“The Cedar Rapids USBC Women’s Bowling Association officers and directors are thrilled that the delegates and State Board awarded the 2015 state tournament site to Cedar Rapids. We have hosted the tournament on various occasions in the past and look forward to welcoming women bowlers from across the state to Cedar Rapids,” said Kim Grady, president of Cedar Rapids USBC Women’s Bowling Association.

The tournament is expected to run for 10 weekends in 2015 beginning in February and ending in May. It will generate an estimated $350,660 in direct spending and over 1,200 hotel room overnights. Cedar Rapids last hosted this event in 2009.

The CRACVB continues to market all area event space and hotel properties and is asking the local community to “Show Off CR”. Show Off CR!, is a campaign encouraging local residents to tell the CRACVB about the conferences and events they attend across the state or nation. The CRACVB will research the events and, if it is a good fit for area facilities, will pursue the chance to host it in Cedar Rapids. It’s easy to submit event suggestions by filling out a brief form at www.Cedar-Rapids.com.

About the Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
The Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CRACVB) is where the experience starts for visitors, residents and organizations. The CRACVB is responsible for attracting new destination events to the community, providing service and support to existing and repeat events, providing comprehensive information to area visitors and helping drive decisions of future visitor product development. Tourism resulted in domestic travel spending of $440 million in Linn County in 2011 and employed 5,600 people in Linn County. For more information about the CRACVB visit: www.cedar-rapids.com.

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“We are excited at the opportunity to show our airport peers and their families the outstanding facility we have in Cedar Rapids and it gives us the chance to introduce them to the wonderful assets this region has to offer,” said Sara Freese, AAE, Eastern Iowa Airport director of operations and current president of the Great Lakes Chapter.

The Cedar Rapids Marriott will host the conference. Representatives from the Cedar Rapids Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and Cedar Rapids Marriott presented to the organization’s board of directors in February. Other communities competing for this event were Minot, ND and Springfield, IL.

This family-oriented conference will attract 250 attendees utilizing 300 total hotel overnights and generating an estimated $77,250 in direct spending. Cedar Rapids has not hosted this event since 1983.

“It is exciting to see the renewed interest meeting planners have in Cedar Rapids,” said Marilee Fowler, CRACVB president and CEO.

The CRACVB continues to market all area meeting space and hotel properties and is asking the local community to “Show Off CR”. Show Off CR!, is a campaign encouraging local residents to tell the CRACVB about the conferences and events they attend across the state or nation. The CRACVB will research the events and, if it is a good fit for area facilities, will pursue the chance to host it in Cedar Rapids. It’s easy to submit event suggestions by filling out a brief form at www.Cedar-Rapids.com.

“Bringing conferences and sporting events is a great way for residents to Show Off CR. We have so much to be proud of in our community,” said Marilee Fowler, CRACVB President and CEO, “Visitors bring new money into the area and their spending helps create thousands of jobs in our community.”

The Show Off CR! airline ticket giveaway encourages local residents to submit information about conferences and events they attend across the state or nation. The CRACVB will research the events and, if it is a good fit for area facilities, will pursue the chance to host it in Cedar Rapids. It’s easy to submit your suggestion by filling out a brief form at http://www.cedar-rapids.com/partners/bringittocr.php and the CRACVB will take it from there!

Leads submitted to the CRACVB between February 4 and April 30, 2013, and resulting in an event bringing over 100 hotel overnights to Cedar Rapids are eligible to receive an airline voucher. “We are offering airline tickets knowing local residents bringing their conference, tradeshow or event to Cedar Rapids may be giving up an annual trip they look forward to,” said Fowler.

Local residents have always been a great resource for bringing events to the area. For example, Ralph Palmer worked with the CRACVB to bring the 2010 National Horseshow Pitchers to Cedar Rapids. The event generated direct spending of nearly $1 million dollars in the community. In August, Cedar Rapids hosted the Central States Shrine Association with the help of area resident, Jim Fry, and the El Kahir Shrine. This event brought over 2,000 visitors to the area and generated another $1 million in visitor spending.

Not sure your group event is large enough to submit? The CRACVB is interested in events and meetings of all sizes. Smaller scale meetings are equally important opportunities to show off our community to visiting professionals and impact the local economy. Find out more at www.Cedar-Rapids.com.

