Homers: What's going right

Gazette Editorial Board

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BIDS LOWER: Construction costs for Cedar Rapids' new public library came in $3.6 million below the city's estimate of $24.65 million. That's encouraging. Yet to come are bids for remaining work and contents, in a project originally estimated to cost a total of $49 million.

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UI RECRUITMENT SCORE: The international student numbers at the University of Iowa, responding to a modest UI investment - about $150,000 this year - in recruiting, have quadrupled in the last four years. That sharp increase is not only good for a diverse student environment and experience, it has brought in $33 million in tuition alone since 2007.

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PRIVATE COLLEGE NUMBERS: Three small private higher-education institutions in Linn County, Coe College, Mount Mercy University and Cornell College all reported enrollment increases and record student numbers for this fall semester. Coe's figure is up 15 percent over a decade ago. Enrollment increases also bring economic impact from these schools, which, combined, totals hundreds of millions of dollars.

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