Iowa Great Places Program Designation & Re-Designation Guidelines

The Iowa Great Places program seeks to advance the State of Iowa's goals for growth and economic prosperity by cultivating the unique and authentic qualities of Iowa neighborhoods, districts, communities and regions to make them great places to live, work and visit.

Through a ten-year designation and competitive funding opportunities, the program recognizes communities and regions that have developed vision plans, partnerships and strategies around the development of creative and cultural assets.

Iowa Great Places may use their designation as a point of civic pride. Additionally, designated communities are eligible to apply for program grant funding; may seek technical assistance from the department and other state resources; and have access to professional development and learning opportunities through a network of experienced community leaders.

Competitive applicants at the designation stage will demonstrate a commitment to developing local assets across these core program areas:

Arts and Culture
Architecture
Diversity
Entrepreneurial incentive for business development
Historic Fabric
Housing Options
Natural Environment
Amenities

The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs program, defined in Iowa Code 303.3C, is administered by the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Iowa Great Places Citizens Advisory Board.

Timeline

Application Deadline
Applicants applying for Re-Designation: Friday, February 17, 2023
Applicants applying for New Designation: Friday, March 10, 2023

Notification
Applicants will be notified of designation by June 30, 2023

Benefits of Designation

Designated communities will have opportunities to:

Apply for competitive grant funding to support eligible vertical infrastructure projects and expenses, as defined by Iowa Code 8.57.
Use the Iowa Great Places designation in signage and marketing materials.
Participate in the Iowa Creative Places network covenings, trainings and webinars
Receive technical assistance from the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs.
Receive additional state agency consideration for a limited number of projects through the endorsement process. Designated places will receive additional information.

Expectations After Designation

Designated communities are expected to:

Actively participate in the Iowa Creative Places Network by attending relevant meetings, events or professional development opportunities over the ten year designation period.
Serve as mentors for new or potential designees, as requested.
Complete a re-designation process every ten years, at which point they can present new projects for potential endorsement and funding.
Complete an annual report at the end of each calendar year.

Funding Opportunity

Designated Iowa Great Places have the opportunity to compete for grant funding to support eligible types of vertical infrastructure projects and expenses. Projects that seek to develop cultural assets will receive priority.

Eligible projects must be integrated with a shared community vision and set of strategies, involve significant public/private partnerships and collaboration, and focus on the development of local and regional cultural assets.
Designated Iowa Great Places are currently limited to funding for one project, per ten-year designation period, regardless of whether the project is fully or partially funded. Funding eligibility may change with additional program funding.
Funding for the Iowa Great Places Program is made possible by an appropriation from the Iowa Legislature through the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund. The Iowa Great Places Citizens Advisory Board reserves the right to recommend funding projects, in whole or in part, and to recommend withholding awarding available funds.

Iowa Great Places Project Endorsement

Designated Iowa Great Places have the opportunity to apply for project endorsement from the Iowa Great Places Citizens Advisory Board. With this endorsement, designated Iowa Great Places may receive additional consideration for funding from partner state agency programs for the length of the designation period. Endorsement benefits vary by state agency.

Designated Iowa Great Places may submit a project for endorsement on a rolling basis to be reviewed at quarterly Iowa Great Places Citizen Advisory Board meetings.
Proposed projects must be integrated with a shared community vision and set of strategies, involve significant public/private partnerships and collaboration, and focus on the development of local and regional assets across the core program areas.

Community Requirements

Communities seeking Iowa Great Places designation must have undertaken a public input process to create a vision plan supported by multiple public/private partners that includes: 1) a shared community vision that values local cultural assets; 2) goals that challenge the community to advance their quality of life; 3) strategies to achieve the goals and vision that involve significant public/private partnerships and collaboration, and focus on the development of local and regional assets in the core program areas.

Applicant Requirements

Communities must identify a single entity to serve as the primary applicant for both the designation and future grant funding applications. This also applies to applications that involve collaboration between multiple organizations or a consortium of partners.

