Iowa House of Representatives

An update from the Rebuild Iowa Office:

Total disaster assistance approved for residents and governments in Iowa impacted by this year’s storms, tornadoes and flooding grew by more than $7.5 million this week. The additional funding was primarily due to increases in State/FEMA Public Assistance, U.S. Small Business Administration Loans and Disaster Unemployment Assistance.

More than 39,600 Iowans have registered with FEMA for disaster assistance and more than 35,000 Iowans have visited FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers around the state. Of the 85 Iowa counties eligible for federal assistance, 77 are eligible for both individual assistance and public assistance. (more…)

Another $45 million has been allocated to Jumpstart Iowa for housing and business storm assistance.  The program, which started last month with $40 million, provides support to homeowners for rebuilding, repairs, or $1,000 per month for mortgage assistance. Small businesses can receive up to $50,000 in a forgivable loan.

Applications for Jumpstart Housing and Small Business assistance is available on-line at www.jumpstart.iowa.gov or by calling 866-849-0323.  Click here to see the $85 million in Jumpstart Iowa allocations for Iowa communities.

Financial assistance is now available for homeowners and small businesses impacted by the devastating floods and storms in 2008. The $40 million Jumpstart Iowa program, created by Governor Chet Culver in September, provides support to homeowners for rebuilding, repairs, or $1,000 per month for mortgage assistance. Small businesses can receive up to $50,000 in a forgivable loan.

Applications for Jumpstart Housing and Small Business assistance is available on-line at www.jumpstart.iowa.gov or by calling 866-849-0323.

Two state boards took action this week to implement Governor Culver’s $40 million flood recovery intiative for homeowners and small businesses.  The Iowa Department of Economic Development Board approved $10 million for the initiative today and will also administer the Jumpstart Small Business Assistance Program.

Yesterday, the Iowa Power Fund Board approved $7.5 million for energy efficient flood repair and rebuilding.  Applications for the Jumpstart initiative should be available next week.

Governor Chet Culver announced today that the state will provide $40 million in housing and business assistance for Iowans impacted by floods and tornadoes this year. For more information on the Jumpstart Housing program, click here. Information on the Jumpstart Business program is available here.

The $20 million in housing assistance will help Iowans rebuild, repair, relocate, or make interim mortgage payments up to $1,000 per month, which also helps Iowans with property tax payments. Businesses will get the other $20 million in assistance with up to a $50,000 forgivable loan, which means they won’t have to be repaid like the federal SBA loans, to help re-open or rebuild.

The state’s Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission met yesterday and will continue today to complete work on the initial 45 day report due to the Legislature and Governor Culver by September 2nd.  The commission is reviewing reports completed by nine recovery task forces which have been meeting since July.

Recommendations from the task forces are are available at www.rio.iowa.gov or by clicking here.

Last month, Governor Chet Culver created the Rebuild Iowa Office (RIO) to coordinate Iowa’s recovery efforts from the 2008 storms and help the Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission compete their work. The RIO has launched a web page for Iowans who need assistance and also want to track Iowa’s recovery efforts. Log on to www.rio.iowa.gov.

The nine task forces created to help the Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission complete its work will start meeting on Monday.  Members of the task forces will be released later today.  The task forces will be comprised of public members as well four legislators. Here is the meeting list:

Monday, July 28
Housing
Location:
Iowa Finance Authority
Presentation Room
2015 Grand Ave
Des Moines, IA 50312
P 515-725-4900
Meeting Time: 9:30 am – 3:30 pm (more…)

House Speaker Pat Murphy of Dubuque has appointed nine legislators to serve on the Rebuild Iowa Commission Task Forces.  Appointees include:

Housing – Rep. Tom Schueller of Maquoketa
Infrastructure & Transportation – Rep. Geri Huser of Altoona
Economic & Workforce Development – Rep. Dave Jacoby of Coralville
Public Health and Healthcare – Rep. Elesha Gayman of Davenport
Agriculture & Environment – Rep. Mark Kuhn of Charles City
Education – Rep. Mary Mascher of Iowa City
Flood Plain Management and Hazard Mitigation – Rep. Art Staed of Cedar Rapids
Records Retention & Cultural Heritage – Rep. Helen Miller of Ft. Dodge
Long-term Recovery – Rep. Tyler Olson of Cedar Rapids

An update on the Iowa’s flood recovery efforts:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced today that eight additional Iowa counties — Clinton, Decatur, Dubuque, Greene, Keokuk, Pottawattamie, Van Buren, and Washington — were granted a Presidential Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance. (more…)