State board awards $1.3 million to Cedar Rapids’ ConnectCR lake transformation, African American Museum of Iowa renovations

CEDAR RAPIDS — A state board on Thursday awarded a combined $1.3 million toward efforts to revitalize Cedar Lake and renovate the African American Museum of Iowa, partially funding both projects.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Enhance Iowa board gave $800,000 to the grassroots ConnectCR initiative’s Cedar Lake project, and $500,000 for the museum project Thursday. The awards come with a 90-day contingency of closing fundraising gaps.

The board previously rescinded ConnectCR’s initial $500,000 Community Attraction and Tourism grant but encouraged the city to reapply, so the city of Cedar Rapids did receive more money.

The city sought $1 million for the approximately $12.3 million project to transform the lake just north of downtown as part of ConnectCR.

The African American Museum of Iowa asked for $508,000 to go toward a portion of its nearly $5 million renovation project, which has closed the museum while the city builds a floodgate on 12th Avenue.

Out of 31 pending applications, the 23 that passed an initial review were asking for about $8.5 million. About $2.4 million was reserved for future projects. Three more projects are slated to come to the board seeking $1.8 million.

ConnectCR

In addition to transforming Cedar Lake, ConnectCR also will include the construction of a pedestrian-bike bridge spanning the Cedar River to the south. The bridge is separate from the project the city asked the Enhance Iowa board to fund.

The private fundraising campaign for ConnectCR raised $8.2 million, making it the largest public-private partnership in city history.

City Manager Jeff Pomeranz said last week, in a presentation to the CAT review committee — a subcommittee of the Enhance Iowa board — that in his 12 years leading the city organization, this project has been the effort most widely embraced by citizens, neighborhood associations, businesses and government entities.

“It has connected our community with a high degree of support,” Pomeranz said.

Cedar Lake’s revitalization will add a boardwalk extending over the 120-acre lake and handicap-accessible piers. Project plans also include preserving wetlands on the north shore, installing a fishing jetty, adding paddle sport launch locations, floating islands and a nature-based playground.

In December, some board members indicated support for the whole project, but were less enticed by the request to help fund trail and shoreline improvements, so they advised Cedar Rapids reapply.

Cedar Rapids is working with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources on Cedar Lake improvements and with the Army Corps of Engineers on flood control work around the lake with building a levee on the west side.

“It’s going to be a place where parents will be able to take your kids 10, 15, 20 years down the road, and you want to take part in that project,” City Council member Dale Todd told the CAT review committee last week.

Engineering and design work has been underway. The project is planned to be complete in 2025.

City officials estimate the project will have a $17 million economic impact over time.

“This is a phenomenal, transformative project — one of the most significant out of the whole list,” board member Kyle Carter said.

African American Museum of Iowa

The museum’s renovation project looks to create a more community-facing facility with a sleek, contemporary design and landscape.

Plans call for an improved facade, new entrance, expanded lobby, large windows and open floor plan. The project also will allow the museum to reinstall the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.-inspired “Trumpet” sculpture and garden.

“It’s the museum of the state of Iowa. From a (diversity, equity and inclusion) standpoint, from an equity standpoint in our state, I’m looking to really support the African American community,” said board member Pat Diegnan, of Cedar Rapids.

IEDA staff initially recommended not funding the request at this time because Iowa previously awarded the project $800,000 in Destination Iowa funds — tourism dollars allocated using federal American Rescue Plan Act funds.

IEDA staff member Alaina Santizo said staff advised applicants that it was unlikely projects would receive both due to high demand, though the board could choose differently.

Board members discussed their philosophy on funding projects with both CAT grants and Destination Iowa funds, which both were allocated through the IEDA. Some board members didn’t favor this approach but acknowledged they funded projects for Field of Dreams in Dyersville through both programs.

“Just because they’re getting multiple dollars from the state doesn’t bother me whatsoever,” Carter said. “Saving dollars for other people, that I think is the better principle here because I think there’ll be many other projects we fund that have multiple types of state funding.”

The city of Cedar Rapids contributed $1.378 million toward the museum project since the flood control work prompted the building’s closure. LaNisha Cassell, African American Museum of Iowa executive director, said last week that helped secure further community support from Hall-Perrine, Linn County, UnityPoint Health Systems and other donors.

“We want to cross that finish line and get our project ready for the spring,” Cassell said last week.

Cassell expected the museum will reopen in time to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 15, 2024.

During the museum’s closure, Cassell said it has maintained visibility by working with strategic locations across the state and creating a traveling version of its exhibit on systemic oppression in schools.

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