(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today announced that they will travel to Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Friday, March 6, 2015 to recognize five new Home Base Iowa Communities and three new Home Base Iowa Certified Higher Academic Military Partner (CHAMPs).

The following communities will be announced as Home Base Iowa Communities Friday: Webster County, Hancock County, Humboldt County, Carroll County and Clay County. The communities will join Union County, Mitchell County, Dubuque County, Greene County, Howard County, Clarke County, Floyd County and the City of Marion as current Home Base Iowa Communities.

The following academic institutions will become Home Base Iowa CHAMPs on Friday: Mercy College of Health Sciences, Iowa Central Community College and Eastern Iowa Community College. These institutions will join The University of Iowa, Iowa State University, University of Northern Iowa, Hawkeye Community College, University of Dubuque, Upper Iowa University, Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) and Mount Mercy University as Home Base Iowa CHAMPs.

"The Home Base Iowa initiative aims to ensure that members of the military leaving the service are met with an abundance of career and academic opportunities right here in Iowa," said Branstad. "Lieutenant Governor Reynolds and I continue to be impressed by the outpouring of support for the Home Base Iowa initiative through the Home Base Iowa Community and Home Base Iowa CHAMPs programs."

"With thirteen Home Base Iowa Communities and twelve Home Base Iowa CHAMPs institutions, it is clear that Iowans are ready to welcome veterans and their families to our great state," said Reynolds. "I encourage all Iowa communities and higher education institutions to consider joining our Home Base Iowa initiative."

The following event is open to credentialed members of the press:

Friday, March 6, 2015

11 a.m.         Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds announce additional Home Base Iowa Communities and Home Base Iowa CHAMPs

Heartland Communications - Fort Dodge

1003 Central Avenue

Fort Dodge, IA

 

Learn more about Home Base Iowa at www.HomeBaseIowa.org.

Background:

Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds launched the Home Base Iowa initiative in November of 2013 at the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum at Camp Dodge. Branstad and Reynolds named Congressman Leonard Boswell and Casey's CEO Bob Myers the co-chairs of the initiative.

The Home Base Iowa Act was signed into law on May 26, 2014. It passed the Iowa Senate 46-0 and the Iowa House 94-2. The Home Base Iowa initiative does the following:

• Fully exempts military pensions from state income tax.
• Gives veterans, their spouses and dependents in-state tuition at Iowa's colleges and universities.
• Allows Iowa's licensing boards to adopt rules allowing credit for military training and experience in the licensing process.
• Allows private-sector companies to follow the public sector's lead by allowing a preference in hiring and promoting veterans.
• Eliminates the special plate issuance fees charged for plates associated with military service.
• Expands eligibility for the Military Homeownership Assistance Program, which provides $5,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance.  Additional funding for the program is provided in a separate appropriations bill.

In addition to the Home Base Iowa Act, Branstad also signed Senate File 2352 in 2014.

Senate File 2352 an Act relating to the additional homestead credit for certain disabled veterans and including effective date and applicability provisions.

HOME BASE IOWA COMMUNITY criteria

1. Ten percent of the businesses with potential to hire in the designated area become Home Base Iowa Businesses.
2. The community develops its own welcome/incentive package for veterans.
3. The community prominently displays the Home Base Iowa Community designation.
4. The community obtains a resolution of support from the appropriate local governing body.

HOME BASE IOWA CHAMPs criteria

To become a Home Base Iowa CHAMP campus, education institutions must meet three of the four criteria in each of the three categories below:

1.       On-Campus Veteran Resources

a. Full Time Veterans Services Coordinator or Veterans' Representative and office.
b. Veterans Center/study space dedicated to veteran student population with possibility of computers to sign up for benefits or meeting area for Vet Club.
c. Veterans' Services Support Group (made up of Veterans' Representative, Advisors, Faculty, Staff) to address issues veterans face and encourage veterans clubs and meetings.
d. Career placement assistance

2. Mindfulness of Service Member Transitions

a. Consistent credit honored for all of the established military training and schools (Joint Services Transcript, Community College of the Air Force credit, ACE recommended credit, CLEP, DSST).
b. Advanced/Preferential registration dates for student veteran population.
c. Offer veterans sections for new student orientation.
d. College President Signature on Principles of Excellence laid out in Executive Order 13607

3. Financial Considerations

a. Automatic in-state tuition for former active-duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, spouses and children domiciled in Iowa, regardless of residency requirements.
b. Deferred billing options to ensure timing of VA benefit payments does not hinder academic success.
c. Deferred billing or options to assist student veterans in purchasing books, tools and supplies required for vocational programs.
d. Specific scholarship for transitioning service members and/or their dependents.

Those interested in becoming Home Base Iowa Communities or Home Base Iowa CHAMPS should contact Kathy Anderson, Home Base Iowa Program Manager at 515.725.3149 or kathy.anderson@iowa.gov.

