(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Enhance Iowa Board, Thursday (Dec. 7, 2023) awarded $1.4-million dollars in Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grants to an event center in North Liberty and an indoor aquatic center in Ames. In addition, the board awarded $503,572 in Sports Tourism grants, to promote the National Junior High Finals Rodeo event in Des Moines and the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend in Newton.

Details for the projects receiving CAT and Sports Tourism grants follow:

Project Name: Centennial Center – North Liberty
Total Project Cost: $8,357,963
Amount Awarded: $900,000
Project Description: This project includes the construction of a 13,000 square-foot event center with an outdoor stage designed to accommodate crowds from 500 to 5,000. The interior of the facility will accommodate events for up to 500 people.

Project Name: Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center – Ames
Total Project Cost: $31,374,394
Amount Awarded: $500,000
Project Description: This project includes the construction of a 39,000-square-foot recreational and wellness facility with a six-lane lap pool, zero-depth recreational pool with a current channel, children’s play structure, wellness pool, two water slides, locker rooms, party/meeting room, multi-purpose rooms and walking area.

Details for the projects receiving Sports Tourism Marketing grants follow:

Catch Des Moines was awarded $3,572 toward marketing the National Junior High Finals Rodeo in Des Moines on June 23-29, 2024. The funds will go toward social media marketing and digital billboards.

Newton Community Events, Inc. was awarded $500,000 to market the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend on July 12-14, 2024. The funds will go toward a national TV ad buy, radio campaigns throughout the Midwest and digital media ad buys.

The Enhance Iowa Program provides financial incentives to communities for the construction of recreational, cultural, educational or entertainment facilities that enhance the quality of life in Iowa. To date, 132 CAT grants have been awarded by the board, totaling more than $44.6-million dollars. The next Enhance Iowa Board meeting is scheduled for January 4, 2024.