About the Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
The Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CRACVB) is the area’s official destination management organization. The CRACVB is responsible for attracting new destination events to the community, providing service and support to existing and repeat events, providing comprehensive information to area visitors and helping drive decisions of future visitor product development. Locally the organization encourages community pride and educates the community on the value of visitors, tourism and travel. For more information about the CRACVB visit: www.cedar-rapids.com

The CRACVB has resided at its current location at 119 First Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids for many years, but relocated for several months to Lindale Mall following the flood in June 2008.

“The cost savings as a result of our new location will free up more funds each year to help us further our mission of attracting conventions, sporting events and visitors to the area,” said Marilee Fowler, CRACVB President and CEO, “We look forward to seeing higher traveler foot traffic and using new ways to bring information directly to area visitors.”

The historic Kosek building is owned by the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library (NCSML) and houses “Rising Above: The Story of a People and the Flood,” the definitive exhibition devoted to the catastrophic flooding of 2008. The space currently occupied by the NCSML museum store on the building’s first floor will be shared with the CRACVB, serving as a Welcome Center, allowing visitors to interact with both organizations. CRACVB visitors will be able to tour the “Rising Above” exhibition at no charge, courtesy of the NCSML.

The CRACVB is exploring options for a visitor information site in close proximity to the Cedar Rapids Convention Complex, along with mobile kiosks that can move around the community to events attracting large numbers of visitors.

Visitor information can be accessed at all times via the web and mobile devices at www.Cedar-Rapids.com.

“Hosting this event in Cedar Rapids is an opportunity to showcase all of the progress we’ve made since 2008, to fellow Iowans,” said Linn County Supervisor Lu Barron. “Attendees are only a short drive away and are sure to find a reason to return after seeing firsthand the many wonderful entertainment opportunities near the Convention Complex, such as the Paramount Theatre, Theatre Cedar Rapids, the Museum of Art, the New Bo and Czech Village entertainment district and the many local restaurants and shops that Cedar Rapids has to offer.”

The conference will fill the attached hotel and expand out into other area hotel properties. The event will generate an estimated $360,000 direct spending with 800 attendees. Cedar Rapids has not hosted this event since 1993.

“It is exciting to see the renewed interest meeting planners have in Cedar Rapids,” said Vicki Henry, CRACVB director of convention sales. “Even more rewarding is booking large conventions like the Iowa State Association of Counties, knowing they will need multiple hotels to accommodate attendees.”

The DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex has also been selected as the site of the 2014 International Association of Fire Chiefs conference. This event booking is a direct result of a partnership between Cedar Rapids Fire Chief Mark English and CRACVB staff. It will bring 130 people to the area with an estimated direct spending of $33,500.

The CRACVB continues to market all area meeting space and hotel properties and is asking the local community to “Show Off CR”. Show Off CR!, is a campaign encouraging local residents to tell the CRACVB about the conferences and events they attend across the state or nation. The CRACVB will research the events and, if it is a good fit for area facilities, will pursue the chance to host it in Cedar Rapids. It’s easy to submit event suggestions by filling out a brief form at www.Cedar-Rapids.com.

About the Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
The Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CRACVB) is where the experience starts for visitors, residents and organizations. The CRACVB is responsible for attracting new destination events to the community, providing service and support to existing and repeat events, providing comprehensive information to area visitors and helping drive decisions of future visitor product development. Tourism resulted in domestic travel spending of $440 million in Linn County in 2011 and employed 5,600 people in Linn County. For more information about the CRACVB visit: www.cedar-rapids.com.

The CRACVB invites community members to attend the workshop featuring our 2011 Annual Meeting guest speaker, Peter Kageyama, author of the book, For the Love of Cities, and expert at grassroots engagement, believes average citizens who are “in love” with their city can affect transformation.

During this interactive workshop Kageyama will inspire participants to tap into their creativity and invent tactics for making the city more “loveable.” Area residents are encouraged to spend a few hours learning how to take action with simple and inexpensive ideas that can positively impact change in Cedar Rapids.

Who should attend? Community leaders and planners, arts and cultural leaders, entrepreneurs and business leaders, education leaders and concerned citizens who want to improve our community.
The workshop is Tuesday, October 30, at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art from 8 a.m. – noon. A light breakfast will be served. Tickets are $20 and seating is limited! Register at www.cedar-rapids.com or by calling 319.398.5009.

