$125,000 is on the market via the grant program funded by pandemic aid funds
Cyclists cross over the bridge throughout the 2021 UCI Cyclocross World Cup Iowa Metropolis: Elite Ladies’s race at Johnson County Fairgrounds in Iowa Metropolis in October 2021. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)
Suppose Iowa Metropolis President Josh Schamberger stands on the roof of the Xtream Area within the Iowa River Touchdown in Coralville. (The Gazette)
IOWA CITY — Occasions and initiatives that encourage financial exercise in Iowa Metropolis might get a monetary increase via a brand new grant program funded by pandemic aid {dollars}.
The town of Iowa Metropolis is working with Suppose Iowa Metropolis to manage a tourism and customer restoration grant program supposed to spur financial exercise within the metropolis. A complete of $125,000 in American Rescue Plan Act {dollars} is on the market via 2026.
“The journey and tourism trade is clearly one of the crucial drastically affected sectors by the pandemic,” Josh Schamberger, president of Suppose Iowa Metropolis, stated in an announcement. “It is a nice use of ARPA funds to spur new financial exercise by guests to Iowa Metropolis.”
The Iowa Metropolis Council voted in June to make use of the funds for tourism and customer restoration grants. One other $125,000 is getting used to switch resort/motel tax income that will have gone to Suppose Iowa Metropolis however was misplaced throughout the pandemic.
The Iowa Metropolis Tourism Grant Program software is on the market to each nonprofits and for-profit teams. Candidates don’t should stay in Iowa Metropolis however any occasions or programming should happen inside metropolis limits.
The grant program will present a “direct return to Iowa Metropolis tourism, hospitality and neighborhood,” Schamberger beforehand stated.
“It’s going to amplify and ignite a few of our most signature festivals and occasions, however we’ll even be utilizing this system to incubate and incentivize extra alternatives,” he added.
As much as $30,000 is on the market for brand spanking new occasions and as much as $5,000 is on the market for present occasions or initiatives. The funds can be utilized for particular reimbursable bills, together with advertising, promotion and infrastructure.
The grant can fund as much as half of the certified bills.
The applying is on the market on-line at ThinkIowaCity.com/IowaCityTourismGrant. Functions might be reviewed month-to-month.
Funds might be accessible till 2026 or till they’re exhausted.
Feedback: (319) 339-3155; izabela.zaluska@thegazette.com
