Iowa: It's a Big State . . .

. . . but not that big.

WHO Radio reports that the Earthpork board is travelling the state, looking at the sites in Pella and Riverside, and "is expected to announce the location for the project near the end of the month [of September 2006]."

Just how big is Iowa? How long does it take to drive from Pella to Riverside? How long does it take to look at two sites? We've been told the board is travelling together. Do they talk to each other? What are they going to be doing with the next three weeks that will make their decision better at the end of this month?

WHO reports that "one of the obstacles to building has been the ability of local officials to come up with some of the financing for the project."

It's true the project has financial problems. Big, decisive, financial problems. But it's unfair to say it's the fault of "local officials."

The town selected is supposed to come up with $25 million. The project's promoters need to come up with $155 million.

Ironically, the Iowa communities have been able to raise more money, locally, in 10 months than the rain forest's promoters have been able to raise, nationally, in 10 years. (Of course, that's not a very high standard since they've raised nothing. Still, it's necessary to make the point to put things in proper perspective.)

Here's the story:

Site Selection Near for Earth Park
Friday, September 1, 2006

"THE EXECUTIVE BOARD FOR THE 155-MILLION DOLLAR ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING FACILITY THAT INCLUDES AN INDOOR RAIN FOREST WAS ON THE ROAD THIS WEEK TOURING POTENTIAL BUILDING SITES IN RIVERSIDE AND PELLA. THE CENTRAL IOWA LOCATION IS ACTUALLY ON 70-ACRES NEXT TO LAKE RED ROCK. ONE OF THE OBSTACLES TO BUILDING HAS BEEN THE ABILITY OF LOCAL OFFICIALS TO COME UP WITH SOME OF THE FINANCING FOR THE PROJECT. MARION COUNTY SUPERVISOR SAM NICHOLS SAYS IT IS HIS UNDERSTANDING THAT EVERYTHING AS FAR AS LOCAL GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION IS IN PLACE AND EVERYTHING AS FAR AS THE DEVELOPERS ARE CONCERNED IS IN PLACE. NICHOLS SAYS HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT MORE DEVELOPERS COULD WANT AS A LOCATION FOR THE PROJECT BECAUSE THE SITE NEAR PELLA IS A PERFECT EARTH PARK SETTING. THE EARTH PARK BOARD IS EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE THE LOCATION FOR THE PROJECT NEAR THE END OF THE MONTH.

WHO Radio, September 1, 2006.