September 2, 2011

Google Offers Free Service to Help Small Businesses Expand Online

Small businesses in Iowa can participate in a new free service launched by Google and the State of Iowa to help put their business online. Called “Iowa Get Your Business Online,” the program is dedicated to providing local Iowa businesses with tools and resources to get online to expand business.

Google will offer free training sessions across the state for small businesses and will provide an easy-to-build professional website, a free customized domain name and web page hosting for one year, a local business listing on Google Places, as well as free tools, resources, and trainings.

Small business owners interested in the training session can go to www.IowaGetOnline.com. The free training sessions will be held in the Des Moines area on September 12th and 13th, in Council Bluffs on September 15th, in Waterloo on September 16th, and in Pella on September 30th. Google is also making plans to be in more areas throughout the state in the coming months.

Lawmakers Join Suit to Keep Workforce Centers Open

Four lawmakers have joined a lawsuit challenging Governor Terry Branstad’s plan to close 36 workforce centers. The lawsuit was filed after Republican lawmakers refused a call for a special session to override the Governor’s veto of a bi-partisan, compromise plan reached by lawmakers to keep the workforce centers open for another year.

Governor Branstad used a line-item veto in July to cut some funding and remove language prohibiting the closure of local Iowa Workforce Offices. Despite the lawsuit, the Governor has continued plans to close 36 workforce centers beginning on August 31st and replace them with computer kiosks.

Supporters of the workforce centers, which help unemployed Iowans get new skills and small businesses find qualified employees, cited the importance of workforce centers while 100,000 Iowans are still looking for work.

Presidential Disaster Emergency Proclamations Issued

Due to severe storms, straight line winds, and flooding in Central Iowa, a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration has been issued to Benton, Clay, Dickinson, Marshall, Story, and Tama counties.

The counties hit by the storm from July 9 to July 14, 2011, will receive federal funding by the Public Assistance Program. The funding is designed to be used for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities and may include debris removal, emergency protective measures, repair of damaged public property, loans needed by communities for essential government functions, and grants for public schools.

The notification from the President also entailed that funding could be used to conduct hazard mitigation activities to minimize the impact of future natural disasters by taking steps now to strengthen existing infrastructure.

This Presidential Disaster Declaration is the 13th Major Presidential Disaster Declaration Iowa has received since March 2007.

President Obama has also authorized a Major Disaster Declaration for Dubuque and Jackson counties impacted by severe storms and flooding July 27-29, 2011. The declaration by the President will also provide federal funding under the Public Assistance Program and hazard mitigation activities. This Presidential Disaster Declaration is the 14th Major Presidential Disaster Declaration Iowa has received since March 2007.

The Governor’s office said earlier this week the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) implemented a freeze on some types of disaster aid in order to extend the remaining balance of the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) while awaiting passage of appropriations legislation. Federal funding from the DRF is still available for removal of debris and emergency protective measures and to meet the immediate needs of disaster survivors. It is unknown at this time what impact the freeze will have on recovery efforts in Iowa.

For more information on how to receive assistance visit: www.iowahomelandsecurity.org.

Post 9/11 GI Bill Changes

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently announced changes to the Post 9/11 GI Bill. The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days.

Changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which began August 1, 2011, include paying the actual net cost of all public in-state tuition and fees, rather than basing payments upon the highest in-state tuition and fee rates for every state; capping private and foreign tuition at $17,500 per academic year; and ending payments during certain school breaks, to preserve veterans' entitlement for future academic semesters. Certain students attending private schools in select states can now continue to receive benefits at the same rate payable during the previous academic year.

In addition, beginning October 1, 2011, eligible individuals will be able to use the Post 9/11 GI Bill for programs such as non-college degrees, on-the-job training, and correspondence courses, and they will be eligible to receive a portion of the national monthly housing allowance rate when enrolled only in distance learning courses.

Complete information on the Post 9/11 GI Bill is available at www.gibill.va.gov. VA's education information phone number is 1-888-GIBILL-1.

Universities Work with Industry to Create Dual Master’s Degree

Responding to the needs of Iowa businesses and the changing global economy, the University of Iowa and Iowa State University have partnered to create a dual master’s degree program in business and engineering starting in January, 2012. Graduates of the five-semester program will receive an MBA from the University of Iowa’s Tippie School of Management and a master’s degree in engineering from Iowa State University’s College of Engineering.

The program was developed in conjunction with Rockwell Collins and Deere & Co., which requested assistance from the universities to help them train their managers and engineers. This is the fourth time the two state universities have partnered to better train Iowa’s workforce by strengthening the business and engineering leadership in the state.

Record Alcohol Sales in Fiscal Year 2011

Iowa’s Alcoholic Beverages Division (ABD) reported record sales of spirits in Iowa for fiscal year 2011, which ended June 30. The division transferred a record $107 million dollars to state and local authorities to fund a variety of programs.

