15.439  Iowa great places program.
  1.  a.  The authority 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 authority shall coordinate efforts with other state agencies participating in the program which shall include but not be limited to the Iowa finance authority, the department of health and human services, 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.  The authority 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.  As a condition of receiving state funds, an identified Iowa great place shall present information to the authority concerning the proposed activities and total financial needs of the project.
  e.  The authority shall account for any funds appropriated from the endowment for Iowa’s health restricted capitals fund for an identified Iowa great place.
  2.  The authority shall do all of the following:
  a.  Identify Iowa great places for purposes of receiving a package of resources under the program.
  b.  Identify a combination of state resources which can be provided to Iowa great places.
  3.  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 authority’s identification of the project for participation in the program.
2005 Acts, ch 150, §87
C2005, §303.3C
2006 Acts, ch 1179, §51 – 53; 2007 Acts, ch 43, §1, 2; 2011 Acts, ch 118, §85, 89; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §1053, 2088, 2089, 2125
C2024, §15.439
2024 Acts, ch 1170, §154 – 156
Referred to in §15.440, 15H.6
Section amended and editorially internally renumbered