The single entity must meet the definition of eligible applicant.
The applicant will be responsible for submitting eligible material during both the designation and funding application processes and will be the entity legally obligated to the terms of an agreement if awarded designation or funding.
Partners and collaborating entities are not subject to the eligibility requirements but may be subject to financial and programmatic review during the selection process.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants must be one of the following types of entities. Entities who do not meet these requirements are not eligible to apply.

Federally tax exempt 501(c)3 nonprofit organization incorporated and physically located in Iowa.
- Physical location is defined as maintaining a current home office and registered agent address in Iowa defined by Iowa Code 490.501 as well as maintaining a primary staff presence physically located and working in Iowa.
Unit of local, county or federally-recognized tribal government physically located in Iowa.
Municipal agencies with 28E agreements physically located in Iowa.

Ineligible Applicants

The following types of entities are not eligible to apply.

Unit of state or federal government
For-profit or commercial entity
Entities geographically located within a currently designated Iowa Great Place
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs grantees who have an outstanding final report or who have been placed on a department funding moratorium

Online Application Submission

Applicants must submit applications via the Iowa Arts Council’s SlideRoom, an online application portal. Applications will not be accepted in any other format. Late, incomplete or ineligible applications will not be accepted. Applicants can access the current online application requirements at iowaartscouncil.slideroom.com. Applicants must create a login to view the full application requirements for the program. Applicants can visit help.liaisonedu.com for assistance related to the online submission.

Designation Review Process

Department Eligibility Review

Submitted applications are reviewed by staff for completion, eligibility and adherence to published funding priorities and guidelines. Applications are reviewed as submitted. Applicants will be reviewed as submitted; however, additional information requested by the program manager to clarify details of the application may be included as needed. Staff will also review an applicant’s record of compliance and good standing with the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, State and Federal government. Applications or applicants determined by staff to be ineligible or incomplete will not move forward to panel review and are specifically denied any appeals process.

Competitive Panel Review

Eligible applications will be referred to a competitive review by a volunteer panel that will include Iowa Great Places Citizens Advisory Board members. Applicants who submit an application may also be required to undergo a site visit by the Iowa Great Places Citizen Advisory Board and Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs staff. Designation recommendations will be submitted by the Iowa Great Places Citizen Advisory Board to the Director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs for consideration and approval. The applicant’s authorized official will receive designation notification. All decisions are final and may not be appealed due to dissatisfaction. Applicants may review the department appeals policy for information on grounds for appeal and the appeal process.

Scoring Rubric - Designation

The Iowa Great Places Scoring Rubric will be used to evaluate applications. Each section has criteria and corresponding point values to ensure a fair review process. The application rubric is on a scale of 30 points. Only applicants who receive designation will be eligible for the Fall 2023 funding application cycle.

APPLICANT PROFILE: 3 points possible
3 Applicant organization will be solely responsible for maintaining designation. Organization has designated an active board or committee with clearly defined objectives and realistic work plans. Applicant demonstrates a strong record of progress through relevant notable achievements, strategic priorities and a commitment to network with other local and regional organizations.	2 Applicant organization will be solely responsible for maintaining designation. Organization has designated a board or committee with objectives and work plans. Applicant demonstrates a record of progress through achievements and strategic priorities.	1 Applicant organization has not indicated that they will be solely responsible for maintaining designation. Organization has not designated a board or committee. Applicant does not have a record of progress through relevant notable achievements or strategic priorities.

COMMUNITY CHARACTER: 3 points possible
3 Community has strong artistic, cultural and historic character, diverse citizen involvement and an enthusiastic desire for growth. Visioning efforts clearly define physical boundaries of proposed Iowa Great Place.	2 Community has artistic, cultural and historic character, citizen involvement and an expressed potential for growth. Visioning efforts define physical boundaries of proposed Iowa Great Place.	1 Community has minimal identified artistic, cultural and historic character, low citizen involvement and lack of expressed interest in growth. Visioning efforts do not define physical boundaries of proposed Iowa Great Place.