These preliminary figures are $7 million more than fiscal year 2010 and $2 million more than the previous record, which was achieved in fiscal year 2009. Total spirits sales were more than $220 million, $10 million over the previous year, and the highest since fiscal year 1988 when the state became the exclusive wholesaler of spirits.

The majority of funds generated by the ABD go the State’s general fund to be appropriated by the Legislature. Additional funds are used for city and county programs and a small percentage goes for Iowa native wine and beer promotion. The remaining funds are earmarked for substance abuse funding.

ABD said their goal is generating revenue for the state with the effort to ensure laws and regulations are followed in addition to promoting the health and welfare of Iowans. Fiscal year 2011 revealed consumers are gravitating to more convenient product choices including flavored products of premixed, ready-to-drink cocktails.

Mental Health & Developmental Disability Services

A special Legislative Interim Committee established to look at redesigning the funding and delivery of mental health and developmental disabilities services for children and adults has begun their work by establishing six workgroups to study key areas of reform.

The Judicial Branch/Department of Human Services Workgroup, which is focusing on the involuntary committal process and issues associated with involuntary committals, held their first meeting on August 18. The group discussed and made recommendations for the Legislature regarding transportation issues and civil commitment prescreening.

Transportation for Court Committal Process

County sheriffs are required to transport individuals who have received a court committal for either substance abuse or mental health, and many times, individuals are diagnosed with both. County sheriffs across the state are concerned with how these transportations are affecting their offices and workers. For example, the number of committals has increased compared to 15 years ago with fewer psych beds available, which means law enforcement are spending more and more time transporting patients. Another issue is that the county sheriff of the person’s county of residence (not the county where the hospital is located) is responsible for all transportation needs. This very often results in law enforcement from the county of residence traveling across many counties even though the patient is being transported all within another county.

Civil Commitment Prescreens

The workgroup heard from a mental health professional who, from 2007 to 2011, offered prescreening to persons who went to the Warren County clerk of court office to begin a committal process. This was not mandatory, but was offered in an attempt to get more information to the judge. During this time, the number of involuntary committals was low because the prescreening process many times found a different and better fitting solution. This service has stopped due to a complaint to the court and that there is no provision in Chapter 229 (Hospitalization of Persons with Mental Illness) allowing this prescreening process.

Recommendations

1. Transportation is a core service (a service that every citizen has the right to access), whether the transportation is needed for hospitalization, a court hearing, or a county mental health coordinator.

2. Regions should designate a transportation coordinator, and the coordinator where the patient is located is to assign a sheriff or other appropriate transportation based on safety and the patient’s best interest.

3. Chapter 229 should be changed to allow for a mental health prescreen prior to the beginning of an involuntary commitment procedure.

4. Mental health prescreens needs to be a core service.

5. The prescreening would be under the responsibility of the county mental health coordinator or a designated facility in the county that is contracted by the region.

More information on this and other workgroups is available on the DHS website: www.dhs.state.ia.us/Partners/MHDSRedesign.html.

Three New Manure Stockpiling Fact Sheets Available

The Department of Natural Resources has recently published three new fact sheets to help livestock producers follow state laws on stockpiling manure and better protect Iowa’s water.

State law prohibits stockpiles in grassed waterways or on steep slopes. Producers also need to protect sensitive areas such as drinking water wells, certain wetlands, or high quality water resources from possible pollution. State laws set separation distances between these sensitive areas and each type of stockpile.

There are additional requirements for areas in northeast Iowa where shallow depth to bedrock puts ground water at risk. In some cases, there are also required distances between stockpiles and homes, businesses, churches, schools, and public use areas like state park lodges.

The requirements are different for three types of housing: open feedlots, confinements that produce dry manure, and confinements that produce dry-bedded manure. DNR regulations define open feedlots as places where animals are kept in unroofed or partially roofed areas. Dry-bedded confinements house cattle or swine and include hoop buildings, monoslope barns, and gable buildings. Confinements that produce dry manure are mostly poultry operations, but could include other species.

The fact sheets are available on the DNR website at www.iowadnr.gov/afo under AFO Resources or at www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/LandStewardship/AnimalFeedingOperations/AFOResources/AFOFactsheets.aspx.

Fire Marshal Warns Consumers about Gel Fuel for Fire Pots

The State Fire Marshal wants citizens to use caution when lighting or burning gel-fueled decorative fire pots. These decorative pots can be purchased at many different retail stores and uses a gel-like fuel. Accidents, such as explosions, have occurred when persons refill the decorative pots while the flame is low, but not out, or when the fire pot has been burning for long periods of time. In some cases, the flaming gel has sprayed three to four feet from the fire pot.

While some of the fire pots have been recalled due to fire risks, manufacturers have the following safety tips for operation:

1. Do not overfill the devices. If you accidentally overfill the device, wash the ceramic vessel with soap and water before inserting the fuel.

2. Do not reach over the fire pot.

3. Never leave the device unattended and never let children play near the fire pots.

4. Keep a portable fire extinguisher or water supply near the fire pot.

5. Never add fuel to an open flame and assure the ceramic vessel has cooled sufficiently before adding fuel.