Event sponsors include: Transamerica, United Fire, IMON, OPN Architects and Mercy Medical Center.

The CRACVB is launching Show Off CR!, a campaign to encourage local residents to tell us about the conferences and events they attend across the state or nation. The CRACVB will research the events and, if it is a good fit for area facilities, will pursue the chance to host it in Cedar Rapids. It’s easy to submit your event suggestion by filling out a brief form at www.Cedar-Rapids.com and the CRACVB will take it from there.

“Bringing conferences and sporting events is a great way for residents to Show Off CR. We have so much to be proud of in our community,” said Marilee Fowler, CRACVB President and CEO, “Visitors bring new money into the area and their spending helps create thousands of jobs in our community.”

Local residents have always been a great resource for bringing events to the area. For example, Ralph Palmer worked with the CRACVB to bring the 2010 National Horseshow Pitchers to Cedar Rapids. The event generated direct spending of nearly $1 million dollars in the community. In August, Cedar Rapids hosted the Central States Shrine Association with the help of area resident, Jim Fry, and the El Kahir Shrine. This event brought over 2,000 visitors to the area and generated another $1 million in visitor spending.

Not sure your group event is large enough to submit? The CRACVB is interested in events and meetings of all sizes. Smaller scale meetings are equally important opportunities to show off our community to visiting professionals and impact the local economy. Find out more at www.Cedar-Rapids.com.

About the Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
The Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CRACVB) is the area’s official destination management organization. The CRACVB is responsible for attracting new destination events to the community, providing service and support to existing and repeat events, providing comprehensive information to area visitors and helping drive decisions of future visitor product development. Locally the organization encourages community pride and educates the community on the value of visitors, tourism and travel. For more information about the CRACVB visit: www.cedar-rapids.com.

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The CRACVB invites community members to attend the workshop featuring our 2011 Annual Meeting guest speaker, Peter Kageyama, author of the book, For the Love of Cities, and expert at grassroots engagement, believes average citizens who are “in love” with their city can affect transformation.
During this interactive workshop Kageyama will inspire participants to tap into their creativity and invent tactics for making the city more “loveable.” Area residents are encouraged to spend a few hours learning how to take action with simple and inexpensive ideas that can positively impact change in Cedar Rapids.

Who should attend? Community leaders and planners, arts and cultural leaders, entrepreneurs and business leaders, education leaders and concerned citizens who want to improve our community.
The workshop is Tuesday, October 30, at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art from 8 a.m. – noon. A light breakfast will be served. Tickets are $20 and seating is limited! Register at www.cedar-rapids.com or by calling 319.398.5009.

Event sponsors include: Transamerica, United Fire, IMON, and OPN Architects.

Tickets can be purchased at the Theatre Cedar Rapids box office, located at 102 3rd Street SE, or online at www.TheatreCR.org/RAGBRAI. The box office has expanded its hours over the next few days to accommodate demand for this special discount. Those special hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 20, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 23, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 25 and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on July 26.

The Cedar Rapids RAGBRAI® Party on the Island concert and 40th Celebration will feature the Grammy-nominated Counting Crows. The Counting Crows are best known for hits such as, “Mr. Jones”, “Accidentally in Love”, “Hanginaround”, and “Big Yellow Taxi”. Local opening bands include: Chad Elliott and Bonita Crowe, followed by Adobanga. Opening national acts include: We Are Augustines, Kasey Anderson and The Honkeys, and Field Report.

Gates open and music begins at 4:30 p.m. The concert ends at 11:00 p.m. All tickets are general admission. No ticket refunds will be issued. This is a rain or shine event. No outside food or drinks will be allowed. Food and drink will be available for purchase at several stands. Chairs and blankets are allowed inside the venue. Registered RAGBRAI® riders will receive free admission to this concert.

The downtown concert venue encompasses First Street SE in front of the Alliant Energy building, the Second and Third Avenue bridges and May’s Island. These streets will be blocked off for beverage gardens, merchandise and food vendors serving pulled pork sandwiches, shish kabobs, caramel apple nachos, smoothies, strawberry lemonade and more.

Cedar Rapids area residents are encouraged to take part in the excitement and entertainment throughout the city. View a full list of entertainment at www.CedarRapidsRAGBRAI.com/activities.

