May 13, 2010


Disaster assistance for UI project
College tuition surcharge will be refunded
Building a strong foundation for lasting economic recovery
Some recent I-JOBS announcements for Iowa City
Friends of Hickory Hill Plant Sale – This weekend
Local Bike to Work Week activities – Next Week
ICARE Breakfast – Saturday, June 6
Iowa gets high marks for economic growth, fiscal strength
2010 Iowa maps now available
New scholarship opportunity for military family members

The rain and wind have been amazing this week. I did get some tomato and pepper plants in before the down pour on Tuesday. Now we need some warmer, drier days.

It has been a busy time for constituent meetings and issue work.

Last edition, I missed that Linda Louko of Iowa City was appointed by Governor Culver to serve on the Iowa Autism Council. Thank you and congratulations, Linda!

Disaster assistance for UI project

Federal and state funds will go toward disaster recovery efforts at the University of Iowa. These funds are part of the effort to rebuild infrastructure following the historic floods of 2008.

The University of Iowa will get $1,442,869 to purchase soundproof practice rooms for the Hancher Voxman Clapp temporary facility. Because FEMA is covering 90 percent of the project costs, local government will save the 15 percent local match of $216.430.35. State funds will pay for the remaining 10 percent.

College tuition surcharge will be refunded

A tuition surcharge for students at our state universities will soon be refunded as a result of legislation passed by the Legislature this year.

Senate File 2366 provides a refund of a $100 tuition surcharge that students paid during the 2010 spring semester. The surcharge was levied in response to last fall’s across-the-board budget cut.

Despite the budget difficulties created by the national recession, I'll keep working to ensure students get the opportunities they need to improve their skills and develop their talents. It’s a smart way to build a stronger Iowa economy.

I joined Regent’s President David Miles and Governor Chet Culver when they traveled to Iowa City to sign the tax credit reform bill on April 15 in the state’s historic Old Capitol. Senate File 2380 makes changes to several tax credits and sets up a new procedure for legislative review and oversight of tax credit programs. Under the law, a committee will be formed to regularly review all tax credits, estimate the cost of these programs and make recommendations.

Building a strong foundation for lasting economic recovery

During the 2010 session, the Legislature continued to invest in Iowa communities by approving nearly $274 million for projects statewide.

We are modernizing local roads and public buildings and helping communities rebuild from the 2008 natural disasters. In the process, we are creating jobs, helping small businesses grow and laying the foundation for future economic success.

These investments include:

** Disaster relief and rebuilding, flood mitigation and construction projects. This includes new efforts related to flood damage prevention and “smart planning” to help communities reduce future flooding.

** Helping Iowans find and keep a home during tough times. The “Housing Trust Fund Program” expands safe and affordable housing by building and rehabilitating single-family and multi-family housing. In addition, the Iowa Mortgage Help Hotline (877-622-4866 or www.IowaMortgageHelp.com) is helping thousands of Iowans facing foreclosure.

** Building community-based corrections facilities to increase community supervision and improve rehabilitation rates for offenders.

** Cleaning up our waterways while expanding recreational opportunities by restoring lakes, building buffer strips, and beginning major renovations of our state parks in preparation for the 100th Anniversary of State Parks in 2020.

** Expanding the Iowa Great Places Program, which is successfully boosting cultural, tourism and economic development in communities across Iowa. This includes the Iowa City-Coralville-North Liberty corridor, one of Iowa’s official Great Places.

In addition, we approved the final phase of the state I-JOBS program. I-JOBS started in 2009 at the depths of the recession. The program is providing an extra boost to our economy by putting Iowans back to work, modernizing and improving public infrastructure and helping Iowa recover from our worst natural disasters ever—all without raising taxes.

Find the rabbit.

Some recent I-JOBS announcements for Iowa City

** $250,000 from the Affordable Housing Program for the acquisition and rehabilitation of five single-family homes near the University of Iowa campus as part of the UniverCity Neighborhood Partnership Program. The initiative is an effort between the City of Iowa City and the University of Iowa to encourage homeownership and reinvestment in the neighborhoods surrounding the university campus.

