The City of Indianola presented funds for the Des Moines Metro Opera at their meeting Monday for $25,000, taken from the Hotel/Motel Tax revenue. City Manager Ben Reeves tells KNIA News the Des Moines Metro Opera is a long-term staple of the community and the Indianola City Council wanted to make a commitment to helping keep them in town. Reeves said the initial funds will go towards a facility study to look at expanding their venue for bigger shows.

“There is constraints at the Blank Performing Arts Center over on the Simpson College campus, they only have so much capacity there. So if they are going to stay there long-term, we have to understand how to make that a better facility for them. So Simpson College and the Des Moines Metro Opera got together to do a facility study to how to make that a better venue, either renovate or expand that venue. They’ve asked for the participation of partner entities such as the City of Indianola, and we are excited to participate. We see the economic benefit they bring to our community, and we want to make sure we support that with the dollars that they are already generating for our community with the Hotel/Motel Tax.”

The Hotel/Motel Tax funds are generated by events such as the opera or National Balloon Classic, when visitors stay in local hotels in Indianola, and Reeves said the continued investment is what those funds are used for.

*photo from City of Indianola