The Vision Iowa Board has approved marketing grants for three important Des Moines organizations. The Blank Park Zoo Foundation received $15,000; the Science Center of Iowa, $15,000; and the Des Moines Art Center, $14,500.

During the 2008 session, the Legislature approved Community Attraction and Tourism funds for tourism marketing efforts. The Vision Iowa Board created a grant program to distribute the money to enhance efforts of attractions that draw visitors to our area and boost the local economy. Grant awards may be used for print, broadcast or online/new media advertising.

The Vision Iowa Board recently approved marketing grants to better promote several local attractions and draw more people to Des Moines to enjoy all that we have to offer. The grant awards will be used to step up marketing effort for:

• Des Moines Art Center - $15,000.
• Blank Park Zoo - $15,000.
• Science Center of Iowa - $12,015.
• Iowa Events Center - $9,798.
• High Trestle Trail - $2,207.50.

Des Moines came away with several statewide tourism awards from the annual Iowa Tourism Conference recently. The awards were presented by the Iowa Tourism Office and Travel Federation of Iowa. The Iowa State Fair was named Event of the Year, while the AAU Junior Olympics was named Sporting Event of the Year. In addition, Blank Park Zoo was recognized for its Technical Marketing. Tourism is a $6.1 billion industry in Iowa, employing more than 63,000 people statewide and generating more than $312 million in state taxes. For more information, visit traveliowa.com.