** $2 million for a wastewater treatment plant.

** $10 million for the University of Iowa’s Institute for Biomedical Discovery for FY 2011.

** $1.3 million for the Iowa Flood Center at the University of Iowa. The Flood Center will also receive $10 million in federal Community Development Block Grant money for flood plain mapping.

You can learn more about how I-JOBS projects are improving our area at www.ijobsiowa.gov.

Friends of Hickory Hill Plant Sale – This weekend

The Friends of Hickory Hill Park are hosting their annual Spring Plant Sale on Friday, May 14, from 4-7PM and Saturday, May 15, from 10AM-4PM at 1167 E. Jefferson Street. All proceeds benefit this wonderful park!

This fundraising plant sale supports projects within Hickory Hill Park funded by Friends of Hickory Hill Park. For more information, call J. Jehle at 319-338-5331.

Local Bike to Work Week activities – Next Week

Sunday, May 16
Breakfast at Geoff's and a Ride:
9:00 a.m. breakfast at Geoff's Bike and Ski, 816 S. Gilbert Street, with a ride to follow.

Monday, May 17
Commuter Breakfast:
Free breakfast to bike commuters at 30th Century Bicycles, 310 Prentiss Street, from 7:30-9:30 a.m.

Tuesday, May 18
Bike/Bus/Car Race
Starts at 11:50 a.m. at Coralville Public Library. Tom Gill (on bike), Mike Wright (in car) and Janelle Rettig (on bus, with a bike).

Wednesday, May 19
Ride of Silence:
6:45-8:45, North Pedestrian Mall entrance

Thursday, May 20
New Pi to New Pi Ride:
Start at 5:30 p.m. in Chauncey Swan Park, Iowa City and ride to the New Pioneer Co-Op in Coralville. Music, food and door prizes.

Friday, May 21
After-Work Gathering:
Bike to Work Week will conclude with an after-work gathering at Vito's on the pedestrian mall downtown Iowa City. Bike parking will be available.

For more information, go to http://www.b2wwic.org/

ICARE Breakfast – Saturday, June 6

ICARE will host its 23rd Annual New Pioneer/ ICARE Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, June 6, in the Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp. Here is the Web info for the event: http://www.icareiowa.org/news.html.

Iowa gets high marks for economic growth, fiscal strength

Our country has been hit hard by the national recession. Yet things are looking brighter here in Iowa.

Our state government is nationally recognized for strong fiscal management. Iowa is one of only seven states to receive the highest possible bond rating from the three national bond rating agencies. The independent agencies all give Iowa AAA status.

Our business climate is also strong compared to other states. Forbes, the respected business magazine, recently included several Iowa communities on its list of America’s “Best Places for Business and Careers.”

Des Moines ranked No. 1 overall. Five smaller Iowa cities were in the top 20 (Iowa City -2, Waterloo -13, Sioux City -14, Dubuque -15, and Ames -17). Cedar Rapids was named the top city in America for projected job growth.

According to Forbes, Iowa’s success comes from our low cost of doing business, low cost of living, well-educated workers, and employment levels that are expected to increase along with household incomes.

Iowa also ranks high in other recent economic rankings:

** MarketWatch placed Des Moines No. 1 in the country for doing business.

** CNBC’s 2009 “Top States for Business” survey ranked Iowa fourth best overall and No. 1 for low cost of doing business.

** The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis named Iowa the eighth-fastest growing economy in the nation.

This national recognition says a lot about the Legislature's bipartisan efforts to foster a pro-business climate.

2010 Iowa maps now available

The 2010 edition of the Iowa Transportation Map is now available at driver's license locations, Iowa DOT district offices, rest areas and welcome centers throughout the state.

To order a free Iowa travel packet that includes the new map, call 800-345-IOWA (4692) or visit http://www.traveliowa.com/. You can also view the transportation map and other Iowa maps online at http://www.iowadotmaps.com/.

New scholarship opportunity for military family members

Through May 15, ThanksUSA is accepting applications for need-based scholarships for children and spouses of U.S. military personnel. The organization plans to award 500 scholarships at $3,000 each in 2010.

Scholarships for dependent children and spouses are for first-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school. Spouses may also use the award for non-degree licensure/certification programs.

For complete details and an application, go to http://www.thanksusa.org/main/scholarships.html.