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 Governor Chet Culver and Rev. Keith A. Ratliff, Sr., President of the Iowa/Nebraska State NAACP

 Iowa Celebrates 100th Anniversary of the NAACP

Rev. Keith A. Ratliff, Sr., President of the Iowa/Nebraska NAACP State Conference of Branches led a group of NAACP members, politicians and well-wishers into the Governor Chet Culver’s office on March 11, 2009 to participate in a proclamation ceremony celebrating the centennial ceremony of the national NAACP.


**State NAACP Economic Empowerment Committee Posting**
October 1, 2008

RIO
(Rebuilding Iowa Office)

Iowa has a new state agency, RIO (Rebuilding Iowa Office) that was established as a result of the devastation visited upon Iowa by the serve storms of 2008. RIO’s mission is to “lead the State of Iowa’s efforts to rebuild safer, stronger and smarter…”

RIO has an advisory commission that will head task forces looking at housing, infrastructure and transportation, economic and workforce development, public health and health care, agriculture and environment, education, floodplain management and hazard mitigation, cultural heritage and records retention, and long-term recovery planning.

RIO is reaching out to Iowans through public meetings, the internet, and other contacts to gather your input.

For more information on RIO, go to www.rio.iowa.gov, or call their office at 515/242-5004.


**State NAACP Economic Empowerment Committee Posting**
October 1, 2008

“Jumpstart” Housing Assistance Program
(20 million dollars)

The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA), under the Housing Assistance Fund, will provide financial assistance for:

  1. Down Payment Assistance for individuals whose homes were destroyed or damaged beyond reasonable repair.

  2. Housing Repair/Rehabilitation Assistance for individuals whose homes are not slated for buyouts.

  3. Interim Mortgage Assistance for individuals in an area submitted to the State for possible buyout of their damaged homes.

  4. Click Here for more eligibility information regarding the above assistance.

  5. Go to www.jumpstart.iowa.gov for help.


***Weekly Update***
The Rebuild Iowa Office issues a weekly update every Friday.

REBUILD IOWA OFFICE DETAILS DISASTER ASSISTANCE

(DES MOINES) — Funds for residents and governments in Iowa impacted by this year’s storms, tornadoes and flooding continue to increase.  This week, Iowa received additional funding in the Public Assistance category.  Also, the state has so far received a total of $25 million from the Emergency Watershed Program and a total of $30 million from the Emergency Conservation Program, making the total U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Funds category $55 million (see below).

More than 39,800 Iowans have registered with FEMA for disaster assistance and more than 35,000 Iowans have visited FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers around the state.  Of the 85 Iowa counties eligible for federal assistance, 77 are eligible for both individual assistance and public assistance.

Below are the sources that make up the more than $1.3 billion in funding:

  • $251 Million              U.S Small Business Administration Loans

  • $134 Million              State/FEMA Housing Assistance and Other Needs Assistance

  • $85 Million                1st Round CDBG Disaster Funds

  • $72 Million                2nd Round CDBG Disaster Funds

  • $125 Million              3rd Round CDBG Disaster Funds

  • $40 Million                Start-up Funding for Jumpstart Iowa Housing and Business

  • $37 Million                Executive Council Action

  • $25 Million                Iowa Finance Authority tax credits

  • $23 Million                U.S. Department of Transportation Funds

  • $18 Million                Labor/Jobs Assistance

  • $55 Million                U.S. Department of Agriculture Funds

  • $4 Million                  Economic Development/Transportation funds

  • $4 Million                  RSP/ISP Crisis Counseling Grant

  • $6.2 Million               Disaster Unemployment Assistance

  • $500,000                   College Assistance to Families

JUMPSTART IOWA UPDATE
Of the more than $1.3 billion in funding, $85 million will be used for the Jumpstart Iowa Initiative.  Jumpstart Iowa is a state housing and small business recovery initiative, announced by Governor Culver on Sept. 12. The state’s housing and small business assistance plan brings assistance to Iowans still feeling the effects of this year’s natural disaster.  The initial allocations were released to the councils of government and entitlement cities on Sept. 26, with checks flowing to individual Iowans days later.  The Jumpstart Iowa Initiative is designed to allow homeowners and businesses to apply for forgivable loans to assist in business rebuilding, home repair and purchase, and interim-mortgage assistance.  Below are the latest available figures for the Jumpstart Housing and Small Business Assistance programs statewide:

Jumpstart Housing Update (as of Dec. 11, 2008):

  • Total number of applicants: 3,663

  • Total amount requested in those applications: $45.3 million

  • Total number of applicants approved to-date: 879

  • Total amount obligated: $16.7 million

  • Total amount disbursed: $8.7 million

  • Average award: $19,010

  • Applications ineligible for the program: 279 (8 percent of total applicants)

Jumpstart Small Business Update (as of Dec. 11, 2008):

  • Total number of applicants: 736*

  • Total amount requested in those applications: $96.4 million

  • Total number of applicants approved to-date: 481

  • Total amount obligated: $16.3 million

  • Total amount disbursed: $8.1 million

  • Average award: $33,958

  • Applications ineligible for the program: 109 (15 percent of total applicants)

*Decreased number from last week due to duplication of records being removed from the system

Iowans can learn more about the program and how to apply for financial assistance by visiting the Jumpstart Iowa Web site at www.jumpstart.iowa.gov or by calling the toll-free number 1-866-849-0323.
For more information about the state's recovery and rebuilding efforts, please visit the Rebuild Iowa Web site at www.rio.iowa.gov.
 

 


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