Great Places in Iowa

The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs is excited to announce that communities may now apply for designation into the Iowa Great Places program through Slideroom. Applications are due May 1, and guidelines can be found on our website. There have been some programmatic changes this year, including separate application cycles for designation (spring) and grant funding (fall). Only those communities awarded designation during the spring application cycle will be eligible to apply for grant funding during the fall application cycle. Funding is not guaranteed with designation. More information on the program is available on the attached overview.

Benefits of Designation Include:

• Networking with other Designated Great Places
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Mentorship with Fellow Great Places
• Technical Assistance
• Eligibility to apply for Iowa Great Places grant funding in the fall*
• Additional Consideration by Partner State Agencies**

*A maximum of one funded project per 5-year designation period.

**A maximum of three projects are endorsed for Partner State Agency consideration per 5-year designation period. Those projects must be proposed through the fall grant funding application cycle and receive the minimum score to be endorsed by Iowa Great Places.

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