(Okoboji)– 12 Iowans are searching the state to find its top three great places.
The state-funded project has asked a citizen’s advisory board to sift through more than 70 nominations and choose the state’s most intriguing sites. Clay and Dickinson counties have submitted a joint application. They made a presentation Thursday to two members of the advisory board at the Lakes Art Center. Curtis Dean of Spencer is a member of the committee that submitted the application for Clay and Dickinson counties. He tells KUOO news they’re hopeful the collaborative effort will give the two counties a leg up on the competition. However, Amanda Styron, a members of the citizen’s advisory board that viewed Thursday’s presentation, says multiple groups and counties in other parts of the state have made joint presentations to the board as well. She says one in eastern Iowa consisted of 13 counties.
Dean says they’ll find out October 3rd whether or not Clay and Dickinson counties have been selected as one of three pilot Great Places. He says representatives of the local committee will be traveling to Iowa City that day for a workshop, at which the announcement will be made. Dean adds if they’re not successful, they’ll go back and try again. He adds they’ll try to fulfill the vision they have, titled “Prairies and Waters of Dickinson and Clay Counties”, even if they’re unsuccessful in getting the designation.
The project was launched by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and other agencies to spark tourism and improve local economies. The advisory board is judging the sites on culture, economy and other criteria.
