The Civic Center of Greater Des Moines is in the final stretch of its $7.1 million capital campaign. The Vision Iowa board awarded the organization a $1.25 million grant last week, which requires the Civic Center to raise an addition $1 million by July 15 to receive the donation. Once the money is raised, the Civic Center will have met its goal.

Recognizing that the Vision Iowa program supports activities that have a significant economic impact on the state, Jeff Chelesvig, president and CEO of the Civic Center, said, “We’re thrilled. It recognizes the Civic Center as not only a major cultural entertainment attraction, but also a great stimulus of the local economy.”

To raise the final dollars, the Civic Center has sent proposals to the suburban communities involved with BRAVO Greater Des Moines. It also is focusing on the public phase of the campaign, seeking individual support though its Musical Chairs campaign. It is asking individuals for $500 or $1,000 to help replace the 2,735 seats in the theater.

The replacement of seats will begin this summer after “Monty Python’s Spamalot.” The organization also plans to replace the lighting in the theater.

Because the time frame for improvements is about 90 days between theater seasons, Chelesvig said some of the planned improvements may have to wait until summer 2008. But, he said, “The community has been very generous in this campaign, and the Vision Iowa grant will enable us to at least meet the fundraising goal that we set, which is terrific.”