First-in-the-nation presidential summit on housing issues next month in Des Moines

CORALVILLE - State officials have announced plans to host a first-in-the-nation presidential summit on housing issues next month in Des Moines.

In Coralville Thursday, Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Iowa Finance Authority Director Dave Jamison unveiled the Oct. 14-15 summit titled 'Building America: A National Dialogue on Housing and Finance,” which will be hosted by the Iowa Finance Authority, the National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies and the Iowa Association of Realtors.

'Housing is one of the leading drivers of the American economy, but is often absent in the larger national debate over economic policies and long-term community stability and prosperity,” Reynolds said in a news release.

On top of national speakers planned for the event, 2016 presidential candidates also are invited to attend and share their views on housing policy in a series of moderated discussions.

'This event will provide an unprecedented opportunity for presidential candidates to speak simultaneously to a national audience about these critical community issues while also directly and personally engaging thousands of potential Iowa Caucus attendees,” Jamison said in the news release.