The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs recently designated Washington as one of a handful of new communities that will be listed as an official Iowa Great Place. Iowa Great Places have collectively received more than $22 million in state support while leveraging millions more in local investments since the program started in 2005. Funding for the program comes from the Iowa Legislature through an annual appropriation from the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund.

At the September 6th Washington City Council meeting, the council unanimously approved the establishment of an Iowa Great Places Committee to oversee the program, evaluate and make referrals to the council on the elements of the program, and be actively involved in the great places mentorship program.

Millie Youngquist spoke with KCII about the meeting and the formation of this newly officially recognized committee. “Now, this committee has been designated as an official city committee. Before, it was just a group of local leaders that we drew together to help get the plan drawn together. This new committee includes a lot of the old members as well as some new members. I’m hoping that most of them will be there so that the public can get to know who they are.

Attendees will be able to ask questions for the committee and will be able to learn more about Washington’s designation as one of Iowa’s Great Places. The meeting is sponsored by Women of Washington, the City of Washington, and the Washington Public Library. The meeting will be at the Washington Public Library at 7:00 pm on Thursday, October 20th.