VISIONING PROCESS: 3 points possible
3 Visioning Process demonstrated broad and diverse community support and understanding of the Iowa Great Places initiative, high participation in a thorough visioning process and a relevant mission statement that reflects the purpose of Iowa Great Places.	2 Visioning Process demonstrated community support and some understanding of the Iowa Great Places initiative, satisfactory participation in a visioning process and a mission statement that reflects the purpose of Iowa Great Places.	1 Visioning Process did not demonstrate community support or understanding of the Iowa Great Places initiative, low participation in a visioning process and an unclear mission statement.

VISION PLAN: 3 points possible
3 Applicant demonstrates completion of a holistic visioning effort. Vision plan strongly exemplifies bold thought and innovation, fosters a sense of identity by cultivating the unique and authentic cultural qualities of place and will clearly have a transformative impact on community vitality and quality of life.	2 Applicant completed a visioning effort. Vision plan addresses bold thought and innovation, a sense of place and cultural identity and may have a transformative impact on community vitality and quality of life.	1 Applicant’s visioning effort was limited or unclear. Vision plan does not represent bold thought and innovation, does not adequately foster a sense of place and cultural identity and is unlikely to have a transformative impact on community vitality and quality of life.

VISION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION: 3 points possible
3 Confident the Vision Plan goals and objectives will be successfully realized through strong implementation objectives supported by a clear timeline of activities.	2 Vision Plan goals and objectives are achievable through identified implementation objectives and a timeline of activities.	1 Concerns about achievability of Vision Plan goals and objectives. Implementation objectives and timeline of activities are inadequate.

VISION PLAN PARTNERS: 3 points possible
3 Vision Plan is supported by multiple, diverse partners. Key partner roles and responsibilities are well defined and will enhance identified objectives.	2 Vision Plan is supported by partners. Key partner roles and responsibilities are identified.	1 Vision Plan is supported by minimal partners. Key partner roles and responsibilities are unclear or not identified.

VISION PLAN EVALUATION: 3 points possible
3 Vision Plan uses strong qualitative and quantitative measures to analyze achievement of goals and implementation of objectives.	2 Vision Plan identifies methods or measures to analyze achievement of goals or implementation of objectives.	1 Evaluation methods and measures are weak, inadequate or unclear.

LOCAL SUPPORT MATERIAL: 3 points possible
3 Local support material is highly relevant to the Vision Plan, of high quality and clearly supports the Vision Plan’s excellence. Contains five support letters from local government representatives, school board, community organizations, non-profits and local businesses.	2 Local support material is relevant to the Vision Plan and of average quality. Contains a minimum of two support letters from local government representatives, school board, and local businesses.	1 Local support material is not relevant to the Vision Plan, of poor quality or does not support the Vision Plan’s excellence.

MEDIA SUPPORT MATERIAL: 3 points possible
3 Support material is highly relevant to the Vision Plan, of high quality and clearly supports the Vision Plan’s excellence.	2 Support material relates to the Vision Plan and is of average quality.	1 Support material is not relevant to the Vision Plan, of poor quality or does not support the Vision Plan’s excellence.

CASE FOR SUPPORT: 3 points possible
3 The application is clear, concise and well-composed. Case for designation is exemplary and merits recognition from the State.	2 The application is clear. Case for designation is adequate.	1 Application is unclear or poorly composed. Case for designation is inadequate or does not merit state recognition.

Scoring Rubric - Re-Designation

The Iowa Great Places Scoring Rubric will be used to evaluate applications. Each section has criteria and corresponding point values to ensure a fair review process. The application rubric is on a scale of 24 points. Only applicants who receive designation will be eligible for the Fall 2023 funding application cycle.

