Iowa

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 »

November 09, 2009 -- DES MOINES—The State of Iowa and AFSCME/Iowa Council 61 have reached an Understanding to protect 479 AFSCME state jobs that are targeted for layoffs pursuant to Governor Chet Culver’s 10 percent across the board budget cuts mandated by Executive Order 19. The 479 positions include front line correctional officers, parole probation officers and other support positions that help to provide for our public safety.

This Understanding between the State of Iowa, Executive Branch and AFSCME/Iowa Council 61 leadership will now be presented to the entire AFSCME membership for approval. The terms of the agreement will not be implemented unless and until approved by a majority vote of the membership.

This Understanding involves the following:    » read more »

November 09, 2009 -- DES MOINES – Today, Iowa Governor Chet Culver issued a proclamation suspending the hours of service requirement for truck drivers delivering propane. The suspension of the rule will help bring propane into the state quicker, helping to ensure an adequate supply of fuel for farmers drying their crops after this year’s harvest.

“Iowa’s farmers are the best in the world,” said Governor Culver. “This proclamation will assist corn and soybean growers get these important commodities to market as quickly as possible.”    » read more »

State and U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff

November 06, 2009 -- DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Chet Culver has signed a proclamation ordering that Iowa and United States flags are to be flown at half-staff to honor the victims of yesterday’s shootings at the Fort Hood Army base in Texas. The flags will be lowered through Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009.

This order is in addition to today’s proclamation by President Barack Obama ordering that all United States flags shall be lowered through Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009. The President’s order applies to federal property and embassies. Governor Culver’s order applies to state-owned property.

The text of the proclamation is below:
PROCLAMATION    » read more »

Kansas City, Kan., October 30, 2009 - Proposals for Environmental Education grants to develop new programs or to improve the quality of existing programs will be accepted through Dec. 15, 2009 from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska communities by EPA Region 7 in Kansas City, Kan.

EPA regional offices may award grants up to $50,000. Grants over $50,000 and up to $200,000 are awarded by EPA headquarters in Washington.    » read more »

October 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat, and Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, have introduced legislation that would make it easier for consumers to take advantage of a tax break in the stimulus package intended to encourage the purchase and manufacture of energy-efficient doors, windows, and skylights.

“I have seen firsthand how the tax credit can make a difference, both for the West Virginia industries that produce and sell these energy efficient windows and for the families who use them. We need to make it easier for people to understand and be able to take advantage of these tax credits, so they can get more for their money, particularly during these tough economic times,” said Senator Rockefeller.    » read more »

October 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that a total of $1,128,500 in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the Recovery Act) will be coming to Iowa to help communities reduce their energy use, cut back on emissions and create jobs.

Specifically, the City of Council Bluffs will receive $571,500 and the City of West Des Moines will receive 557,000 for projects such as residential and commercial building energy efficiency retrofits.    » read more »

October 15, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Leonard Boswell announced that the Department of Energy has designated $557,000 under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program for projects in West Des Moines.

“Making our communities more energy efficient helps bring down bottom-line costs for families and businesses.” Boswell said. “I applaud the city of West Des Moines for its efforts to conserve and more efficiently use its energy resources.”

Grants given under the EECBG program can be used for residential and commercial energy audits and retrofits, the development and implementation of more energy efficient building codes, and the creation of financial incentives for energy efficiency improvements.    » read more »

October 14, 2009 -- DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Chet Culver announced today that, as state government begins to implement a 10% across-the-board cut in spending, he is going to reduce his state salary by ten percent.

“This national economic recession has meant financial sacrifices for everyone across the State of Iowa, and it should be no different for me” said Governor Culver. “As Iowans face reduced state services and many state employees face the likelihood of layoffs, my office will lead by example in making budget cuts and it will begin with my salary. We must face this challenge together.”

The salary for the Governor of Iowa is $130,000 as determined by state law.    » read more »

15 communities receive grants for road, trail projects from I-JOBS, State Recreational Trails Program

October 13, 2009 -- AMES – Iowa Governor Chet Culver announced today that the Iowa Transportation Commission has approved more than $2.5 million in grants for road improvement projects, a direct result of the Culver/Judge Administration’s I-JOBS initiative. In addition, the commission granted nearly $4.5 million for trail projects across the state through the State Recreational Trails Program.    » read more »

October 8, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Leonard Boswell announced that The Commonwealth Fund has scored Iowa as second best in the nation for delivering high quality health care service. Iowa was tied with Hawaii for second place in overall health system performance in the Commonwealth Fund’s 2009 State Scorecard.

The Congressman released the statement below following The Commonwealth Fund’s report.

“Our providers should be proud of delivering such high quality health care to Iowans,” Boswell said. “This is just one reason why I am committed to correcting the flawed Medicare reimbursement formula and bringing fair payments to Iowa.”    » read more »