Here are the most important updates this week:
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New photograph of Iowa's Largest Lake, Lake Red Rock in Marion County (283 square km)
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July Tourism Webinar Features New Outdoor Recreation Marketing
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Save the date for the next Tourism Office Update Webinar to be held on July 23 at 2:00 p.m. The update will feature presentations from three Iowa Tourism Marketing grantees who secured new assets, including photographs, drone footage and itineraries, to market a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. Join the webinar to learn how the savvy partners below successfully leveraged funds and used their new assets, how you may be able to partner with them in the future and find out which of the assets may be available for your own marketing campaign.
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- Iowa's County Conservation System secured photography and drone footage of county parks in nine counties and will keep working this year. The new assets, which are available for free to partners, are being used in commercials and other marketing.
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Pottawattamie Conservation Foundation leveraged an Iowa Tourism Marketing Grant to tell the story of Hitchcock Nature Center and Crescent Hill and invite visitors to be part of the bigger story of conservation and outdoor recreation that defines Iowa.
- Bird Friendly Iowa partnered with three communities to develop new birding itineraries and tourism resources that target the multi-billion-dollar birding industry.
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Next Tourism Insider Meeting in Buchanan County Will Feature Downtown Revitalization and Cedar Rock State Park
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Registration will open soon for the September 1st Tourism Insider Meeting in Independence, which will be hosted by Buchanan County Tourism. An initial agenda can be found on the Industry Partners website. The day includes a panel on downtown revitalization and a private tour of Cedar Rock State Park.
If you plan to attend and need lodging, hotel rooms are available at Comfort Inn & Suites Independence at a rate of $121 + tax. To book, please call the hotel on 319.334.6400 and ask for the Tourism Insider Meeting rate. The room block is available until August 18, 2026. Please be on the lookout for registration info later in July!
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Bike Iowa is Preparing Their Trailer for RAGBRAI - Reserve Your Spot!
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Bike Iowa is currently signing up partners to volunteer at the trailer during RAGBRAI 2026. They are also stocking the mobile unit with updated trail-related materials. This is a great marketing opportunity for trail communities and partners. If you are interested in volunteering or getting your material in the Bike Iowa trailer contact Scott Sumpter at Biker@bikeiowa.com. Find out more at BikeIowa.com.
Keep in mind, cyclists looking for information at the Bike Iowa booth want to know where they can ride, where to stay and where else there is to do.
Requested materials, in priority order, include the following:
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Trail-related materials: trail maps, trail town guides, trail amenities, trailhead information, trail systems, and destination-specific resources
- Trail-friendly community information: city visitor guides featuring trail information for communities with strong cycling and outdoor recreation offerings
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Regional tourism and destination guides: regional visitor guides highlighting attractions, parks, lodging, dining, shopping, and unique Iowa experiences.
- Event and activity information: brochures, postcards, stickers, and promotional materials for festivals, events, attractions, and experiences that cyclists and their families may want to explore before, during, or after a ride.
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Dubuque was recently named the Midwest's Best Wine Destination!
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In a June 25 article Travel.Yahoo.com named Dubuque the Midwest's Best Wine Destination, calling it "An Underrated Flavor-Filled Paradise In An Unexpected State." Wineries in the surrounding hills were associated with Dubuque with specific call outs to Promise Land, Stone Cliff and Barrel Head Winery.
When you read the article, you will note that it isn't just about the wine. It includes accolades for wine, beer and exceptional restaurants, as well as fun things to do. A big thank you to Dubuque for being recognized for the great attractions in their tourismshed and drawing attention to Iowa!
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Iowa at the Great American State Fair in Washington D.C.
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The Iowa State Fair and the Iowa Tourism Office have been coordinating Iowa’s presence at the Great American State Fair, in celebration of America 250. The Iowa pavilion features an immersive exhibit experience called “Shine On, Iowa” built around the idea that Iowa offers more than people expect. Visitors can stamp their passport, order an Iowa Travel Guide and take a selfie with some of Iowa’s most iconic attractions.
The exhibit was created in partnership with Silos & Smokestacks and McCullough Creative. If you can’t make it to Washington DC, the exhibit will also be on display at this year’s Iowa State Fair.
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Executive Director Erin Kahler (L) and Operations Coordinator Linda Tenney (R) of the Maquoketa Area Chamber of Commerce
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Visit Maquoketa Campaign Changes the Game
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Tourism Liaison Lora Friest recently spent the day with Erin Kahler and Linda Tenney from the Maquoketa Area Chamber of Commerce. Maquoketa was a 2024 First Impressions community. One of the big findings in Maquoketa's First Impressions Community Report was that visitors were not naturally making a connection between the community of Maquoketa and the powerhouse destination Maquoketa Caves State Park.
