Iowa to host 2016 governors’ summer meeting

DES MOINES - Iowa again will play host to the nation's governors in 2016.

Leaders of the National Governors Association announced Wednesday that Iowa will host the nation's governors for its 2016 summer meeting. The July 14-17 event will take place in Des Moines, which also served as the site of the NGA 2005 summer meeting which drew over 30 chief executives to Iowa when Gov. Tom Vilsack was in his second term.

'The nation's governors are pleased to bring our summer meeting to Iowa, and we thank Gov. (Terry) Branstad for his gracious invitation,” said Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, current NGA vice chairman who will serve as the association's chairman during the 2016 meeting.

'NGA meetings are an opportunity for leaders from around the country to come together across party lines to develop innovative and improved approaches to governing,” Herbert added in a statement.

The association's nine-governor executive committee selected Iowa for its excellent accommodations and venue options, as well as its overall appeal, according to an NGA news release. Iowa's 'strong bid” demonstrated its ability to meet all of the association's criteria for hosting a summer meeting, including a central location, hotel and venue space, and transportation, security and volunteer needs.

'I'm pleased to have the opportunity to showcase Iowa to my colleagues from across the country,” Branstad said in a statement. 'Iowa will serve as an excellent place for the nation's governors to gather and discuss issues of mutual interest and share best practices, and I'm confident this will be a productive and memorable experience for everyone involved.”

Branstad spokesman Jimmy Centers said the host state generally organizes a host committee and raises private funds to cover expenses associated with the NGA event. The host state is responsible for providing security, hospitality, social events and transportation during the meeting.

The association and the host state work together to ensure that adequate funding is available to support the summer meeting in the most economical and cost-effective manner possible, he added.

The summer meeting is one of two official business meetings that NGA members holds each year. The next winter meeting will be held in Washington, D.C., next Feb. 20-23, while the 2015 summer meeting will take place next July in West Sulphur Springs, W.V.