Linn County Gaming Association names Anne Parmley, board members to lead nonprofit organization
LCGA to serve as the license holder for potential Linn County casino;
will work with area nonprofits, bolster support for gaming vote
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA (Aug. 11, 2021) – Longtime Cedar Rapidian and community leader Anne Parmley has been named board president of the Linn County Gaming Association (LCGA). The volunteer-led association is focused on encouraging Linn County voters to support the gaming referendum which is on the ballot this fall.
“We 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,” Parmley said. “I am honored and excited to be part of this association. Voting yes on the gaming referendum is an important step in unlocking the full potential of our community.”
Iowa is the only state that requires regulated licensed casinos to contribute a percentage of revenue to local charities and community projects. The LCGA will serve as the nonprofit organization tied to a proposed casino in Linn County. First, however, a gaming referendum will again need to be passed by Linn County residents.
Parmley will lead the LCGA team that sets the vision to support community nonprofit partnerships that best serve the needs of the county. Prior to joining the board, Anne served as senior vice president of client services at Pearson, the world’s leading learning company. She worked at Pearson in several leadership roles for 18 years.
Other LCGA board members include:
Todd Bergen, vice president for commercial real estate and business development for Skogman Realty.
Zach Bohannon, director of strategy for Estes Partners.
Brooke Fitzgerald, partner of The Restoration Project.
Monica Slaughter, assistant Linn County attorney.
The LCGA will spend the next three months building support for the upcoming referendum, while working closely with area nonprofits and business leaders to identify future opportunities within Linn County.
The Cedar Rapids Development Group (CRDG) which spearheaded the successful gaming referendum in 2013 is involved in this campaign as well. In 2013, the group of local business leaders and investors led the effort and Linn County voters overwhelmingly passed the measure by 61.23%.
“Voting yes on this referendum is about Linn County’s future,” said Drew Skogman, local business leader and member of CRDG. “Linn County is the largest county in Iowa without a gaming facility, and it’s time for us to receive the same economic stimulus that casinos bring to other counties in the state.”
If passed, a second referendum will permanently authorize gambling in Linn County, providing the opportunity for a license to be submitted to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission anytime in the future.
“This effort is all about how gaming can contribute to lifting this community and helping it reach its full potential,” Parmley said. “I am most excited about how this revenue will help our nonprofits grow and thrive.”
A kickoff event for community, nonprofit and business leaders is planned for Wednesday, Sept. 8. For more information on the LCGA, please visit LinnWins.com.
# # #
Linn County Gaming Association (LCGA) is the nonprofit association who will hold the license for a proposed casino in Linn County. LCGA is responsible for distributing grants and funds from casino revenue to nonprofits within the community.
Cedar Rapids Development Group (CRDG) is a coalition of local investors – nearly 100 community leaders – who have pledged several million dollars to develop a casino in Iowa’s second largest city.