Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announces $5 million in child care grant funding

DES MOINES — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has made another $5 million in federal dollars available for child care grants as an incentive for businesses to offer child care as an employee benefit.

The funding is the third round of the Child Care Business Incentive Grant Program Reynolds announced last year. This round of funding will make up to $250,000 available for 20 businesses who have secured partnerships with local child care centers, according to the state’s request for proposals.

The grants will be paid for by child care block grant funding in the American Rescue Plan. The state has awarded around $27 million through the program so far.

“Incentivizing child care initiatives through collaboration with local businesses can help Iowans pursue opportunities that are best for their families,” Gov. Reynolds said. “Tackling this challenge requires everyone in our communities to be part of the solution and this third round of funding underscores our commitment to making child care more accessible throughout the state.”

Bidder proposals are due Nov. 4, Reynolds’ office said. Interested parties can attend a Zoom conference on Oct. 10 at noon by visiting www.zoomgov.com/j/1606104580.

Iowa Utilities Board cancels monthly public meetings

The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) has canceled the rest of its public meetings for the year because of a high volume of docket proceedings, the board announced Wednesday.

The board has held six weeks of highly contentious hearings on an application from Summit Carbon Solutions to build a carbon capture pipeline that would run across more than 680 miles of the state.

Canceling the meetings reduces the risk of ex parte communications on pending cases, the board said in a press release. Communication with board members about contested cases before the IUB is not allowed by law, according to the release.

The canceled meetings were scheduled for Oct. 9, Nov. 7 and Dec. 12.

The board also said it had canceled an October scheduling conference over a carbon capture pipeline from Navigator Heartland Greenway. Navigator requested last week that the IUB suspend its application, saying it would update the board with more information in March, 2024. South Dakota regulators denied Navigator's pipeline petition in that state last month.

Iowa AG names new chief of staff

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird has appointed Aaron McKay as her chief of staff, she announced Tuesday.

McKay has worked in Congress for more than 20 years, according to a release from Bird’s office, and he was previously the state of Iowa director for Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks.

“I am so excited to welcome Aaron to our team,” Bird said in a statement. “He is a dedicated public servant with deep Iowa roots and vast experience working for the people of Iowa. I can’t think of anyone better to help lead our team as we work to uphold the law, support our law enforcement partners, and serve victims across the state.”

McKay said in a statement he is honored to join Bird’s staff.

“Attorney General Bird is a strong advocate for the rule of law with a focus on keeping our communities safe,” he said. “I look forward to joining this talented team and working toward our shared mission of upholding the laws and Constitution and serving all Iowans.”

Iowa Workforce Development launches new website

Iowa Workforce Development, the state agency responsible for building the labor force, unveiled a new website on Wednesday it said will help simplify the access to agency information and make it easier for Iowans to connect with services.

The new site also changes the site’s URL to workforce.iowa.gov, from iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov. From the homepage, Iowans can find pages on filing for unemployment, finding a job, resources for employers and data on the labor market.

The redesign is part of a broader effort across the state to unify its online presence and make state agencies’ websites more accessible, Iowa Workforce Development said in a press release. The agency’s site’s design now matches that of the governor’s website, Iowa Utilities Board, Department of Corrections and some other state agencies. More agencies are set to transition to the new platform in the coming months.