Nominations are being accepted through June 11 for the Rebuild Iowa Award for Service. The award recognizes Iowans who've gone above and beyond the call of duty in 2008 disaster recovery efforts to help our state rebuild safer, stronger and smarter.

Further details and nomination forms can be found at www.rio.iowa.gov/Rebuild_Iowa_Award_for_Service.pdf.



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.



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 Marion, 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.

A recent I-JOBS appropriation will provide $8.5 million to the Department of Economic Development for projects through the existing Main Street Program. In our area, the Cedar Rapids Czech Village-New Bohemia is an award-winning Iowa Main Street community.

The Iowa Legislature established the Main Street Iowa program in 1985 to promote downtown revitalization. The 23rd Annual Main Street Iowa Awards Ceremony was held April 16. At the event, Gail Naughton was named Outstanding Main Street Volunteer for her work with Czech Village - New Bohemia.

Other recent I-JOBS project announcements include:

•$1,150,000 from the Affordable Housing Program for the Affordable Housing Network in Cedar Rapids. This grant will assist in the acquisition and rehabilitation of 25 flood-impacted homes as a part of the Cedar Rapids Block by Block program. The Block by Block redevelopment strategy is designed to encourage all property owners on the specified block to either reinvest in their property or to arrange for a solution other than abandonment.

•$98,012 from the Green Urban Stormwater Program. The money will go to Cedar Rapids - Water Tower Place Owners Association to create a green roof on a loft building in the Czech Village.

•$1.2 million to Kirkwood Community College for the construction of a small business center in Cedar Rapids.

•$4.4 million for an administrative office building, public service center in Linn County.

•$4.4 million for renovation of the existing city hall building in Cedar Rapid.

•$2 million for flood mitigation and renovation in and around a former federal courthouse in Cedar Rapids

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