\nWe know Linn County supports gaming, and we know that the revenue a casino would generate for our community is more important now than ever before,\u201d LCGA President Anne Parmley said in a release posted on the pro-gaming Linn Wins website.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Supporters will hold a kickoff rally to promote the measure on Sept. 8.<\/p>\n
Local Investors Back Project Again<\/h2>\n LCGA isn\u2019t the only local group supporting the casino drive.<\/p>\n
The Cedar Rapids Development Group (CDRG) is a group of nearly 100 community leaders who have committed to give millions towards the development of a casino.<\/p>\n
CDRG led the initial referendum drive eight years ago, and its members are helping rally support again.<\/p>\n
\u201cVoting yes on this referendum is about Linn County\u2019s future,\u201d said Drew Skogman, a CRDG member whose family owns a major real estate and housing development firm in Cedar Rapids, in a line in the statement. \u201cLinn County is the largest county in Iowa without a gaming facility, and it\u2019s time for us to receive the same economic stimulus that casinos bring to other counties in the state.\u201d<\/p>\n
If the referendum passes and the IRGA approves the license, the LCGA would receive funding from the P2E casino. It would then distribute grants and other awards to local nonprofits. Iowa law requires casinos to dedicate a share of their revenue to local charities and community projects.<\/p>\n
Iowa Casinos Coming Off Record Year<\/h2>\n Now might be an opportune time for Linn County to seek a casino license. Especially since the Iowa market just produced a record year for gaming.<\/p>\n
\n
In fiscal year 2021, which ended in June, the state\u2019s commercially licensed casinos generated nearly $1.58 billion in adjusted gross revenues. That\u2019s $109.4 million more than the gaming venues took in for 2012.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
That record performance allowed Iowa to generate $314.5 million in taxes for the fiscal year.<\/p>\n
And the strong performance carried into the new fiscal year as well. In July, the IRGC reported the casinos generated $157.4 million in revenue. That marked the fourth time in the last five months that the facilities topped the $150 million mark.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Business and community leaders in Iowa\u2019s second-biggest county are starting to promote an upcoming referendum that could finally bring a casino to the Cedar Rapids area. Earlier this month, the Linn County Gaming Association (LCGA) revealed the five local leaders who will serve on the nonprofit group\u2019s board. The LCGA has selected Peninsula Pacific Entertainment […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":183597,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[33810,61],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Effort Underway to Support Cedar Rapids Casino Measure in November<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n