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Sioux City, Clinton Unveil Cultural Entertainment Districts
Two
of Iowa’s pilot Great Places have unveiled Cultural
Entertainment Districts (CED) as part of their Great Places vision.
Both Clinton and Sioux City held ceremonies in February and March to certify their Cultural Entertainment Districts, effectively completing the first task in their Great Places agreement.
The Riverview CED lies in the heart of Clinton and is home to unique architecture and historic structures. Through Downtown Partnership, Clinton’s Self-Sustaining Municipal Improvement District (SSMID) has worked to preserve historic buildings in its downtown area. CED certification allows Clinton to market cultural opportunities effectively and aggressively, and work to create synergies and build cooperation between different groups and businesses to promote events.
Sioux
City is the 17th Iowa community to receive Cultural and Entertainment District
certification from the Department of Cultural Affairs in the past two years. The
district is located primarily in Sioux City’s downtown area, which includes
a strong employment base in government, medical, banking and business. The CED
builds on the employment base with the Tyson Events Center, Longlines Family Recreation
Center, Orpheum Theatre, Sioux City Public Library, Convention Center, Fourth
Street Historic District and the future home of the Sioux City Public Museum.
In 
addition,
there are 29 restaurants, 250 apartments, three hotels, public arts projects,
monuments and public spaces.
There are 21 certified CEDs in 17 Iowa communities. The program encourages city and county governments to partner with local community organizations, businesses and individuals to enhance the quality of life for Iowans.
In Other Great Places News…
Be on the lookout this spring for four semi-trucks with Great Places displayed on them. The Alcoholic Beverages Division has donated space on the sides of their trucks for promoting the three pilot Great Places—Clinton, Coon Rapids and Sioux City—and a fourth truck displaying only the Iowa Great Places logo and color scheme. The trucks will travel nationwide. The unveiling of all four trucks will occur in early April when they are parked outside the State Capitol building.
