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Nov. 20, 2009 |
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TOPICS Good news for our area Good habits, new ideas can help Iowa recover from national recession I-JOBS is a great deal for investors & communities Ensuring public safety with improved Sex Offender Registry New disaster assistance for businesses Dispose of medication properly Serve the state on a board or commission Rural Iowans need health reform
Good news for our area
Federal funds cover purchase of damaged homesThe first round of federal funds have been approved for the purchase of local homes damaged in last year’s historic floods. These awards cover homes not eligible for FEMA buyouts that are in the 100-year flood plain, pose a health and safety concern to the community, or have been determined to be substantially damaged.
In Blackhawk County, $323,719 was approved for the purchase of 2 properties, and in LaPorte City, $125,060 was approved for the purchase of 1 property. The money for the home purchases comes from Iowa’s $516.7 million Community Development Block Grant for disaster recovery.
Garnavillo awarded disaster recovery fundsThe City of Garnavillo has been awarded federal funds to help in recovery efforts after last year’s historic floods. The community will receive $908,150 to re-line its sanitary sewer pipe, restore 70 service connections and install 5 generators on lift stations and at the wastewater treatment plant. The money comes from Community Development Block Grant disaster recovery funds.
Guttenberg receives funds for hospital expansionGuttenberg Municipal Hospital has been awarded a $15.2 million loan through USDA Rural Development for its expansion and renovation project. Many local residents and USDA officials were on hand for the official groundbreaking on November 18.
When completed, the renovated and expanded facility will offer 18 acute-care medical beds, two labor, delivery and postpartum beds, along with outpatient care through a physician clinic. Other services such as emergency room, surgical, radiology, laboratory, pharmacy, speech, occupational and cardiac rehab will be enhanced with a new building and equipment. I look to touring the facility when the work is complete.
Wehner WoodsThank you to Nels and Joanne Wehner for allowing the Buchanan County Conservation Board to acquire their 30 acres of forest and stream land at the far northeast corner of the town of Lamont. The purchase was made with Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) dollars from the State of Iowa.
Wehner Woods will provide public recreation and conservation for
generations to come. A trail loop has been developed for public
hunting and fishing, as well as photography and hiking. The
dedication of Wehner Woods was held on November 14. Good habits, new ideas can help Iowa recover from national recession
The deepening national recession is hitting many Iowa families and businesses, and there is likely to be more distressing news in the coming weeks and months. That’s why I’m working to help Iowans recover in the short term while laying the foundation for long-term prosperity.
At the state level, we’ve expanded our commitment to creating good-paying jobs, making it easier for laid-off workers to get the training they need, and ensuring that more Iowans have access to affordable health care.
We’ve also put a premium on fiscal responsibility—and there are some good signs that those efforts are paying off. According to a new national study by the Pew Center for the States, Iowa is tied for second place nationally when it comes to fiscal strength.
The report—“Beyond California: States in Fiscal Peril”—rates Iowa and other states on foreclosure rates, joblessness, loss of state revenue, state budget gaps, balanced budgets, and money-management practices. Iowa scored high in these areas, behind only Wyoming. To read the entire report, go to www.pewcenteronthestates.org/report_detail.aspx?id=56044.
So we are making progress—but there’s still much to be done to ensure Iowa recovers from the national recession. That’s why I’m more committed than ever to listening to my constituents and others interested in building a strong future for our state, responsibly balancing the state budget, expanding job creation and improving our quality of life.
During these tough economic times, let’s keep working together to build a stronger future for all Iowans. If you have concerns or ideas you’d like share, call me at home at 563-633-4065 or w-mail me at brian.schoenjahn@legis.state.ia.us.
I-JOBS is a great deal for investors & communities
The state I-JOBS program is one of the country's top 10 best financing deals for 2009, according to Bond Buyer, the daily newspaper of public finance.
"This recognition is just one more example of how respected Iowa's financial decisions are viewed across the country," said State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald. "The work we do to secure good financing may not be exciting to most people, but it is vital to our economy and outlook. This shows that we are doing things right in Iowa."
Last summer, $601 million in I-JOBS bonds were sold and are being used to fix roads and bridges, invest in renewable energy, improve water quality and upgrade public facilities. For more information on the award, visit the Bond Buyer's web page www.sourcemediaconferences.com/BBDeal09/.
