Branstad, Reynolds have held a combined 2,454 public events since taking office

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds announced they will complete their visit to all of Iowa's 99 counties for the fourth consecutive year today following a stop in Louisa County. Branstad and Reynolds committed to visiting every county, every year. Since taking office in 2011, the pair has held a combined 2,454 public events.

"Lieutenant Governor Reynolds and I take great pride in visiting every county in Iowa each and every year," said Branstad. "We thoroughly enjoy meeting with Iowans, hearing their ideas and sharing our vision in cafes, diners, coffee shops and community centers. I believe being accessible to all Iowans, not just those at the Capitol, is a critically important."

Branstad's and Reynolds' final county to hit in 2014 is Louisa County. They'll visit a family-owned business, Simply Soothing, which makes natural bug repellant, today at 3:45 p.m.

"Though we've visited every county in 2014, Governor Branstad and I will continue traveling the state this year to listen and share our ideas to continue moving Iowa forward," said Reynolds. "We remain committed to visiting every Iowa county, every year. Iowans shouldn't have to travel to Des Moines to talk with their elected officials. Visiting every county, every year, provides citizens the opportunity to engage in the process and share their views."

Through the first three years in office, Branstad and Reynolds have averaged a combined 669 public events per year. Through today, Aug. 28, 2014, they have held a combined 447 events in 2014.

Lt. Governor Reynolds Announces Clarke County as the Third Home Base Iowa Community

(Osceola, Iowa) - Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today congratulated Clarke County on achieving its Home Base Iowa Community designation.  Clarke County is one of only three counties statewide to secure this title, the others being Greene and Howard counties.

Home Base Iowa designated communities serve as centers of opportunity for military veterans. All Home Base Iowa Communities must have 10 percent of businesses in the area achieve Home Base Iowa Business status, develop its own incentive package for veterans and obtain a resolution of support from the appropriate governing body.

"Communities like Clarke County prove just how much Iowans respect the sacrifice our veterans and their families have made for this country," Governor Terry E. Branstad said. "As a veteran myself, I am proud of the commitment Clarke County is making and look forward to seeing our nation's heroes prosper in Clarke County and across the state."

Clarke County will take great pride in prominently displaying and marketing the Home Base Iowa designation within numerous websites and community signage. They also identified several items to be included for the Veterans in a welcome package including but not limited to:

o   Military Home Assistance Program, providing eligible service members and veterans with a $1,000 - $2,000 grant for closing costs to purchase a home in Clarke County.

o   Complimentary rooms at Lakeside Hotel and Casino while finding housing in Clarke County.

Lt. Gov. Reynolds added, "I'm so proud of my home town. Clarke County demonstrates its commitment to our service men and woman who have sacrificed their lives for our freedoms. The Home Base Iowa initiative works to ensure every service member leaving the military can find a career right here in Iowa."

The Home Base Iowa is a unique non-profit private-public partnership that focuses on recruiting veterans and active duty service members for quality, well-paying private-sector jobs in Iowa.

• In March, Iowa was named one of only a handful of states to be designated an All-Vet State by "Hiring Our Heroes," a program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
• In June, Iowa was named as the first state to offer "Hilton Honors Military Initiative." This is a program set up by Hilton Worldwide, and connects military members and their families across the nation with free lodging at Hilton hotels as they pursue their job hunt, or need somewhere to stay as they move for their careers.
• In July, Iowa was named the third "Get Skills to Work State" by the Manufacturing Institute and National Association of Manufacturers.

The initiative is currently co-chaired by Congressman Leonard Boswell and Casey's CEO Bob Meyers, both of whom are veterans themselves. For more information on Home Base Iowa, please visit www.HomeBaseIowa.org.

Statue returns to Iowa after 104 years at U.S. Capitol's Hall of Columns

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today announced a statue of former U.S. Senator James Harlan has returned to Iowa from Washington, D.C., and will be unveiled next week at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant.

The Harlan statue represented Iowa at the U.S. Capitol from 1910 until this year when it was replaced with one of the late Dr. Norman Borlaug of Cresco. The Iowa Legislature voted to put the Harlan statue on permanent loan from the state of Iowa to Iowa Wesleyan where it will be unveiled at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014. More information is available at www.iwc.edu/Harlan.

"Senator Harlan has a strong historical connection to Iowa Wesleyan, so we are very pleased his statue will have a permanent home there," Branstad said Monday during his regular weekly press conference. "The unveiling will also be a historic event because it is the first time we've had a statue of this significance come back from the U.S. Capitol. I'm looking forward to being at the unveiling and invite all Iowans to learn more about Senator Harlan."

