Regents office: I-JOBS projects are committed

Construction work classified as I-JOBS projects at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University won't be affected if governor-elect Terry Branstad cuts uncommitted I-JOBS funds once he takes office, officials with the state Board of Regents office said Monday.

That's because the $148 million has already been committed for the projects that technically fall under the I-JOBS classification at the UI and ISU, regents officials said. The projects include an expansion of ISU's College of Vet Med, a portion of the new UI Pappajohn Biomedical Discovery Institute and $100 million committed for UI flood recovery.

Those regents projects are listed with other I-JOBS projects, but the Board of Regents has its own bonding authority, meaning it has its own funding mechanism in academic revenue bonds, and is not using I-JOBS bonds.

Branstad last week said he wants to evaluate I-JOBS projects that may not be under contract yet, to determine whether they should move forward.