FAIRFIELD, IOWA -- One Heartland city has been selected as one of Iowa’s six Great Places.

The city of Fairfield will participate in the Iowa 2020 program.

It is a two year program developed to transform the cultural arts into an engine of creativity and strengthen the communities.

The six Great Places were chosen based on their willingness to adapt to the changing dynamics of 21^st century life in the Midwest.

Mayor Malloy said the distinction recognizes Fairfield’s existing efforts to integrate art into the community.

Director of Arts and Convention Center Rustin Lippincott is proud that Fairfield was chosen as one of the six Great Places.

"It's a great honor for Fairfield to be selected because of our cultural diversity and the different areas of the community that are really vibrant," Lippincott said. "It will really tie all the different projects that we are working on independently."

The goal is to elevate the role of the cultural arts and to attract new tourists.