Debi Durham Director Iowa Economic Development Authority 2014 TOURISM CONFERENCE

Governor’s Growth Agenda

New Economic Development Model

IEDA’s Programs

Rethink Iowa: Creating a Culture Shift  Support Innovation  Think Globally  Workforce Growth and Cultivation  Create Communities people want to live in  Tell our Story – branding our diversified, well- performing, innovative economy

Tourism’s Role  Showcasing Iowa to the world  Highlighting our events and places that make us special  Emphasizing our small businesses  Sharing Iowa-made products  Introducing the unexpected

WHAT MAKES IOWA SPECIAL?

SHOWING IOWA TO THE WORLD.

Regional Sports Authority Districts  Funds to help communities attraction and produce amateur sporting events  10 annual awards  $50,000 each

FY15 Iowa Tourism Grants  Total requested: $515,941  Funded: $210,223  Total requests:  Western Iowa – 43  Central Iowa – 48  Eastern Iowa – 47  Funded:  Western Iowa – 21  Central Iowa – 20  Eastern Iowa – 23  Total requests:  Rural – 81  Non-rural – 57  Funded:  Rural – 41  Non-rural - 23

TOURISM HELPS IOWA COMMUNITIES

Main Street Iowa  Net business gain in MSI districts occurred in all 26 years of the state Main Street program  3,800 business starts, expansions and re-locations  Sales tax collections from net new businesses in MSI districts is 48 times the state appropriation to fund program  Added three new Main Street Communities in 2014  Newton, Avoca, Guthrie Center New Director – Jim Engle

Iowa’s Green Communities  Iowa Green Streets – models of sustainable practices  Catalyst for further investment in historic downtown communities  West Union & Woodbine selected as Green Pilot Communities  West Union – planning & implementing a district geothermal system, energy efficiency improvements  Woodbine – comprehensive energy audits, energy efficiency improvements – some reporting 30% more efficiency rates  IEDA awarded COSCDA’s national Sterling Achievement Award for transformative approach to downtown revitalization in Woodbine, Iowa

 Funds to help assist projects providing recreational, cultural, entertainment and educational attractions  Vision Iowa  14 Projects funded  $228 million awarded to Iowa projects  Total project investments over $1 billion  Community Atraction and Tourism (CAT)  393 Projects funded  $149 million awarded to Iowa projects  Total project investment over $1 billion Vision Iowa/Community Attraction and Tourism Downtown Projects

IOWA WINE, BEER & SPIRITS ATTRACT TRAVELERS

IOWA PRODUCTS ATTRACT TRAVELERS

Epic Iowa Road Trip #SOCIALSUCCESS

New Partners  ZLRIgnition, agency of record  Spindustry, digital services  CDS Global, warehousing/fulfillment  Call center moved to Sergeant Bluff Welcome Center

Performance Metrics  Traveliowa.com – Visitation up 156% CY13 – YTD CY14  492,000 visitors in CY13  771,000 visitors in YTD CY14  800,000 Twitter impressions in YTD CY14  2 million Facebook impressions in YTD CY14  283% increase in blog visitation from September 2013 – September 2014 (Goodblogs)