Cedar Rapids RAGBRAI® Mission Statement
The Cedar Rapids community will work together to provide an exceptional overnight stay for 2012 RAGBRAI® participants and friends. We will provide a safe, welcoming, and fun environment promoting local businesses and highlighting community assets. The Cedar Rapids RAGBRAI® event will be financially self-sustaining. Learn more at www.CedarRapidsRAGBRAI.com.

RAGBRAI®
Des Moines Register Media owns and produces RAGBRAI®, a trek across Iowa that’s the world’s oldest, largest and longest annual bicycle ride. RAGBRAI® riders will overnight in Sioux Center, Cherokee, Lake View, Webster City, Marshalltown, Cedar Rapids, Anamosa and Clinton this year.

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Be part of the action and join thousands of bicyclists celebrating RAGBRAI’s 40th ride. The evening includes a concert lineup featuring Grammy nominated, Counting Crows. Counting Crows are best known for hits such as, “Mr. Jones”, “Accidentally in Love”, “Hanginaround”, and “Big Yellow Taxi”. Opening national acts include: We Are Augustines, Kasey Anderson and The Honkeys, and Field Report. Local opening bands include: Chad Elliott and Bonita Crowe, followed by Adobanga.

The downtown concert venue encompasses First Street SE in front of the Alliant Energy building and the Second and Third Avenue bridges. These streets will be blocked off for beverage gardens, merchandise and food vendors serving pulled pork sandwiches, shish kabobs, caramel apple nachos, smoothies, strawberry lemonade and more.

Riders registered for the week or on a Thursday day-pass receive free admission. Tickets for all others are $25 in advance or $35 day of the show and can be purchased at Theatre Cedar Rapids or online at www.theatrecr.org/ragbrai.

Cedar Rapids area residents are encouraged to take part in the excitement and entertainment throughout the city. View a full list of entertainment at www.CedarRapidsRAGBRAI.com/activities.
COUNTING CROWS hails from the San Francisco Bay area and consist of Adam Duritz (vocals), David Bryson (guitar), Charles Gillingham (keyboards), Dan Vickrey (guitar), Jim Bogios (drums), and Millard Powers (bass). COUNTING CROWS success dates back to their 1993 debut release August and Everything After and the hit single “Mr. Jones.” The band recently hit #1 with the song “Accidentally in Love,” which was featured on the Shrek 2 soundtrack, as well as nominations in 2005 for a Grammy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and an Academy Award for the track. COUNTING CROWS has sold over 20 million records worldwide. Counting Crows released a new album Underwater Sunshine on April 10.

Cedar Rapids RAGBRAI® Mission Statement
The Cedar Rapids community will work together to provide an exceptional overnight stay for 2012 RAGBRAI® participants and friends. We will provide a safe, welcoming, and fun environment promoting local businesses and highlighting community assets. The Cedar Rapids RAGBRAI® event will be financially self-sustaining. Learn more at www.CedarRapidsRAGBRAI.com.

RAGBRAI®
Des Moines Register Media owns and produces RAGBRAI®, a trek across Iowa that’s the world’s oldest, largest and longest annual bicycle ride. RAGBRAI® riders will overnight in Sioux Center, Cherokee, Lake View, Webster City, Marshalltown, Cedar Rapids, Anamosa and Clinton this year.

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Rockwell Collins Outplay Island Kids Zone will be held in Greene Square Park, downtown Cedar Rapids on Thursday, July 26 from 2 p.m. -7 p.m. This event will offer many fun activities for kids throughout the day. There will be an entertainment stage with family friendly acts such as Theatre Cedar Rapids’s Camp Rock! Disney Dancing Group, MovMent Dance Hip Hop dancers, What’s Up Jugglers, Cedar Rapids Historian and Storyteller Darrin Crow, Cedar Rapids Titan Dolls, an obstacle course and rock climbing inflatables, Salvation Army Kettle Jump, Dunk Tank, Funny Face Designs face painting, PapaBalloon, Tiki Toss and more. KZIA is the media partner for this event.

