Branstad election raises concerns about future of Vision Iowa

The 10-year-old Vision Iowa Program has invested nearly $359 million in more than 350 projects in 94 counties across Iowa.

However, some community leaders worry time may be running out for the program that gives lottery revenue to communities large and small to develop cultural, recreational, entertainment and educational attractions.

Cedar Rapids has received more than $7 million from Vision Iowa for projects ranging from an astronomy observatory to a horse show facility to the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library. Mayor Ron Corbett hopes there will be more, but is concerned Vision Iowa could fall victim to Governor-elect Terry Branstad's pledge to trim the cost of state government by 15 percent.

“It appears the governor is going to look at every program to reduce spending to meet his campaign pledge,” said Corbett, the former speaker of the Iowa House. “If he looks at I-JOBS, it's easy to conclude he'll look at other programs.”

Branstad's comments on the campaign trail were sufficiently vague to make Corbett and others worry Vision Iowa might be on the government streamlining chopping block.

When asked about Vision Iowa during a debate in Cedar Rapids, the four-term Republican said the state has limited resources and must conduct cost-benefits analyses to determine the effectiveness of economic development programs.

He hasn't been any clearer since his election victory over Gov. Chet Culver. Spokesman Tim Albrecht said Vision Iowa will be reviewed along with everything else as Branstad takes “a thoughtful, systematic approach in putting together a sustainable budget.”

Vision Iowa Board Chairwoman Regenia Bailey agrees Branstad's campaign statements raise concern, the Iowa City City Council member said “campaigning is very different than governing.”

She thinks the public-private partnerships created by Vision Iowa are likely to appeal to the governor-elect. The state's $359 million investment has leveraged $1.52 billion in local investments, much of that from private sources.

Budget concerns aside, Branstad may find it politically difficult to eliminate Vision Iowa, according to Sen. Swati Dandekar, D-Marion, one of the original Vision Iowa board members. It enjoys broad political support from both sides of the aisle. It was created in 2000 during Democrat Gov. Tom Vilsack's administration when the Legislature was in Republican control. Since then it has funded projects in nearly every legislative district in the state

Dandekar believes the political support comes from not only spreading the money around to communities – and legislative districts - in every corner of the state. Lawmakers appreciate that Vision Iowa required communities to raise money from the private sector as well as local governments before receiving state funds, she said.

And because it funded vertical infrastructure, “it not only helped small, medium and large communities change their face, it also created jobs,” she said.

Without Vision Iowa, Corbett said, many of the projects would not get done. Local governments spend the bulk of their property tax revenue on public safety and basic infrastructure such as streets and water and wastewater systems.

“We're all behind on our infrastructure,” he said. “So Vision Iowa has been instrumental in helping cities work on projects that otherwise would have taken a back seat.”

Iowa can't afford to let that happen, Dandekar said. If Iowa wants to attract and retain residents, especially younger residents, it must continue to invest in quality of life priorities, she said.

Iowa has a good education system and safe communities, “but when you talk to businesses and younger people, they want a place to go swimming and ice skating and play checkers,” she said. “That's what Vision Iowa did.”