation, and the department of workforce development.

b. The program shall combine resources from state government to capitalize on all of the following aspects of the chosen Iowa great places:

(1) Arts and culture.

(2) Historic fabric.

(3) Architecture.

(4) Natural environment.

(5) Housing options.

(6) Amenities.

(7) Entrepreneurial incentive for business development.

(8) Diversity.

c. Initially, three Iowa great places projects shall be identified by the Iowa great places board. The board may identify additional Iowa great places for participation under the program when places develop dimensions and meet readiness criteria for participation under the program.

d. The department of cultural affairs shall work in cooperation with the vision Iowa and community attraction and tourism programs for purposes of maximizing and leveraging moneys appropriated to identified Iowa great places.

e. As a condition of receiving state funds, an identified Iowa great place shall present information to the board concerning the proposed activities and total financial needs of the project.

f. The department of cultural affairs shall account for any funds appropriated from the endowment for Iowa’s health restricted capitals fund for an identified Iowa great place.

2. a. The Iowa great places board is established consisting of twelve members. The board shall be located for administrative purposes within the department of cultural affairs and the director shall provide office space, staff assistance, and necessary supplies and equipment for the board. The director shall budget moneys to pay the compensation and expenses of the board. In performing its functions, the board is performing a public function on behalf of the state and is a public instrumentality of the state.

b. The members of the board shall be appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by the senate. At least one member shall be less than thirty years old on the date the member is appointed by the governor. The board shall include representatives of cities and counties, local government officials, cultural leaders, housing developers, business owners, and parks officials.

c. The chairperson and vice chairperson shall be elected by the board members from the membership of the board. In the case of the absence or disability of the chairperson and vice chairperson, the members of the board shall elect a temporary chairperson by a majority vote of those members who are present and voting, provided a quorum is present.

d. Members of the board shall be appointed to three-year staggered terms and the terms shall commence and end as provided in section 69.19. If a vacancy occurs, a successor shall be appointed in the same manner and subject to the same qualifications as the original appointment to serve the unexpired term.

e. A majority of the members of the board constitutes a quorum.

f. A member of the board shall abstain from voting on the provision of financial assistance to a project which is located in the county in which the member of the board resides.

g. The members of the board are entitled to receive reimbursement for actual expenses incurred while engaged in the performance of official duties. A board member may also be eligible to receive compensation as provided in section 7E.6.

3. The board shall do all of the following:

a. Organize.

b. Identify Iowa great places for purposes of receiving a package of resources under the program.

c. Identify a combination of state resources which can be provided to Iowa great places.

4. Notwithstanding any restriction, requirement, or duty to the contrary, in considering an application for a grant, loan, or other financial or technical assistance for a project identified in an Iowa great places agreement developed pursuant to this section, a state agency shall give additional consideration or additional points in the application of rating or evaluation criteria to such applications. This subsection applies to applications filed within three years of the Iowa great places board’s identification of the project for participation in the program.

2005 Acts, ch 150, §87; 2006 Acts, ch 1179, §51 – 53; 2007 Acts, ch 43, §1, 2; 2011 Acts, ch 118, §85, 89

Referred to in §15H.6, 303.3D

Confirmation, see §2.32

Endowment for Iowa’s health account, §12E.12

Community attraction and tourism program, §15F.202

Vision Iowa program, §15F.302