303.3C - IOWA GREAT PLACES PROGRAM.

        303.3C  IOWA GREAT PLACES PROGRAM.         1. a.  The department of cultural affairs 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 department of cultural affairs shall provide administrative      assistance to the Iowa great places board.  The department of      cultural affairs shall coordinate the efforts of the Iowa great      places board with the efforts of state agencies participating in the      program which shall include, but not be limited to, the department of      economic development, the Iowa finance authority, the department of      human rights, 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.  Initially, three Iowa great places projects shall be      identified by the Iowa great places board.  The board 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.  The department of cultural affairs shall work in      cooperation with the vision Iowa and community attraction and tourism      programs for purposes of maximizing and leveraging moneys      appropriated to identified Iowa great places.         e.  As a condition of receiving state funds, an identified      Iowa great place shall present information to the board concerning      the proposed activities and total financial needs of the project.         f.  The department of cultural affairs shall account for any      funds appropriated from the endowment for Iowa's health restricted      capitals fund for an identified Iowa great place.         2. a.  The Iowa great places board is established consisting      of twelve members.  The board shall be located for administrative      purposes within the department of cultural affairs and the director      shall provide office space, staff assistance, and necessary supplies      and equipment for the board.  The director shall budget moneys to pay      the compensation and expenses of the board.  In performing its      functions, the board is performing a public function on behalf of the      state and is a public instrumentality of the state.         b.  The members of the board shall be appointed by the      governor, subject to confirmation by the senate.  At least one member      shall be less than thirty years old on the date the member is      appointed by the governor.  The board shall include representatives      of cities and counties, local government officials, cultural leaders,      housing developers, business owners, and parks officials.         c.  The chairperson and vice chairperson shall be elected by      the board members from the membership of the board.  In the case of      the absence or disability of the chairperson and vice chairperson,      the members of the board shall elect a temporary chairperson by a      majority vote of those members who are present and voting, provided a      quorum is present.         d.  Members of the board shall be appointed to three-year      staggered terms and the terms shall commence and end as provided in      section 69.19.  If a vacancy occurs, a successor shall be appointed      in the same manner and subject to the same qualifications as the      original appointment to serve the unexpired term.         e.  A majority of the members of the board constitutes a      quorum.         f.  A member of the board shall abstain from voting on the      provision of financial assistance to a project which is located in      the county in which the member of the board resides.         g.  The members of the board are entitled to receive      reimbursement for actual expenses incurred while engaged in the      performance of official duties.  A board member may also be eligible      to receive compensation as provided in section 7E.6.         3.  The board shall do all of the following:         a.  Organize.         b.  Identify Iowa great places for purposes of receiving a      package of resources under the program.         c.  Identify a combination of state resources which can be      provided to Iowa great places.         4.  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 Iowa great places board's identification of the      project for participation in the program.  
         Section History: Recent Form
         2005 Acts, ch 150, §87; 2006 Acts, ch 1179, §51--53; 2007 Acts, ch      43, §1, 2         Referred to in § 15H.6, 303.3D, 404A.4         Confirmation, see § 2.32         Endowment for Iowa's health account, §12E.12         Community attraction and tourism program, §15F.202         Vision Iowa program, §15F.302