"The unveiling of the Harlan statue will be a proud moment for our state," Reynolds said. "Senator Harlan's commitment to public service and education is inspiring. I am very pleased his statue will be at Iowa Wesleyan where students, faculty and staff and visitors can be reminded of the legacy he has in Iowa and the United States."

Harlan became president of Iowa Wesleyan in 1853 before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 1855. He also served as Secretary of the Interior and was considered a close friend and advisor to President Abraham Lincoln. Harlan's daughter, Mary, married Robert Todd Lincoln, the 16th president's son, and the couple's Mount Pleasant home sits on the north end of the Iowa Wesleyan campus and is known as the Harlan-Lincoln House. Harlan died in Mount Pleasant in 1899 and is buried in Forest Home Cemetery.

"The installation of Senator James Harlan's statue will be an historic event and a proud moment for us," Iowa Wesleyan College President Steven Titus said during the press conference. "We are very pleased to have the statue in Mount Pleasant. It represents Harlan's achievements as a two-time president of Iowa Wesleyan and as a public servant. Harlan was determined to advance the mission of the college and the impact he had on Iowa Wesleyan is remarkable."

The creation of the Borlaug statue and relocation of the Harlan statue was led by the Dr. Norman E. Borlaug Statue Committee appointed by Gov. Branstad and chaired by Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn. The Department of Cultural Affairs provided administrative support to the Borlaug Committee.

The Harlan statue had been on display in the U.S. Capitol as part of the National Statuary Hall Collection, which holds and displays two statues of notable citizens from every state in the nation. The other statue representing Iowa is of former Iowa Governor Samuel Kirkwood.

"When we're discussing the Harlan statue, it is important to note that it is one of just three statues to represent Iowa in the National Statuary Hall Collection, which is considered one the most prominent collections of sculpted works in the world," DCA Director Cownie said. "To have this statue coming back to Iowa, to be on display in a public setting at Iowa Wesleyan, combines the highest levels of artistic and historical significance in one piece for all to see and enjoy."

In 2011, the Iowa Legislature approved a resolution to replace the statue of Sen. Harlan with one of Borlaug, who received the Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Congressional Gold Medal for his work in developing new varieties of wheat. Borlaug is credited with saving a billion people around the world from hunger and starvation.

The unveiling of the Harlan statue coincides with a number of other events being held Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, throughout Mount Pleasant and include Opening Ceremonies at the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion at 11:30 a.m. at 405 East Threshers Road and the 1:15 p.m. Ribbon Cutting Celebration of the 1861 Union Block Building located at 111 West Monroe Street. The Harlan-Lincoln House on the Iowa Wesleyan College campus will also be open for tours from 3-5 p.m.

Sold-out event to continue conversation about providing Iowa's children with a world-class education

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today are hosting the second Iowa Teacher and Principal Leadership Symposium at the FFA Enrichment Center at Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny. The purpose of the event, which is sold out, is continuing the conversation about how to give Iowa children a world-class education.  More than 450 educators, parents, legislators, school board members and others are expected to attend.

WATCH THE SYMPOSIUM LIVE: http://bit.ly/IAEDLeaders

"Iowa's education system must keep pace with the demands of a knowledge-based, global workforce," said Branstad. "Iowa's new Teacher Leadership and Compensation System will create the capacity to do that by better utilizing the expertise of top teachers to fine tune instruction for individual students. We'll learn more from symposium speakers about how to make the most of this new approach to instructional leadership. "

Iowa is the first state to launch a teacher leadership system of this magnitude, with every school district having the option of participating over the next three years. The goal is for 25 percent of highly qualified teachers to take on new leadership roles, such as instructional coaches and mentors, to improve instruction and raise student achievement. When fully phased in during the 2016-17 school year, the Iowa Teacher Leadership and Compensation System is estimated to cost $150 million annually.

"Nothing inside schools has a bigger impact on learning than highly effective teaching," said Reynolds. "Iowa has many first-rate teachers, and we are looking forward during the symposium to learning more about exciting developments in teacher leadership in Iowa and beyond."

Featured symposium speakers include Vivien Stewart from the Asia Society, Ee-Ling Low from the National Institute of Education in Singapore, Barnett Berry from the Center for Teaching Quality, Iowa 2014 Teacher of the Year Jane Schmidt and Iowa Secondary Principal of the Year Aiddy Phomvisay. Also featured are Iowa's first 39 school districts to launch the state's new Teacher Leadership and Compensation System; two Iowa school districts that started teacher leadership systems with a federal grant; and a student panel on the difference great teaching makes.

Participants, attendees and those wishing to follow the symposium are encouraged to use the #IAEdLeaders hashtag on social media. For more information about the symposium: https://educationleadership.iowa.gov/