Charles City is still and again an Iowa Great Place

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

It has been acknowledged for more than 10 years that Charles City is one of the great places in Iowa. But that now officially still holds true.

The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs announced on Friday that Charles City’s designation as an Iowa Great Place community has been renewed.

The city was first awarded that distinction in 2007, but it came with a time limit, and Charles City had to reapply this year to be again considered for the honor.

Mark Wicks, Charles City community development director, said the label is valuable.

“It gives us a lot of exposure in the state,” he said. “We use it in all of our marketing and promotional materials, not only in the state and the region, but nationwide when we go to particular events.”

Wicks gathered an extensive packet of materials for the application for renewal of the Iowa Great Places designation, which was sent in in April. It included evidence of some of the many activities, events and projects the community has been involved in in the past 10 years.

The application said, in part, “Charles City strives to be a vibrant, thriving, diversified, and progressive community that blends new development and preserves historic structures, all through a friendly and inviting atmosphere for both guests and residents.

“Ongoing priorities upon re-designation include housing improvements, broadband initiative, restaurant recruitment, bike trails development, technical skills training, fire station relocation, and development of an events/community center,” the application said, according to the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs announcement.

Wicks said being named an Iowa Great Place also improves the community’s chances of getting funding for some projects.

“It moves us up on the food chain as far as our grant applications,” he said.

The Charles City Riverfront Development Project was awarded just over $571,000 in total funding through the Iowa Great Places program over multiple years, toward the construction along the Cedar River for the whitewater park, amphitheater, trails and picnic areas.

The Carrie Lane Chapman Catt Interpretive Center also received significant funding through the program.

“It also played into our scoring criteria for other grants we get through the state,” Wicks said.

There have been 45 Iowa Great Places named by the state group since the program started in 2005. It includes cities, counties, trails and specific neighborhoods within communities.

Two more areas were named Iowa Great Places Friday, along with 17 areas including Charles City receiving re-designation.