December 20, 2022 (DES MOINES, IA) – The Iowa Tourism Office announced $299,200 in Iowa Tourism Grants to 33 organizations around the state. The program funds tourism-related marketing initiatives, meetings and events that benefit both local economies and the state’s economy with awards ranging from $2,500-10,000 with a 25% cash match. In southwest Iowa, the Iowa Tourism Office awarded: $6,400 to Golden Hills RC&D, for Southwest Iowa Art Tour; $10,000 was awarded to the Pottawattamie Countywide Tourism Committee, for the 2023 Pott. County Shoulder-Season Marketing Campaign, and, $10,000 for the Southwest Iowa Nature Trails Project, Inc.’ “Rooster Tail Ride.”  (Download a list of these awards here.)

Visitors spent more than $6.1 billion across Iowa’s economy in 2021, an expansion of 35% over 2020 spending and within 5% of a full recovery to pre-pandemic levels. This direct visitor spending impact generated a total economic impact of $9.4 billion in Iowa, sustained nearly 65,000 jobs and generated $1.0 billion in state and local tax revenues in 2021.

The Iowa Tourism Office, part of the Iowa Economic Development Authority, works closely with community partners, attractions and events, to promote the state’s beautifully vast scenery and unique history. Tourism in Iowa generated $1.8 billion in tax revenues in 2021, with more than $1 billion supporting state and local governments, while employing a total of 65,000 people statewide. For more information on everything Iowa has to offer tourists, visit traveliowa.com.