The city took action and allocated funding to the Chamber to implement a new, three-year Visit Maquoketa Campaign. A new brochure about things to do in Maquoketa was quickly developed and placed in the State Park, new downtown banners installed, wayfinding and interpretive signage with maps placed, a new Visit Maquoketa Facebook page launched and a website started. The city funding also allowed the Chamber to dedicate personnel time to implement the initiative.
The partners are closely monitoring results of the campaign, which has already increased visitor traffic from the State Park to the town. For information about First Impressions visit their website or contact Ann Vogelbacher (annvoge@iastate.edu).
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Museum Exhibit about Life in Prison at the Anamosa State Penitentiary Museum
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The Iowa Museum Association's Museum (IMA) Visitor Readiness Assessment can still be completed by end of day today! Please take advantage of this opportunity to help the IMA and the Iowa Tourism Office better understand Iowa's tourism readiness with regard to Iowa's museums. The survey takes about 20 minutes.
The definition of an Iowa museum is very broad and includes art centers and art museums, archives, botanical gardens, children's museums, historic sites, hisitoric museums, historical societies, living history sites, nature centers, natural history museums, planetariums, science and technology centers, virtual (on-line) collections, zoos and more.
Museums do not have to be members of IMA to participate. All participants who complete the survey will be included in a random drawing to win one complimentary registration to the Iowa Tourism Conference on March 11-12, 2027.
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Governor Reynolds with family members
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Governor Reynolds Celebrates the Iowa Office of Outdoor Recreation
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There’s no better way to launch the state’s new Office of Outdoor Recreation than with a road trip! Governor Reynolds is crossing the state this week, visiting Iowa state parks and museums, restaurants and other destinations along the way. Follow along on the Governor’s Facebook page!
The Iowa Office of Outdoor Recreation was established in June by executive order and is an extension of the Iowa Tourism Office.
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Thomas Jefferson's Signature on The Louisiana Purchase Proclamation
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Union Pacific Museum Celebrates America 250 With Style
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Like many destinations, the Union Pacific Museum in Council Bluffs is celebrating America 250 with extra programming and activities at their Celebrate America Spectacular on July 4th. In addition, the museum has been honored to host and display a singular document this year, the Louisiana Purchase Proclamation.
The landmark 18th century document was integral to one of the most transformative events in United States history. It formally announced the United States' acquisition of vast territories west of the Mississippi River. Guests can view the final page of the Louisiana Purchase Proclamation, including Thomas Jefferson's signature until the end of July.
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Same Name - Different Grant
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Make sure you know what you are searching for if it is your first time researching a grant. Iowa has several REAP grants but if you are just searching for REAP you may come across the federal REAP grant and loan program, which has an entirely different focus. Although both can help your community build tourism assets, take a minute to understand each so you don't waste your time.
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Several types of Iowa REAP (Resource Enhancement And Protection) grants are due August 14 at midnight, including for City Parks and Open Spaces, County Conservation Projects, Public Park/Open Spaces and more. These grants are great for communities and counties that want to implement outdoor recreation projects but have limited funding to invest. Iowa REAP grants typically have low matching requirements and, in some cases, grantees can request 90% of grant funds upfront. The Iowa DNR is accepting applications in SlideRoom, the same platform used to submit the Iowa Tourism Marketing Grant. However, finding the link can be a challenge. Navigate to the REAP funding page and click on the pdf link for each specific type of REAP grant. You will find a document that has a number of resources, including the link to the SlideRoom application for that specific application. Also, download the scoring rubric and budget workbook. Pro tip: click on the link to view the spreadsheet with information about your local REAP Committee and REAP plan. You can lose 5 points on your score if your project doesn't relate back to the local REAP committee plan.
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The Federal REAP program has a much different focus than Iowa REAP grants. At the federal level, REAP stands for Rural Energy for America Program and it provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. USDA is not accepting REAP grant applications at this time, but guaranteed loan applications may be submitted. If you have a business interested in the program, start early as it requires a cost benefit analysis.
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Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds are available to cities and counties through Iowa’s Commercial Building Facades (CBF) program (formerly known as Downtown Revitalization or DTR). The deadline is August 17, 2026. The funds are for activities contributing to comprehensive revitalization in historic city centers or core downtown areas. The program is primarily focused on building façade improvements to privately owned buildings in downtowns. Maximum award is $650,000. This and other grants are available on the Iowa Grants website.
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Iowa Tourism Office
1963 Bell Avenue, Ste 200 | Des Moines, IA 50315 US
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1963 Bell Avenue, Suite 200 | Des Moines, IA 50315 US
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