See how I-JOBS is helping local communitiesThrough a new online tool, you can find out exactly how state I-JOBS funds are being used to improve local communities.
Go to www.ijobsiowa.gov and click on “How I-JOBS Is Helping” in the lower right-hand corner. Information on each approved I-JOBS project includes the recipient, the name and location of the project, the dollar amount awarded, the total cost of the project and the expected completion date.
I-JOBS is an $830 million multi-year effort to strengthen Iowa's economy, help our state recover from last year’s disasters, and preserve and create thousands of jobs. The program is paid for with existing state gaming revenue, meaning no increase in taxes.
Ensuring public safety with improved Sex Offender Registry
The Iowa Department of Public Safety recently unveiled its newly designed sex offender registry, which will give Iowans easier access to information about sex offenders who may be in their neighborhoods and communities.
Many of the improvements to the registry are a result of Senate File 340, a bill I supported during the 2009 session. At www.iowasexoffender.com, you’ll now find tiers indicating the level of offense an offender has committed, as well as whether or not an offender is subject to exclusionary zones, residency restrictions and employment restrictions.
SF340 established strict criteria for barring certain offenders from places primarily intended for children, including schools, daycare centers and playgrounds.
Redesigning Iowa’s Sex Offender Registry is just one of the smarter, tougher and safer changes that will better track offenders and keep our children safe.
New disaster assistance for businesses
Four disaster assistance programs will be available in December to small businesses and landlords impacted by the 2008 storms and floods.
The Business Rental Assistance Program initially provided business owners up to $50,000 for rental payments for up to six months. Recipients can now also use the money to replace damaged machinery, office furniture, supplies and other equipment.
The Loan Interest Expense Program helps business owners pay the interest on a loan for disaster recovery. Up to $50,000 will be provided to a business, for a maximum of three years.
The Commercial Rental Income Gap Program reimburses commercial landlords up to $25,000 for lost rent on units that were physically damaged by disaster.
Under the Residential Landlord Business Support Program, landlords who provide affordable housing may receive up to $15,000 per business impacted by the disaster to help make up for lost rental income.
Funding comes from the Community Development Block Grant that Iowa has received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. For complete details and where to apply, call the Rebuild Iowa Office at 515-242-5004 or go to www.rio.iowa.gov/news/releases/2009/111209_press_conference.html.
Dispose of medication properly
Iowans can now safely dispose of unused and expired medications free of charge at more than 300 Iowa pharmacies.
During the 2009 session, we passed legislation to create a pharmaceutical collection and disposal pilot program. The TakeAway program is administered by the Iowa Pharmacy Association with a grant from the DNR’s Solid Waste Alternatives Program.
Participating pharmacies have TakeAway drop-off boxes where Iowans can deposit unwanted medications, which will be disposed of in a safe and environmentally friendly way. Locate participating pharmacies and medications that will be accepted at www.iarx.org/takeaway.
Serve the state on a board or commission
Each year, the Governor makes appointments to state boards and commissions. He’s currently seeking applicants for terms beginning in spring 2010.
Board and commission members are responsible for guiding policy, setting professional standards and sharing their expertise with state agencies, the Legislature and the Governor’s office.
A list of openings and an application are available at http://iowasenatenews.com/you-can-serve-the-state-on-a-board-or-commission/. You’ll find a description of the position being filled, party affiliation and gender requirements, and geographic preferences for the new appointments. All boards and commissions must be balanced by gender and party affiliation.
Applications are due by December 18. For further information, contact Bo Berntsen at bo.berntsen@iowa.gov or 515-281-0215.
Rural Iowans need health reform
While Iowa has been leading the nation on health reform, rural parts of our state show that there is still a long way to go.
According to a new report by the Iowa Policy Project, nearly 20 percent of America’s uninsured live in rural areas. In addition, rural residents are more likely than those in urban areas to purchase their insurance on non-group, private markets, an expensive way to obtain health insurance.
About 8 percent of the American population purchases its insurance this way. However, in rural Iowa, up to 37 percent of residents get their insurance on the non-group, private market.
Though rural regions generally have lower incomes and higher poverty rates, many rural families still don’t qualify for public plans. That means Iowa’s 1.2 million rural residents may be in the greatest need of better access to affordable, quality health insurance
To read more from the Iowa Policy Project report, go to www.iowapolicyproject.org/2009docs/091106-HC-rural-snap.pdf.
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