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OSHKOSH, Wis. - (3/4/2015) University of Wisconsin Oshkosh officials have announced the names of students who qualified for the University's Dean's List and Honor Roll in the fall semester of the 2014-15 academic year. The list includes Rebecca Hull, Honor Roll recipient from Rock Island, Illinois.

To qualify for the Honor Roll, a student must take at least 12 credits and earn a grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.3 (out of a possible 4.0, or "all As"). Those with a GPA of 3.75 or higher qualify for the Dean's List.

The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, with an enrollment of more than 13,900 students from across the state and beyond, is the third-largest university in Wisconsin.

The University offers 75 baccalaureate and graduate degree programs in the colleges of Business, Education and Human Services, Letters and Science, and Nursing, which began offering the University's first doctoral degree (Doctorate of Nursing Practice) in fall 2010.

Serving as an educational and cultural anchor for the 1.2 million residents of northeastern Wisconsin, UW Oshkosh champions the economic well-being of the New North with an annual $501 million impact, directly and indirectly creating 9,000 jobs and collaborating with partners in an array of catalytic economic development initiatives. A pioneer in campus sustainability, UWO became the first Fair Trade University in the nation in 2008. UW Oshkosh is among 21 colleges and universities from around the United States to earn a spot on The Princeton Review's 2013 Green Honor Roll and was ranked as high as 14th in the nation in the Sierra Club and Sierra Magazine's annual "Coolest Schools" rankings, based on the "greenness" of participating universities. For more information about UW Oshkosh, visituwosh.edu.

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Rock Island, IL, March 4, 2015 - There are not many flavors more quintessential to the Quad Cities than Boetje's Mustard.  Now with the help of a local distillery, this classic is getting a new twist.  This Friday, Boetje's and Mississippi River Distilling Company will take the wraps off of their new collaboration.  "Boetje's Bourbon Barrel Aged Mustard" has soaked for over a month in used Cody Road Bourbon casks.

"We were looking for ways to put a new twist on an old favorite."  said Boetje's production manager Harrison Kropp.  "We saw some interesting barrel aged mustards at the World-Wide Mustard Competition in Wisconsin last year.  So we thought it would be great to give it a try with Boetje's."

Ryan Burchett, owner and distiller at Mississippi River Distilling Company, said he didn't have to think twice about the project.  "It was a total no-brainer for us.  We were humbled to have such an established brand like Boetje's reach out to us for something like this.  It's an honor to have our name on the same label as one of our all time favorites."

The distillery gave Kropp some oak whiskey casks that had been used to age Cody Road Bourbon Whiskey.  After soaking for more than 30 days in the barrel, the mustard is ground and prepared for sale.  "It brings a unique sweetness to our mustard along with the signature Boetje's punch." added Kropp.  "I think this one is going to be a big hit once the grills start firing up."

"Our brand is all about being local." said Burchett.  "Cody Road Bourbon is made from grain sourced directly from local farmers within 25 miles of our distillery.  So to find a new local partner to do something totally different like this is a ton of fun for us."

The mustard is being made in small batches.  Initially it will only be available at the gift shops at Boetje's and Mississippi River Distilling Company.  Boetje's representatives will be at the distillery Friday night from 5:30 to 8 PM for the monthly "First Friday" celebration in LeClaire.  They will have the mustard for sale along with free samples of the new spicy treat.

Mississippi River Distilling will also be introducing a new limited edition whiskey collaboration with Great River Brewing in Davenport that evening.  Farmer Brown Whiskey was made by distilling the alcohol out of over 3,000 gallons of Farmer Brown Ale from the local brewery.  This whiskey will be available for a short time at the distillery and through local retailers around Iowa and Illinois.

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NOTE:  Distillery representatives will be at Boetje's 2736 12th St. in Rock Island on Thursday, March 5 at 10:30 AM to help bottle the mustard.  Please contact Boetje's if you would like to attend.

Bettendorf, IA -National dental IT company Medix Dental (headquartered in Bettendorf) unveiled a new video this week shot in Davenport's famed and historic Figge Art Musem. The creative video short features Quad City residents Chris Jess (age 35) and Brody Ford (age 11).  The video was recorded in the museum's Nobis Boardroom.

"The Figge Art Museum is a Midwest gem, so the decision to record at such a beautiful location was a no-brainer," says Medix Dental's Communication Director Laura Simmons. "I expect more and more businesses will take advantage of the state-of-the-art facility here in our own backyard, especially as video marketing continues to become a necessary marketing standard."

Highly acclaimed Josh Ford of Ford Photography (Davenport) shot and edited the playful video. "When thinking of locations for Medix Dental's video, it was difficult to envision it happening anywhere else," says Ford. "The architecture of the Figge Museum is so beautiful. My wife and I were married there, and we continue to appreciate the Figge's employee efforts and programs they continue to provide our hometown."

The video can be seen at www.medixdental.com, Medix Dental's Facebook page, or on Medix Dental's YouTube channel at youtube.com/medixtech.  See more of Josh Ford's work at www.ford-photo.com.

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