The General Mills Kid’s Cove Bike Safety event will be held across the street from Greene Square Park in the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art parking lot from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Members of the Linn County Safe Kids Coalition will be there distributing bicycle helmets and safety information to kids. The helmets are free and safety professionals will be there to fit the helmet on each child’s head. Helmets have been proven to reduce the risk of head and brain injury when a crash occurs by as much as 85-88 percent, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. KGAN/KFXA is the media partner for this event.

A complete schedule of events will be available on the Cedar Rapids RAGBRAI website www.CedarRapidsRAGBRAI.com.

Cedar Rapids RAGBRAI Mission Statement
The Cedar Rapids community will work together to provide an exceptional overnight stay for 2012 RAGBRAI participants and friends. We will provide a safe, welcoming, and fun environment promoting local businesses and highlighting community assets. The Cedar Rapids RAGBRAI event will be financially self-sustaining. Learn more at www.CedarRapidsRAGBRAI.com.

RAGBRAI®
Des Moines Register Media owns and produces RAGBRAI, a trek across Iowa that’s the world’s oldest, largest and longest annual bicycle ride. RAGBRAI riders will overnight in Sioux Center, Cherokee, Lake View, Webster City, Marshalltown, Cedar Rapids, Anamosa and Clinton this year.

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The Party on the Island in downtown Cedar Rapids will kick off with local performers Adobanga, Chad Elliott and Bonita Crowe at 4:30 p.m. on the Tiki Torch Stage, followed by national acts including Counting Crows on the Island Stage at 6:30 p.m.

Adobanga is a Cedar Rapids based alternative rock band that infuses different sounds of rock, jazz, blues, polka, heavy metal, reggae and more to create their own unique sound. They are primarily piano-driven and focus on blues and jazz. The band is made up of six men and two women and features a mix of its own original music along with covers of various bands such as The Beatles, The Doors, and more.

Chad Elliott, originally from the Des Moines area, is an experienced performer who has traveled all over the United States playing his original music. With a roots, blues and folk music style, Elliott’s songs focus on his life experiences whether it’s love, trying times, or finding inspiration. Elliott often performs with Des Moines vocalist, Bonita Crowe.

Tickets to the Party on the Island are $25 in advance or $35 day of the show at http://www.theatrecr.org/ragbrai or at the Theatre Cedar Rapids box office.

Other performers will share their talents at the Orange Tribe Campsite in Ellis Park on Thursday starting at 2 p.m. The afternoon will begin with DJ Jam Time, a local DJ, and continue with Memphis area native Jeffrey Capps, then conclude with Funk Stop.

Funk Stop is a group of Cedar Rapids area music educators and professionals that features an exciting show filled with soulful lyrics and an impressive horn and rhythm section. The group consists of 11 members and performs funk, soul and R&B styles with influences from Kool and the Gang; Earth, Wind and Fire; and Tower of Power. The music is meant to get people up and dancing and enjoying the funk.

Local entertainers will also be highlighted at Breakfast on the Bridge in Czech Village and New Bohemia on Friday, July 27. The Iowa Accordion Club followed by Craig Erickson and Natalie Brown will perform at the Kosek bandstand and Roving Accordionist Ron Johnson will bring entertainment to the Bridge of Lions. The African American Museum of Iowa will also provide entertainment with live jazz throughout the morning. Local artist Drew Hurn will also perform on 3rd Street, near CSPS.

Show your support for Cedar Rapids RAGBRAI and local musicians by attending the various entertainment opportunities July 26-27. For a full Cedar Rapids RAGBRAI entertainment schedule visit www.CedarRapidsRAGBRAI.com/activities.

Cedar Rapids RAGBRAI® Mission Statement
The Cedar Rapids community will work together to provide an exceptional overnight stay for 2012 RAGBRAI® participants and friends. We will provide a safe, welcoming, and fun environment promoting local businesses and highlighting community assets. The Cedar Rapids RAGBRAI® event will be financially self-sustaining. Learn more at http://www.CedarRapidsRAGBRAI.com.

RAGBRAI®
Des Moines Register Media owns and produces RAGBRAI®, a trek across Iowa that’s the world’s oldest, largest and longest annual bicycle ride. RAGBRAI® riders will overnight in Sioux Center, Cherokee, Lake View, Webster City, Marshalltown, Cedar Rapids, Anamosa and Clinton this year.

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All proceeds from Cedar Rapids RAGBRAI® festivities will go to support a new universally-accessible playground near the new Northwest Recreation Center in the Time Check Neighborhood.

