Iowa Administrative Code
Agency 261 - Economic Development Authority
Part III - Community Development Division
Chapter 42 - Iowa Tourism Grant Program
Rule 261-42.4 - Application Scoring and Approval Process

Universal Citation: IA Admin Code 261-42.4

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 6, September 18, 2024

(1) Scoring criteria. The authority will not review or score an application unless the application meets the requirements and deadlines of rule 261-423. (15). An application meeting the requirements and deadlines of rule 261-423. (15) will be given a numerical score between zero and 100. The higher an application's numerical score, the more likely it will receive funding under the program. The criteria used to score the applications and the maximum number of points that may be attributed to each criterion are as follows:

a. Project description: 20 points. The applicant will explain the project, the time line for its creation and implementation and how state funds will support the project. The authority will view favorably information that clearly articulates the project, sets forth a reasonable time line for the project's creation and implementation, and fully describes how state funds will be used to support the project.

b. Economic impact and ability to promote tourism industry growth: 20 points. The authority will consider how the project supports the mission of the Iowa tourism office and is part of the applicant' s broader marketing strategy to increase the economic impact of tourism locally and in the state of Iowa.

c. Sustainability: 10 points. The authority will view favorably applications that illustrate capacity to implement and sustain the project upon completion.

d. Need: 15 points. The authority will consider the financial need of an applicant and will allot more points to applications that demonstrate how the applicant has exhausted other areas of funding to support the project.

e. Innovation: 20 points. The authority will consider the innovative quality of an event or marketing initiative and will view favorably new events and new marketing initiatives or those events and marketing initiatives that are enhanced or distinctive in nature.

f. Budget: 10 points. The authority will view favorably budgets that are well-developed and relevant to the project and that provide documentation of planned project expenses.

g. Collaboration: 5 points. The authority will view favorably applications that represent a collaboration of multiple entities or show the benefit of the project to multiple entities within the tourism industry, or both.

(2) Approval process. The director of the authority will establish a review committee consisting of individuals affiliated with the Iowa tourism industry. The committee will score all completed applications in accordance with the criteria described in rules 261-423. (15) and 261-424. (15) and will use those scores to determine successful applicants. The committee may recommend partial funding of any or all applicants. If, after initially scoring all of the completed applications, the review committee is not able to allocate all the funds available, the authority may allow one or more additional rounds of applications to be submitted and scored. If any awards are rejected, the authority may allow one or more additional rounds of applications to be submitted and scored. For each additional round of applications, the authority will follow the same eligibility requirements and use the same scoring criteria as used in earlier rounds. The authority may accept as many rounds of applications for awards as it deems appropriate.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Iowa may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.