15F.203 - COMMUNITY ATTRACTION AND TOURISM PROGRAM APPLICATION REVIEW.

        15F.203  COMMUNITY ATTRACTION AND TOURISM PROGRAM
      APPLICATION REVIEW.
         1.  Applications for assistance under the program shall be
      submitted to the department.  For those applications that meet the
      eligibility criteria, the department shall provide a staff review
      analysis and evaluation to the community attraction and tourism
      program review committee referred to in subsection 2 and the board.
         2.  A review committee composed of five members of the board shall
      review community attraction and tourism program 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 "a" through "c".
         3.  When reviewing the applications, the review committee and the
      department shall consider, at a minimum, all of the following:
         a.  Whether the wages, benefits, including health benefits,
      safety, and other attributes of the project would improve the quality
      of life or the quality of attraction or tourism employment in the
      community.
         b.  The extent to which such a project would generate
      additional recreational and cultural attractions or tourism
      opportunities.
         c.  The ability of the project to produce a long-term,
      tax-generating economic impact.
         d.  The location of the projects and geographic diversity of
      the applications.
         e.  The project is primarily a vertical infrastructure project
      with demonstrated substantial regional or statewide economic impact.
      For purposes of the program, "vertical infrastructure" means land
      acquisition and construction, major renovation and major repair of
      buildings, all appurtenant structures, utilities, site development,
      and recreational trails and water trails.  "Vertical
      infrastructure" does not include routine, recurring maintenance or
      operational expenses or leasing of a building, appurtenant structure,
      or utility without a lease-purchase agreement.
         f.  Whether the applicant has received financial assistance
      under the program for the same project.
         g.  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.
         5.  Upon approval of an application for financial assistance under
      the program, the board shall notify the treasurer of state regarding
      the amount of moneys needed to satisfy the award of financial
      assistance and the terms of the award.  The treasurer of state shall
      notify the department any time moneys are disbursed to a recipient of
      financial assistance under the program.  
         Section History: Recent Form
         2000 Acts, ch 1174, §9; 2007 Acts, ch 215, §58