A growing trend, universally-accessible playgrounds are all-inclusive and are designed for residents of all ages and abilities—especially children with physical, cognitive and sensory disabilities—to be able to enjoy.

Such a playground is more expensive than a traditional playground because of special universally-accessible features, such as rubber base flooring, rather than wood chips; rollerslides and roller tables, instead of traditional slides; double wide ramps that can accommodate multiple wheelchairs; specially-designed swings, gliders and spinners; and sensory play panels and discovery walls. The estimated cost of the playground is about $120,000.

This will be one of the first playgrounds of its kind in Cedar Rapids. A similar playground has already been installed at Indian Creek Elementary School in Marion.

“Residents can take pride in the fact that supporting the RAGBRAI events in Cedar Rapids, by buying a concert ticket or merchandise, also benefit our community. They will be helping kids of all abilities in our community play together on this special playground,” said Mayor Ron Corbett.

To date, many local businesses and organizations have stepped up as sponsors of Cedar Rapids RAGBRAI including:

SPONSORS
Alliant Energy; Linn County; ITC; General Mills; Eastern Iowa Airport; Rockwell Collins; United Fire Group; Aspect Architecture and Design; Epicor Proactive Health Products(Diamond V); Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa, P.C.; St. Luke’s Hospital; Transamerica; Kirkwood Community College; TrueNorth; Built By Pros; CarePro Health Services; Hills Bank and Trust Company; McGrath Automotive; Mercy Medical Center; Nordstrom; US Bank; Van Meter; Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency; Bankers Trust; Bradley and Riley PC; Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust; Frew Nations Group; Guaranty Bank; Iowa Realty; Limolink; Phillip Pharmacies; Skogman Companies; and Stamats Communication Inc.

IN-KIND SPONSORS
Altorfer, Inc.; Century Link; CornerStone Press; Hy-Vee; MediaQuest Outdoor; ME&V Advertising and Consulting; Miron Construction Co., Inc.; Pierson’s Flower Shop and Greenhouses; RexCo Equipment, Inc.; Schneider Golf Carts; and United Way of East Central Iowa

MEDIA PARTNERS
SourceMedia, KGAN/KFXA, KDAT 104.5 , KHAK 98.1 , KRNA 94.1 , i107.1, KGYM-AM 1600, KZIA 102.9, KKRQ 100.7 and WMT AM 600/95.7 FM

BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, City of Cedar Rapids and the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance

If businesses are interested in becoming a part of this great community event, please contact Candy Nanke at cnanke@communitypartnerscr.com or 319-730-3360.

Cedar Rapids RAGBRAI® Mission Statement
The Cedar Rapids community will work together to provide an exceptional overnight stay for 2012 RAGBRAI® participants and friends. We will provide a safe, welcoming, and fun environment promoting local businesses and highlighting community assets. The Cedar Rapids RAGBRAI® event will be financially self-sustaining. Learn more at www.CedarRapidsRAGBRAI.com.

RAGBRAI®
Des Moines Register Media owns and produces RAGBRAI®, a trek across Iowa that’s the world’s oldest, largest and longest annual bicycle ride. RAGBRAI® riders will overnight in Sioux Center, Cherokee, Lake View, Webster City, Marshalltown, Cedar Rapids, Anamosa and Clinton this year.

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The weekend, with the theme of “Where were you in ’62? Celebrating our 50th year,” will include several different seminars, activities and, most importantly, the car show. The event will be held at the Cedar Rapids Marriott and the adjoining Rockwell Collins parking lot and will showcase various antique cars such as old Model T Fords and early 20th century Oldsmobiles.

Events on Friday will consist mostly of informational seminars led by local experts and AACA National Board members as well as a National Board Round Table and an informational meeting for the judges for the show. Other activities throughout the weekend include a Get Acquainted reception, antique shop bus tours through Marion, Friday Night in the Park at Noelridge Park, and an AACA Youth Program event.

The main event of the weekend, the car show, will take place on Saturday. The Show Field, located in the Rockwell Collins parking lot, opens at 7 a.m. with judging beginning at 11 a.m. Guests are invited to view the cars all day on Saturday until the Awards Ceremony at 7 p.m. The event will culminate with cocktails and socializing followed by the Awards Ceremony where various awards for the presentations of the cars will be distributed.

