(DES MOINES) - Governor Terry E. Branstad today issued a third proclamation of disaster emergency in response to recent storms and flooding in south and southeast Iowa.

Fifteen counties are included in this proclamation:  Appanoose, Clinton, Davis, Decatur, Des Moines, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lucas, Marion, Monroe, Ringgold, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren and Wayne.

Governor Branstad had issued two proclamations in April covering eight other counties as a result of a storm system that came through the state on April 17: Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Lee, Mahaska, Muscatine, Scott and Washington. Those proclamations activated the Iowa Individual Assistance Program for those counties, which provides grants for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

This latest proclamation of disaster emergency also activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Program, and in addition authorizes the use and deployment of state resources to those 15 counties. This proclamation contains provisions to assist the Iowa Department of Transportation in requesting federal emergency relief funding for the repair or reconstruction of federal highways and bridges throughout the impacted counties.

In addition, FEMA will begin conducting damage assessments jointly with the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division and local officials in 19 counties impacted by April 17 storms and flooding. Results of these damage assessments could be used to determine if a request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration is warranted. Damage assessments will be conducted in the following counties: Appanoose, Cedar, Clinton, Davis, Decatur, Des Moines, Iowa, Johnson, Keokuk, Lee, Lucas, Marion, Monroe, Muscatine, Ringgold, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren and Wayne.

The Iowa Individual Assistance Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and for the expense of temporary housing. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery. The grant application and instructions are available at the "Disaster Assistance" link on the Iowa Department of Human Services website: www.dhs.iowa.gov<http://www.dhs.iowa.gov/>.

The proclamation can be viewed at www.homelandsecurity.iowa.gov<http://www.homelandsecurity.iowa.gov>.

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(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad today took action on 11 bills.

Branstad signed the following bills into law:

House File 351: an Act providing that children who are enrolled in the statewide preschool program are of compulsory attendance age.

House File 533: an act providing for entrepreneurial education funds for student organizations and clubs and including effective date and applicability provisions.

House File 538: an Act authorizing alternate members of the Board of Parole.

Senate File 146: an Act extending a provision relating to the use of certain increases in watercraft registration fees by the Natural Resource Commission.

Senate File 186: an Act relating to funds transfers under the uniform commercial code, and including effective date provisions.

Senate File 317:  an Act prohibiting the disbursement of a certain plant, including its seeds, commonly classified as garlic mustard, oriental bittersweet, Japanese knotweed, and Japanese hop within this state, and making penalties applicable.

Senate File 389: an Act relating to hunter safety and ethics education course requirements.

Senate File 419: an Act providing for vision screening for school children.

Senate File 427: an Act relating to the licensing of plumbing, mechanical, hvac-refrigeration, sheet metal, or hydronic professionals, include transition provisions, including effective date provisions, and making penalties applicable.

Branstad vetoed the following bills:

House File 569: an Act relating to licensure of professionals practicing substance and addictive disorder counseling or providing substance and addictive disorder prevention services, making penalties applicable, and including transition, implementation, and effective date provisions.

Note: View the transmittal letter here.

Senate File 204: an Act concerning persons voluntarily excluded from gambling facilities.

Note: View the transmittal letter here.

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Minimum $299.5 million investment coming to Altoona

 

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today joined Altoona's Mayor Skip Conkling in officially welcoming Facebook to Iowa.  The social networking company, which helps more than 1 billion people around the world connect and share with each other, announced that it will build a new, state-of-the-art data center in Altoona.

"Today's announcement further solidifies Iowa's position as a destination for tech companies - from major data center operations like Facebook's to the innovative start-ups we continue to see popping up around our state," said Gov. Branstad.  "Our productive workforce and our overall cost of doing business help us to win great projects like this."

Lt. Gov. Reynolds added, "We are so proud to add Facebook to our list of world-renowned tech companies located in Iowa. Facebook's investment continues sending the signal that Iowa is open for business and this administration is committed to attracting business and jobs here in all economic sectors."

