Kim Reynolds gives Davenport, Clear Lake developments federal tourism funds

Gov Kim Reynolds allocated federal funds to planned developments in Davenport and Clear Lake on Friday, leaving a much-sought-after $100 million tourism fund with about $22 million for a long line of potential projects.

Reynolds announced that Davenport will receive $9.6 million from Destination Iowa, the fund she created from money Congress allocated to the states last year as part of a COIVD-19 relief package. Davenport requested the money for a trio of downtown projects.

The city will use the funds to build a plaza on the Mississippi River and buy new lights for the Davenport Skybridge and around the Figge Art Museum.

More:Gov. Kim Reynolds allocates $12.5 million for permanent Field of Dreams stadium

Reynolds also allocated $4.4 million to Clear Lake for its Surf District development. The city will move and expand its Music Enrichment Center, improve the streets around Buddy Holly Place and connect the historic Surf Ballroom to the lakeshore.

Reynolds, who announced the tourism fund in April, has now allocated $78 million of the $100 million she set aside from Iowa's share of the American Rescue Plan Act. The act requires recipients of the funds to finish their projects by 2026.

What other tourism projects has the governor funded?

Friday's announcement marked the sixth Destination Iowa funding round since May, and the funds going to Davenport represent the second-largest single allocation. Other beneficiaries have been:

  • Dyersville ― $12.5 million for the Iowa Ballpark at the Field of Dreams movie site.

  • Great Outdoors Foundation ―$7 million for water trails projects on the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers.

  • Siouxland Regional Trail System ― $7 million.

  • Universal Television ― $6 million for production of TV show based on the "Field of Dreams" film.

  • Hoover Presidential Foundation ― $5 million for presidential library and museum renovations.

  • Council Bluffs/Southwest Iowa Nonprofit for Collaborative Impact ― $4.9 million for riverfront development.

  • Mason City/Cerro Gordo County ― $4.5 million for bike trails.

  • Webster County Conservation Board/Fort Dodge ― $4 million for Central River District Park and the River's Edge Discovery Center.

  • Black Hawk County/Linn County Conservation ― $3.5 million for the Cedar Valley Nature Trail.

  • Marion ― $3 million for the Central Plaza and regional trail connection.

  • Polk County Conservation ― $2.5 million for the Easter Lake North Shore Project.

  • Dallas County Conservation ― $1 million to link the Raccoon River Valley and High Trestle trails.

  • Val Air Ballroom ― $1 million for renovations of the West Des Moines landmark.

  • Maquoketa/Jackson County Conservation ― $750,000 for the Prairie Creek Restoration Area.

  • Danville Railcar Project ― $500,000 for an Anne Frank pen pal exhibit.

  • Cinema Paradiso ― $600,000 for its Last Picture House movie theater in Davenport.

  • Colfax ― $400,000 for Quarry Springs Park.

More:Iowa gives $6 million for 'Field of Dreams' TV show, with filming planned in Des Moines metro

More:ICON Water Trails, Val Air Ballroom receive $8 million from Gov. Kim Reynolds

What other projects in the Des Moines metro have sought funding?

Through September, according to the Iowa Economic Development Authority, the state received requests for $209 million for 99 projects. Locally, some of those projects include:

  • Kettlestone central athletics facilities in Waukee.

  • A planned Singlespeed brewery and taproom in Des Moines

  • The Grimesplex athletics facility in Grimes.

  • The Ignit Sports athletics facility in Johnston.

  • Connecting Neal Smith and High Trestle trails in Polk City.

  • The High Trestle Trail Experience Park in Ankeny.

  • The Central Iowa Sports Campus in Norwalk.

  • Improvements to Birdland Park in Des Moines.

  • Renovations at the Science Center of Iowa in Des Moines

  • Heating, ventilation and air conditioning updates for the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

Tyler Jett covers jobs and the economy for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at tjett@registermedia.com, 515-284-8215, or on Twitter at @LetsJett.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Kim Reynolds taps federal funds for Davenport, Clear Lake developments

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