Iowa

State Individual Assistance Program now available

January 29, 2010 -- DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Chet Culver has asked President Obama to declare 27 Iowa counties federal disaster areas after severe winter storms caused extensive damage in recent weeks. At a press conference this morning, the Governor spoke about the recent snow and ice storms, the state’s response, and how Iowa is working with federal partners to provide much- needed relief for those affected by the storms.    » read more »

Will Strengthen National Security, Create Jobs in Iowa

Washington, DC – In an address to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association today, Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) announced he will introduce legislation to require country of origin labeling for fuels. Braley will introduce the bill, Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for Fuels, tomorrow when he returns to Washington, DC.

The bill will require the Department of Energy to conduct a study and implement its recommendations to ensure American consumers have the ability to decide at the gas pump whether they want to purchase domestic fuel products, such as biofuels produced in Iowa, or gasoline produced in hostile nations that many terrorists call home.    » read more »

January 25, 2010 -- DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Chet Culver today highlighted two Iowa business projects that will receive job-creation boosts through grants from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Parkersburg Economic Development and Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs are among 44 grant recipients announced by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack last week. The grants are designed to create jobs by helping businesses get started or expand in rural areas. Parkersburg Economic Development will receive $199,900 to create a revolving loan fund to assist small and emerging private businesses in Parkersburg.    » read more »

Harkin, 30 Senators Urge Unemployment/Health Benefits Extension For Unemployed Americans; Some 40,000 Iowans Currently Depend on Benefits

January 22, 2010 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, today joined a group of 30 senators in urging an extension of unemployment insurance and health benefits for unemployed Americans.

In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus, the senators argued these benefits must be extended through December 31, 2010. Last month, the Senate approved an extension of both programs through the end of February.    » read more »

Order to implement over $700 million in potential savings over 5 years

December 16, 2009 -- DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Chet Culver announced at today’s AP Pre-Legislative Seminar that he signed Executive Order 20, which will enact the Executive Branch cost-saving recommendations in the Iowa Efficiency Review. The savings enacted have the potential to save the state over $700 million over five years, and fall under his authority as Governor.

Governor Culver commissioned the review to identify potential cost savings through efficiency gains. The Executive Order will implement 40 of the recommendations. Other measures included in the report will require legislative action, and some recommendations are under further review.    » read more »

Urges continued progress on advancing homegrown, renewable fuels

December 04, 2009 -- DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Chet Culver praised the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announcement this week that modern automobile engine control systems will likely allow the agency to approve, sometime in 2010, higher ethanol blends in vehicles manufactured since model year 2001. Governor Culver is also Vice-Chair of the Governors’ Biofuels Coalition.    » read more »

December 04, 2009 -- DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Culver today announced more than $9.36 million in federal stimulus awards made by the Office of Energy Independence. The 62 projects will save Iowans $4.7 million in energy costs annually, provide nearly $33.4 million in matching funds and create or retain 328 direct jobs.

“Thanks to projects like these, we are growing our economy and, most importantly, creating jobs – right when Iowans need them the most,” said Governor Culver. “Using federal stimulus funds, we are positioned to retain existing employers and grow a new energy industry that not only fits the landscape, but also becomes inextricably linked to Iowa.”    » read more »

December 04, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Leonard Boswell announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded Elevance Renewable Sciences in Newton a $2.5 million grant to develop the preliminary engineering design for a facility that could produce jet fuel, renewable diesel substitutes, and high-value chemicals from plant oils and poultry fat.

“Iowa will play a critical role in the development of a biomass industry in the United States,” Boswell said. “As leaders in agriculture, we have access to the resources and expertise to produce advanced biofuels, biopower, and bioproducts.

"The DOE’s investment in the biomass industry will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, create jobs in rural America, and contribute to our economic recovery.”    » read more »

December 2, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today reacted to a Families USA report showing that monthly COBRA payments will shoot up for millions of unemployed Americans. In February, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which provided a 65 percent temporary subsidy for COBRA-eligible workers to continue their coverage.

That subsidy expired today, raising the average monthly COBRA family premium to $1,111, or 83.4 percent of the average unemployment check - leaving just $222 for food, housing and other necessities.    » read more »

November 18, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Leonard Boswell announced that the U.S. Department of Labor has awarded Iowa $1,172,614 authorized under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to develop a comprehensive analysis of labor supply and demand of the state’s green economy.

“The study and promotion of green jobs will be pivotal to rebuilding our nation’s economy and getting Iowans back to work,” Boswell said. “We must develop industries that will be the future of this country. This grant will help Iowa study how to put Iowans to work on projects that will not only promote local economic growth, but also benefit the environment.”    » read more »

Efforts to reduce detention and disproportionate minority contact are making a difference

November 16, 2009 -- DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Chet Culver today announced promising results from efforts to decrease Iowa’s rates of youth detention, especially for minority youth who are overrepresented in the state’s juvenile justice system.

Statewide, Iowa has decreased its overall detention of juveniles by about 15%, especially for low-level juvenile offenders, in each of the last two years, without any impact on public safety. In Black Hawk County, detention rates of minority youth declined by more than 20% for calendar year 2008. In Polk County, minority detention declined by 23.2%, and in Woodbury County minority detention was cut by 5.2%.    » read more »

I-JOBS and Federal Recovery-funded projects help create jobs, improve infrastructure

November 13, 2009 -- DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Chet Culver announced today that 11 local highway infrastructure projects worth nearly $13.7 million have been let by the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT).

Ten projects are funded in total or part through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). Acceptance of the low-bid proposals and awarding of contracts are contingent upon final approval of the respective parties.    » read more »

Programs to help impacted businesses and landlords, provide additional help for homeowners

November 12, 2009 -- DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Chet Culver today announced four new disaster assistance programs for small businesses and landlords impacted by the 2008 storms and floods, as well as improvements to the duplication of benefits policy for homeowners, at a press conference in Cedar Rapids.

The new business assistance programs will be funded by $85 million of the state’s nearly $800 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).    » read more »

November 12, 2009 -- DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Chet Culver and Congressman Dave Loebsack announced today that more than $1.3 million in federal and state funds have been identified and are in final approval for disaster recovery efforts for the City of Cedar Rapids.

“Repairing the infrastructure of our state to smooth the way for a solid recovery continues to be a primary job of this office and all involved in the flood recovery,” said Governor Culver. “We will work with all of our partners to ensure that Cedar Rapids and every jurisdiction in Iowa receive all of the disaster aid they are eligible to receive.”    » read more »

November 10, 2009 -- AMES – Iowa Governor Chet Culver announced that the Iowa Transportation Commission today approved a Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy (RISE) Local Development grant application submitted by the city of Grimes. The funding is part of the Culver/Judge Administration’s I-JOBS initiative.

“This transportation project in Grimes is part of our state’s work to recover from this nationwide recession,” Governor Culver said. “The I-JOBS transportation funds approved today are supporting infrastructure needs in the Grimes community, while helping to create good jobs for Iowans and build a brighter future for our state.”    » read more »