APPLICANT PROFILE: 3 points possible
3 Applicant organization will be solely responsible for maintaining designation. Organization has maintained an active board or committee with clearly defined objectives and realistic work plans. Applicant demonstrates a strong record of progress through past Iowa Great Places initiatives and continues to pursue strategic priorities.	2 Applicant organization will be solely responsible for maintaining designation. Organization has maintained a board or committee with objectives and work plans. Applicant demonstrates a record of progress through past Iowa Great Places initiatives and strategic priorities.	1 Applicant organization has not indicated that they will be solely responsible for maintaining designation. Organization has not maintained a board or committee. Applicant does not have a record of progress through Iowa Great Places initiatives and strategic priorities.

CONTINUED VISIONING EFFORTS: 3 points possible
3 Applicant demonstrated a strong commitment to continued visioning efforts with broad community support and strong participation. The applicant demonstrates evolving goals that connect to a relevant vision statement that reflects the purpose of Iowa Great Places. Visioning efforts clearly define physical boundaries of the Great Place.	2 Applicant demonstrated continued visioning efforts with community support and evolving goals that connect to a relevant vision statement reflective of the purpose of Iowa Great Places. Visioning efforts define physical boundaries of the Great Place.	1 Applicant did not demonstrate continued visioning efforts or evolving goals that connect to a relevant vision statement that reflects the purpose of Iowa Great Places. Visioning efforts do not define physical boundaries of the Great Place.

DEMONSTRATED PROGRESS: 3 points possible
3 Applicant demonstrates completion or progress towards multiple goals and projects as identified by the Vision Plan. Completed or in progress projects strongly exemplify bold thought and innovation, foster a sense of identity by cultivating the unique and cultural qualities of place and will clearly have a transformative impact on community vitality and quality of life.	2 Applicant demonstrates completion or progress towards a goal or project as identified by the Vision Plan. Completed or in progress project fosters a sense of cultural identity and will likely have a transformative impact on community vitality and quality of life.	1 Applicant has not demonstrated completion or progress towards a goal or project as identified by the Vision Plan.

VISION PLAN PARTNERS: 3 points possible
3 Vision Plan is supported by multiple, diverse partners whose roles have developed during project implementation. Key partner roles and responsibilities are well defined and will enhance the plan’s objectives.	2 Vision Plan is supported by multiple partners. Key partner roles and responsibilities are identified.	1 Vision Plan is supported by minimal partners. Key partner roles and responsibilities are unclear or not identified.

VISION PLAN EVALUATION: 3 points possible
3 Vision Plan qualitative and quantitative measures have been routinely used to analyze achievement of goals and implementation of projects.	2 Vision Plan qualitative and quantitative measures have been used to analyze achievement of goals and implementation of projects.	1 Vision Plan qualitative and quantitative measures have not been used to analyze achievement of goals and implementation of projects.

LOCAL SUPPORT MATERIAL: 3 points possible
3 Local support material is highly relevant to the Vision Plan, of high quality and clearly supports the Vision Plan’s excellence. Contains five support letters from local government representatives, school board, community organizations, non-profits and local businesses.	2 Local support material is relevant to the Vision Plan and of average quality. Contains a minimum of two support letters from local government representatives, school board, community organizations, non-profits and local businesses.	1 Local support material is not relevant to the Vision Plan, of poor quality or does not support the Vision Plan’s excellence.

MEDIA SUPPORT MATERIAL: 3 points possible
3 Support material is highly relevant to the Vision Plan objectives, of high quality and clearly supports the Vision Plan’s excellence and successes.	2 Support material relates to the Vision Plan and is of average quality.	1 Support material is not relevant to the Vision Plan, of poor quality or does not support the Vision Plan’s excellence.

CASE FOR SUPPORT: 3 points possible
3 The application is clear, concise and well-composed. Case for re-designation is exemplary and merits recognition from the state.	2 The application is clear. Case for re-designation is adequate.	1 Application is unclear or poorly composed. Case for re-designation is inadequate or does not merit state recognition.

Glossary of Terms and Definitions

Applicants should refer to the glossary for clarification of program terms and definitions.

Contact

Potential applicants are encouraged to review all published material and contact Arts in Community Development Program Manager Jon Berg at jon.berg@iowa.gov or 515-242-6195 with questions well in advance of application deadlines.