15F.304  Vision Iowa program application review.
  1.  Applications for assistance under the program shall be submitted to the authority. For those applications that meet the eligibility criteria, the authority shall provide a staff review and evaluation to the vision Iowa program review committee referred to in subsection 2 and the board.
  2.  A review committee composed of eight members of the board shall review vision Iowa program applications and river enhancement community attraction and tourism project applications submitted to the board and make recommendations regarding the applications to the board. The review committee shall consist of members of the board listed in section 15F.102, subsection 2, paragraphs “d” through “h”.
  3.  When reviewing the applications, the review committee and the authority shall consider, in addition to other criteria established in this subchapter, all of the following:
  a.  Whether wages, benefits, including health benefits, safety, and other attributes of the project would improve the quality of other existing regional or statewide cultural, recreational, entertainment, and educational activities or employment in the community.
  b.  The extent to which the project would generate additional attraction and tourism opportunities.
  c.  The ability of the project to produce a long-term, tax-generating economic impact in excess of the proposed financial assistance from the vision Iowa fund.
  d.  The geographic diversity of the project in combination with other proposed projects.
  e.  The investment of the city, county, or region in the overall project.
  f.  Other funding mechanisms.
  g.  The long-term economic viability of the project.
  h.  The extent to which the project has taken the following planning principles into consideration:
  (1)  Efficient and effective use of land resources and existing infrastructure by encouraging development in areas with existing infrastructure or capacity to avoid costly duplication of services and costly use of land.
  (2)  Provision for a variety of transportation choices, including pedestrian traffic.
  (3)  Maintenance of a unique sense of place by respecting local cultural and natural environmental features.
  (4)  Conservation of open space and farmland and preservation of critical environmental areas.
  (5)  Promotion of the safety, livability, and revitalization of existing urban and rural communities.
  4.  Upon review of the recommendations of the review committee, the board shall approve, defer, or deny the applications. If an application is approved, the board may enter into an agreement with the applicant to provide financial assistance authorized under section 15F.302.
  5.  The review committee shall consider, review, and make recommendations regarding applications for assistance for river enhancement community attractions and tourism projects as provided in section 15F.206.
2000 Acts, ch 1174, §14
; 2000 Acts, ch 1232, §44
; 2001 Acts, ch 185, §43, 49
; 2009 Acts, ch 184, §35, 36
; 2011 Acts, ch 118, §87, 89