“The success of this milestone celebration goes beyond core committee planning,” explained Marilee Fowler, Cedar Rapids Convention and Visitors Bureau CEO. “Members of the community are encouraged to play a vital role in the success of the Cedar Rapids festivities, showcasing community spirit and hospitality to our thousands of anticipated visitors.”

Interested individuals or groups may select from a variety of volunteer areas, including camp grounds, downtown concert venue, food and beverage garden, trash and recycling, information booths, Breakfast on the Bridge and more. Some tasks may have specific requirements such as physical labor or an age requirement of 18 or older. Volunteer training will be offered July 19 and 21 to receive full task details and receive their complimentary Cedar Rapids RAGBRAI shirt.

Full details to volunteer opportunities including the official sign up is available online at http://unitedwayofeastcentraliowa.org/ragbraivolunteers/.

For an overview video of RAGBRAI volunteer opportunities go here: http://unitedwayofeastcentraliowa.org/ragbraivolunteervideo/

Cedar Rapids RAGBRAI® Mission Statement
The Cedar Rapids community will work together to provide an exceptional overnight stay for 2012 RAGBRAI® participants and friends. We will provide a safe, welcoming, and fun environment promoting local businesses and highlighting community assets. The Cedar Rapids RAGBRAI® event will be financially self-sustaining. Learn more at www.CedarRapidsRAGBRAI.com.

RAGBRAI®
Des Moines Register Media owns and produces RAGBRAI®, a trek across Iowa that’s the world’s oldest, largest and longest annual bicycle ride. RAGBRAI® riders will overnight in Sioux Center, Cherokee, Lake View, Webster City, Marshalltown, Cedar Rapids, Anamosa and Clinton this year.

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Linn County ranks second only to Polk County in domestic travel spending, according to the Economic Impact of Travel Study released last week by the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Iowa Tourism Office. Payroll income and jobs directly attributed to domestic travel spending totaled $111.8 million and nearly 5,800 jobs. State tax generated from visitors to Linn County totaled $26.93 million and local tax $9.88 million.

“The increase in expenditures is great news for the Cedar Rapids area. Visitors are imported taxpayers that make our city and tax base larger so residents don’t have to pay as much tax,” said Marilee Fowler, CEO of the Cedar Rapids Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (CRACVB).

Cedar Rapids area travel expenditures were driven partly by conventions and sports events secured by the CRACVB. In 2010, these events included the US Figure Skating Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships, NCAA D III Wrestling Championships, Sweet Adelines MidAmerica Annual Competition and Conference, National Horseshoe Pitches Association World Tournament, and the CORVAIR Society of America International Convention.

In Fiscal Year 2011, the CRACVB was directly responsible for booking and servicing 81 conventions, meetings, group tours and events resulting in more than 117,691 visitors to the area. These visitors spent more than $13.3 million in the local economy. For every dollar of hotel/motel tax the CRACVB invested in tourism sales and marketing initiatives in FY11, the return on investment was $19.64 of direct spending in the community.

Across Iowa tourism generates more than $6 billion in expenditures, employs 62,000 people statewide and generates $321 million in state taxes.

The CRACVB mobile version, created by Metro Studios, will allow users with smart phones and other mobile devices to search Cedar Rapids area hotels, restaurants, attractions and events.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer this service to our visitors and residents,” said Marilee Fowler, CRACVB President/CEO. “There is always something to do in Cedar Rapids, and now there is an easy way to search for things to see and do on the go.”

For more information about the CRACVB, visit www.cedar-rapids.com on your computer or www.cedar-rapids.com/mobile on your mobile device.

The conference begins on Wednesday, September 21 at 1:00 p.m. and concludes on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. at the Cedar Rapids Marriott. One day conference rates are available and receive early bird discounts through Friday, August 26.

Sessions will includes such topics as strategic planning, return on product development, how media planners utilize research, social media for tourism researchers, the new normal for hospitality and much more. The group will also hear how the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library used research to make decisions after the flood and will experience a progressive dinner in Czech Village.

So, mark your calendar for the CenStates TTRA Conference to take advantage of this opportunity to expand your research knowledge and tourism network right in your own backyard. For more information or to register, visit www.censtatesttra.com.