www.iowagreatplaces.gov

In 2008 a team from Arkansas State University made a special trip to three Iowa Great Places, Clinton, Dubuque and Fairfield, to study the Great Places Initiative’s impact on their economic health. The team was made up of elected officials, community volunteers, planning and economic development staff from regional and state offices.

The team also visited Perryville, Missouri. Their report can be read in full on the link posted below. Their conclusions are that place based planning is essential for communities to grow and thrive in the 21st Century. They strongly recommended that Arkansas develop legislation that creates a program in Arkansas modeled on the Iowa Great Places initiative. The legislation is pending in the Arkansas Legislature this session.

Quality of Place and Economic Development a Case Study of Iowa Great Places Program

Jerry Freund, Decorah city manager, gave a power presentation at Cultural Advocacy Day on February 15, 2011 in Des Moines about what Great Places does for the following places:

• Get recognition as among the few that are chosen
• The awards give meaningful financial assistance in direct grant funding that might not other wise be available
• Requires the places to stay on track for completion of the projects by insisting on reporting requirements
• Allows them to receive enhanced opportunities with the additional consideration for state grants
• Opens their communities to other cultural, historic and economic opportunities

See this presentation on the physical benefits of Great Places on Decorah’s projects.

Download Presentation

Iowa Great Places: Building a Stronger Iowa, One piece at a time
 Mason City
 Villages of Van Buren