Facebook will invest a minimum of $299.5 million in the project, which is expected to create hundreds of construction jobs and dozens of full-time operations jobs. The company evaluated several other sites before choosing the Iowa location.

The first phase of the project will result in a 476,000-square foot data center that will be among the most advanced and energy efficient of its kind. The data center will feature an innovative outdoor-air cooling system and the latest in Open Compute Project server designs, and it will be built to LEED Gold standards.

"I welcome Facebook to the Altoona community," said Altoona Mayor Skip Conkling. "Quality companies and development make our city and state an even greater place to do business and to live and play. I want to thank all parties for their endeavors in securing this project."

Earlier today the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) board approved $18 million in tax benefits through the High Quality Jobs program to Facebook to create at least 31 new jobs at a qualifying wage of $23.12 per hour. The project will have a minimum capital investment of $299.5 million. Local incentives from the city of Altoona were also approved today.

"We're thrilled to become a part of the Altoona community, and especially appreciative of all the partners who helped make this project happen," said Jay Parikh, vice president of infrastructure engineering for Facebook. "Facebook's mission is to connect the world. Thanks to Iowa, we're building the global infrastructure to bring the next billion people online."

The 194-acre site selected in Altoona could accommodate up to two additional data center buildings that may be constructed in future phases of the project.

Other elected officials weighed in on the announcement today.

"I regret that I cannot be there in person today to join with Mayor Conkling, City Council members, and officials from Facebook to welcome the news of Facebook's intention to expand into Iowa," said U.S. Senator Tom Harkin. "We have long known that Iowa is a great place to do business. Altoona in particular has been very focused on providing quality infrastructure at a fair cost to attract companies like Facebook, which add to our continued economic growth. So I welcome this announcement and I look forward to the improvements it will generate for our entire state."

"America knows that Iowa is one of the tech-friendliest states in the country with an outstanding workforce to match, and Facebook's announcement today firmly confirms that fact," said U.S. Congressman Tom Latham. "This new data center is unprecedented in scope and will bring jobs and economic development to Altoona, as well as further Iowa's reputation as a top-notch place to innovate and do business. I congratulate the good people of Altoona for being a part of this exciting project, commend Facebook for pursuing it, and look forward to seeing the immense benefits it brings."

 

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(DES MOINES)  - Gov. Terry E. Branstad denied the following application for commutation:

Darrell Bizzett, age 64, committed his crime on September 1, 1970, in Woodbury County.  He is currently serving a life sentence for Murder - 1^st degree.

Rodney Borushaski, age 40, committed his crimes on August 12, 1996, in Polk County.  He is currently serving two life sentences for Murder - 1^st degree.

Raymond T. Freie, Jr., age 71, committed his crime on August 28, 1981, in Hancock County.  He is currently serving a life sentence for Murder - 1^st degree.

Mark Greiman, age 51, committed his crime on July 27, 1998, in Cerro Gordo County.  He is currently serving a twenty-give year sentence for Robbery - 1^st degree (85%).

Kevin Johnson, age 58, committed his crime on June 29, 1980, in Pottawattamie County.  He is currently serving a life sentence for Murder - 1^st degree.

Ed Shaker Nassif, age 43, committed his crime on September 1, 1990, in Linn County.  He is currently serving a life sentence for Murder - 1^st degree.

Dee Jay Radeke, age 49, committed his crime on May 31, 1991, in Linn County.  He is currently serving a life sentence for Kidnapping - 1^st degree.

Robert C. Richey, age 68, committed his crime on May 8, 1996, in Bremer County.  He is currently serving a life sentence for Murder - 1^st degree.

Arthur Rogers, age 40, committed his crimes January 27, 2000, in Scott County.  He is currently serving two twenty year sentences for Robbery - 2^nd degree (85%).

Richard T. Steltzer, age 69, committed his crime on February 6, 1979, in Warren County.  He is currently serving a life sentence for Kidnapping - 1^st degree.

 

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