Culver signs $273.7 million in infrastructure upgrades

DES MOINES – Gov. Chet Culver today signed legislation that will invest another $273.7 million in infrastructure upgrades statewide.

Senate File 2389, which Culver signed during a ceremony in Cedar Rapids, includes a $150 million expansion of the I-JOBS bonding program to help fund building projects and employ Iowans. The measure also included another $123.7 million in spending from the state's Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund (RIIF) account.

“Even with the effects of a national recession and unprecedented natural disasters, we are moving Iowa forward in community after community,” Culver said. “This bill completes the promise we made to Iowans with the second part of the successful I-JOBS initiative, which is helping our state not only recover from the disasters of 2008, but is putting people to work, and will help modernize our state's infrastructure in all 99 counties.”

Last year, Culver signed legislation that created the I-JOBS initiative using state gambling profits to finance a bonding program that now totals $875 million in proceeds. Overall, the governor said the I-JOBS program will modernize Iowa's public infrastructure, improve bridges and roads, and help the state recover from the worst natural disasters in our history without raising taxes.

Here is a breakdown of the I-JOBS investment:

• Establishes the Revenue Bonds Capitals II Fund that will receive $150 million in bond proceeds from the issuance of new bonds.
• $6.0 million to the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship for the Soil Conservation Cost Share Program.
• $2.5 million to the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).
• $12.0 million to the Department of Economic Development for grants from the Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) Program
• $4.0 million to the Department of Economic Development for grants from the River Enhancement Community Attraction and Tourism (RECAT) Program
• $5.5 million to the DED for Accelerated Career Education (ACE) Program vertical infrastructure projects at community colleges
• $8.5 million to DED for projects through the existing Main Street Program
• $1.5 million to DED to North Iowa Area Community College (merged area II) for the construction of a small business center in Mason City
• $1.2 million to DED to Kirkwood Community College (merged area X) for the construction of a small business center in Cedar Rapids
• $2.0 million to the Department of Education for infrastructure improvements at community colleges
• Appropriates $30.9 million to the Iowa Finance Authority for targeted disaster relief and rebuilding, flood mitigation, and construction projects.  This funding is allocated as follows:
  • $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 Rapids
  • $2.0 million for flood mitigation and renovation in and around a former federal courthouse in Cedar Rapids
  • $3.0 million for construction of fire department training and logistics facility in Des Moines
  • $1.3 million for construction of sewers, structures, and pumping facilities to separate or convey sewer flow within the Riverpoint Service Area in Des Moines.
  • $3.1 million for construction of sewers, structures, and pumping facilities to separate or convey sewer flow within the Court Avenue Service Area in Des Moines
  • $700,000 for bank stabilization, stream bed stabilization, and erosion control at the Tonawanda Ravine in Des Moines
  • $500,000 to improve utilization of two of the Wastewater Reclamation Authority's existing equalization basins for control of peak flows in Des Moines
  • $1.0 million for construction and renovation of patient access and care facilities, equipment replacements and upgrades, and other infrastructure improvements to the Broadlawns Medical Center in Polk County
  • $1.1 million for improvements to prevent flood damage at Modern Woodmen Park Baseball Stadium in Davenport
  • $5.0 million for a public works building in Waterloo
  • $2.0 million for a wastewater treatment plant in Iowa City
  • $1.2 million for reconstruction of existing horizontal infrastructure in downtown West Union for purposes of incorporating sustainable development practices such as permeable pavers and rain gardens to prevent future flooding and reduce stormwater runoff
  • $475,000 for a city hall in Jesup
  • $600,000 for stormwater protection in Belmond by improving stormwater systems to have backflow prevention devices
  • $300,000 for drainage channel erosion control, grade control structures, and associated grading in Norwalk

• $30.0 million to the I-JOBS Board for a new Disaster Prevention Smart Planning Local Grant Program that will be administered by the Board, under the I-JOBS II Program
• $5.0 million to the Department of Natural Resources for State parks infrastructure improvements
• $3.0 million to DNR for lake restoration, dredging, and water quality projects
• $10.0 million for the University of Iowa's Institute for Biomedical Discovery for FY 2011
• $5.0 million to the Iowa Energy Center for deposit in the existing Alternate Energy Revolving Loan Fund for the public purpose of encouraging projects that develop alternative energy production facilities and small hydro facilities throughout the State
• $7.5 million to the Department of Transportation for Rail Improvements and Rail Ports with grants to local entities to develop freight rail and industrial park facilities to encourage economic development and encourage manufactures to locate into Iowa
• $2.0 million to DOT for Public Transit Infrastructure Grants
• $1.5 million to DOT for vertical infrastructure improvements at the State's commercial service airports
• $10.0 million to DOT for Bridge Safety to be used for infrastructure projects relating to functionally obsolete and structurally deficient bridges
• $2.0 million to the Treasurer of State for the Watershed Improvement Review Board for grants for watershed improvements