Bill to help Prospect Meadows complex in Marion goes to governor

CEDAR RAPIDS — The fate of a sales tax rebate that would aid Prospect Meadows has been thrown into the glove of Gov. Terry Branstad.

A bill slimmed down from what initially was proposed would provide up to $2.5 million over a decade of sales tax rebates for tickets, concessions and souvenirs for the proposed 17-field baseball and softball complex outside Marion.

The entire sales tax rebate program is capped at $5 million, and holds the $2.5 million limit spread over 10 years on individual facilities. Rebates would be given only to sport complexes that meet a $10 million investment threshold.

Supporters of the legislation have fought to keep it in the Legislature's lineup this session despite setbacks.

Earlier this month, a similar bill passed the Republican-controlled House but with a program cap of $16.5 million. The Democratic-controlled Senate rejected the bill, saying Iowa couldn't support six to seven sport complexes that legislation could potentially bring.

A subsequent bill that passed both chambers is smaller, but will still 'put wind into our backs and move this project forward' if signed into law, Prospect Meadows President Jack Roeder said.

'It's more important for us from a sustainability issue, however it is important from the standpoint of giving us a lot of momentum,' Roeder said. 'It will help us to get some of the other dominoes to fall in line.'

Prospect Meadows has more than $8 million of its $14 million goal from private and public fundraising, including support from the Linn County, Marion and Cedar Rapids governments.

The additional dominoes the project is hoping for are a $2.8 million grant from the state's Community Attraction and Tourism committee, a $500,000 Great Places grant and a U.S. Department of Agriculture loan.

Roeders said the most attractive part of the project is the economic boost it would bring to the community.

Roeders said that Perfect Game USA agreed to a 15-year memorandum of understanding to bring 1,000 teams to the facility every year — equating to about 60,000 out-of-the-area visitors annually, he said.

Perfect Game USA is an organization that holds tournaments throughout the country to help develop young baseball players. It is based in Cedar Rapids.

The potential fields would also host local league play and feature a 'miracle field' for developmentally disabled players.

Ben Hammes, a Branstad spokesman, said the governor has not yet received the bill for consideration.