Now that the intensity of the 2008 flood is over the RIO office is turning its attention to statewide planning.

Senate File 2265 is a RIO bill creating a permanent 31 member comprehensive planning task force. The bill also codifies “SMART” comprehensive planning principles for state, regional, county and city planning.

The “SMART” planning is a project management tool developed by psychologists as a tool to help set and reach goals. This model features goal setting that is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound.

Concerns about this RIO bill are mounting. Continue reading…

As required by House File 64, the Rebuild Iowa Office (RIO) submitted their quarterly report on July 10. The report highlights accomplishments of the agency and provides updated information on progress benchmarks and the distribution of recovery funding.

The report identifies one of the key problems the State faces in recovering from such a large disaster. While many sources of funding for relief have been made available from the federal government, very few of the funding sources were designed with disaster relief in mind.

This results in difficulties and inefficiencies for state and local agencies attempting to administer funds that are not tailored specifically for the needs of disaster victims. Businesses and individuals seeking relief are often subject to duplicative reviews and benefits checking. In fact, the report identifies 30 different programs providing disaster recovery support from state and federal agencies.

Continue reading…

Recently, the Iowa Economic Development Board (IDED) announced it will extend the deadline businesses have to apply for financial assistance programs. Businesses that were damaged by the floods and tornados of last summer now have until July 31, 2009 to submit their applications for disaster recovery assistance.

The IDED Board decided yesterday how to allocate the department’s portion of the Fiscal Year 2010 Values Fund allotment. New guidelines governing the Values Fund, passed by the legislature last session, provide the IDED Board with more flexibility on how it designates the dollars it receives from the legislature. The new law that went into effect July 1st also provides them with the authority to shift funding for disaster assistance if necessary.

For more information, contact the the Rebuild Iowa Office at 866.849.0323.

As the House adjourned for the 1st session of the 83rd General Assembly, the House Republican Research Staff put together an end of session wrap-up of notable bills in all committees.

2009 End of Session Wrap-up

A bill analysis was uploaded for Senate File 44 – Local Option Sales Tax After Disaster. You can view that file here.

For more information on Republican thoughts on SF44, take a look at this document.

The House will take up this bill for debate at noon today.

From this week’s House Republican Newsletter:

House Passes Disaster Relief Bill

On Tuesday evening the legislature passed HF 64 by a vote of 98-0. The bill appropriated $56 million to the flood relief victims and codified the establishment of the Rebuild Iowa Office. Some of the specifics of the bill are below.

Jumpstart Plus The legislature appropriated $24 million to the Jumpstart program while at the same time expanding the eligibillity of the program. The current program is designed to assist home owners making 100% of the area median average and landlords. The bill assists those individuals making up to 150% of the area median average however it then limits the grant size to $24,999.

The legislature also established a priority process for distribution of the funds.

Read more…

Iowa residents and business owners who suffered damages from the tornados and flooding in disaster-declared counties now have until October 31 to register for federal and state disaster assistance.

Disaster assistance can include: funding for temporary disaster housing assistance; U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest disaster loans for individuals and business owners to repair or replace real or personal property; replacement grants to help meet serious disaster-related needs and expenses not covered by insurance or other assistance programs; and, disaster unemployment assistance.

There are two easy ways to begin the registration process.

Continue reading to learn how to apply…

The Rebuild Iowa Office is now producing a newsletter called the Iowa Recovery Times. You can view the first issue, dated October 15, 2008, here.

Future issues should be available at the RIO website, http://www.rio.iowa.gov

Today House Republicans voiced their disappointment with Gov. Culver for not calling for a special legislative session to deal with the disasters that struck Iowa this summer. The governor, who has been contemplating a special session since June, hinted that he will not be calling a special session.

According to the Associated Press, “Culver has virtually ruled out the possibility of calling the Legislature into special session to craft a flood relief package.” (Article Here)

“People across the state are speaking out, begging for a special session to put their cities back together, their businesses back on track and their lives moving forward again,” said Minority Whip Kraig Paulsen (R-Hiawatha). “These people are not asking for a handout, merely a hand up.”

Full Press Release Here

Governor Culver held a press conference at noon today (Friday) to announce a new state flood-related program and why he feels he does not have to call a special session.

He said two important thresholds were met this week. First, the state reached the threshold for a 90/10 split with FEMA on most FEMA programs. While the Governor took credit for this (and gave some of the credit to Witt and Associates – his high-priced consultants), this was due to the dollar amount of damage and had nothing to do with any pressure exerted by Culver or his consultants. Second, the $85 million in Community Development Block Grant funding approved earlier this summer will be coming to the state “in short order”. (He had previously said if FEMA denied 90/10 – which under law they cannot do – or the $85 million was held up by red tape, he would call a special session.)

Culver then announced a new $40 million state program called Jumpstart. It will have two $20 million components – housing and small business.

Read more…