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Great Places:
Bold thought, innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship...
"Great Places" is designed make good places great by bringing together the resources of state government to build capacity in communities, regions, neighborhoods or districts that cultivate the unique and authentic qualities that make places special: engaging experiences; rich, diverse populations & cultures; a vital, creative economy; clean and accessible natural and built environments; well-designed infrastructure; and a shared attitude of optimism that welcomes new ideas, based on a diverse and inclusive cultural mosaic.
At the request of Governor Tom Vilsack, government agencies will work together as true partners with three "pilot" great places (to be selected throughout the state), to stimulate ideas and planning, streamline access to available state resources, help leverage local and private resources, and share technical expertise. The Great Places initiative will also bolster the state’s other successful economic tools like Vision Iowa and the Iowa Values Fund.
how do you make your place a "Great Place?"
Ten regional forums will be held across the state to offer Iowans more information. Participants will learn about the Great Places team and timeline, and how an area can be selected as one of Iowa's Great Places. It is strongly advised to bring as many people from your area as possible!
The forums will be held
May 17: Clear Lake, Surf Ballroom, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
May 18: Spencer, Spencer Community Playhouse, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
May 19: Council Bluffs, Western Historic Trails Center, 4:15 to 6:15 p.m.
May 23: Dubuque, Mississippi River Museum, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
May 24: Pella, Pella Opera House, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
May 25: Cedar Falls, Oster Regent Theater (tentative), 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
May 26: Muscatine, Stanley Auditorium, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
June 1: Cedar Rapids, CSPS, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
June 2: Des Moines, Meredith Campus, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
June 9: Sioux City, Martin Ballroom, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
More information will be announced as it becomes available.
the road to a Great Place
Communities, regions and districts that wish to become one of Iowa's Great Places will be asked to submit an invitation by July 1 to the Great Places team made-up of representatives from 18 state agencies. Throughout July and August, Great Places “coaches” will then work with each place to get their offers ready for a final selection presentation in September. By October 1, a citizen advisory council appointed by Vilsack will help select the three pilot Great Places. Negotiation of partnership agreements with those places will take place through the fall, with final agreements by December 31, 2005.
For more information visite www.IowaGreatPlaces.gov or contact: Monica Fischer, Great Places Coordinator, 515.242.5006 or 1.800.432.7230, Monica.Fischer@ifa.state.ia.us.
