July 15, 2014 (Des Moines) — Tourism-related entities in Iowa have until August 4 to apply for grants available through the Iowa Tourism Grant program. Administered by the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Iowa Tourism Office, the grants provide financial assistance with marketing initiatives, meetings, events and professional development efforts. Complete details about the program, including its administrative rules, can be found in the Industry Information section of traveliowa.com.

Eligible applicants are tourism-related entities based in Iowa. Applicants must demonstrate a 25% cash match of the grant amount. The project must be completed in fiscal year 2015 (July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2015). The minimum grant amount is $500 and the maximum grant amount is $5,000 per application.

Of the approximately $250,000 in funds available, $100,000 will be dedicated to marketing Vision Iowa projects. All Vision Iowa, Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) and River Enhancement Community Attraction and Tourism (RECAT) recipients are eligible to apply for funds to support marketing activities.

For more information about Iowa tourism, visit www.traveliowa.com, call 800.345.IOWA or stop at any Iowa Welcome Center.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s working out a plan with colleagues from both parties that would see a relatively quick end to the situation involving thousands of children from Central America who are illegally crossing the border into the U-S. Governor Branstad says he does not want the federal government sending any of the children to Iowa and Grassley says with fast action, that may not become an issue.

“The next step needs to be two things,” Grassley says. “One, the immediate thing, to take care of some immediate humanitarian needs that are out there for the kids, and the second one is, to change the law so that they can be sent back to their country.” Grassley, a Republican, is scheduled to attend a hearing on the border situation tomorrow (Wednesday) that includes ranking officials with Homeland Security, Health and Human Services and the U-S Attorney General’s office.

“I’m working with a group of senators that develop these solutions that I just talked about but to develop solutions that can also garner bipartisan support,” Grassley says. “In fact, we’ll be having a meeting this afternoon, other than the briefing you’re talking about, among those senators with the leaders to see what we can come up with.” Deportation of the children is scheduled to begin later this week, starting with those being housed in New Mexico. Reports say more than 57-thousand undocumented, unaccompanied children have crossed the U-S border with Mexico since October.

(Radio Iowa)