"Old Man" by Brianna Paup to be displayed in U.S. Capitol

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack announced today that a pencil drawing by Brianna Paup, a junior at North Cedar High School in Stanwood, was selected to represent Iowa's Second Congressional District in the 2014 Congressional Art Contest. For the first time, the People's Choice Award winner was selected in an online competition in which nearly 2,500 votes were cast. Paup's winning drawing, "Old Man," was one of a record 167 entries from 13 different high schools in 10 counties. It will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year and Paup will receive a free trip to Washington, D.C. to attend the unveiling as well as a reception held to honor all of this year's winners.

"Each year I am more and more impressed by the creativity, ingenuity, and talent of our local high school students. I send my congratulations to all of the young artists whose record number of submissions made it a very close contest this year. I especially want to congratulate Brianna and look forward to welcoming her and her family to Washington and seeing her artwork hang in the U.S. Capitol," said Loebsack.

The artwork of the first and second runners-up will be displayed in Loebsack's district offices in Davenport and Iowa City. The first runner-up was a photograph by Pimpaporn Teerathammongkol, a senior at Davenport West High School, entitled "Sunset in Iowa." The second runner-up was a painting by Alli Herr, a freshman at Keokuk High School, entitled "Silhouette Tree."

Winner:  Brianna Paup, North Cedar High School

"Old Man"

First Runner-up:  Pimpaporn Teerathammongkol, Davenport West High School

"Sunset in Iowa"

Second Runner-up:  Alli Herr, Keokuk High School

"Silhouette Tree"

Main Street Iowa Recognizes Outstanding Achievements

Award Winning Projects and Volunteers Honored

Davenport's Hilltop Campus Village received the two awards, one for Volunteer of the Year and another for Outstanding Achievement in New Construction at the 27th annual Main Street Iowa Awards celebration that was held on Friday, May 2 at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines. HCV Board President Robert E. Lee, Sylvia Runkle, Ralph Kelly, Christopher Meyer, Ann Hutchinson and Jeff Cook represented the Hilltop Campus Village, along with their director Scott Tunnicliff. Also on hand to was Jackie Nickolaus, Vice-President of development for Sherman-Associates, the firm that developed Harrison Loft, this year's award-winning project. The event was attended by nearly 500 people representing communities across the state. Competitive nominations were submitted for 77 projects and activities within the five categories of design, economic restructuring, organization, promotion and overall program. Nineteen were recognized with awards and two received honorable mention.

The honors were presented by Governor Terry Branstad, Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds and Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA). Also attending was retiring Senator Tom Harkin, a long-time advocate of Main Street Iowa from his senate seat in Washington D.C.

"We knew from the very beginning that Main Street Iowa was not a quick-fix solution, but rather an incremental approach to fostering positive change." stated Governor Branstad. "In my travels across the state, I have seen the program at work in small towns, mid-size cities, urban centers and neighborhood commercial districts. It has had far greater impact than we ever could have imagined in 1985."

"We must all appreciate the fact that healthy historic commercial districts are a key deciding factor for industrial and business recruitment. In order for us to create 200,000 new jobs, we need healthy Main Streets," commented Lt. Governor Reynolds. "Taxpayers are certainly getting their money's worth. Since 1986, for every dollar the state of Iowa has invested in operating the state Main Street program, the private sector in those communities has invested $87.99 into building improvements and acquisitions."

"It was a memorable evening for all of us, and an inspirational one as well." added Hilltop Campus Village director Scott Tunnicliff. "The award we received, for the Harrison Loft and the parking lot serving it, was a great example of partners from the city, Sherman-Associates, the Iowa-American Water Company, the RDA and others. All of them saw clearly what this project could mean to our area, and stepped forward to make it happen. We had a sizable group here, and I wish we could have had more to see what is being done in communities of all sizes around the state to enhance the vitality of their communities."

As a highlight of the evening, a special award was presented to the community of West Union for their innovative thinking, persistence and partnerships to enable success in the implementation of the Green Pilot Streetscape Project as the "Signature Project of the Year." This award honors a project that rises above traditional award categories in impact and significance. West Union's project leveraged resources from many local, state and federal partners including the Community Development Block Grant program.

For more information about Main Street Iowa and how all Iowa communities can access commercial revitalization assistance through the Iowa Downtown Resource Center, visit http://www.iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/IDRC/MainStreetIowa, e-mail mainstreet@iowa.gov or call 515.725.3051.

A list of Main Street Iowa communities and award winners follows. Photographs will be posted at

http://iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/IDRC/MainStreetIowa after May 5.

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ATLANTA, Ga. - The Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund has endorsed Sam Clovis in Iowa's Republican Senate primary. "Sam Clovis is as authentic as it gets," said TPPCF Chairman Jenny Beth Martin. "His first political speech was in the back of a pickup truck at a Tax Day rally in 2009. When it comes to personal freedom, economic freedom and a debt-free future, Sam is the genuine article."

A graduate of the Air Force Academy and a retired Colonel, the former fighter pilot has an impressive and eclectic background. "Sam has succeeded in the business world, earned master's and doctorate degrees, and is a full professor," Martin said. "He's had multiple, successful careers, but there's one thing he's not: a career politician. He'll fight to repeal Obamacare and get the government off of Iowans' backs.

You can tell a lot about a man by who his friends and adversaries are. "It says a lot that our friend, Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) has endorsed Sam, at a rally where Louie was introduced by another good friend, Steve King," Martin said. "And just last week, the Iowa Democrat Party released a video, 'Sam Clovis: Too conservative for Iowa.' By my count, that's two badges of honor. We're proud to endorse him, and urge all Iowans to give him their vote and support."

Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund is committed to equipping grassroots activists at the state and local level with the tools and resources needed to hold elected officials and government accountable and elect new and qualified candidates.  For more information, visit www.teapartypatriotscitizensfund.com.

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Innovative Project Will Increase Support for At-Risk Youth Through Performance-Based Contracts Backed by Private Investment

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today announced the state's first Pay for Success (PFS) contract will increase support for at-risk youth who are involved in both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems in Illinois. Also known as Social Impact Bonds, the first contract awarded under this innovative initiative will go to One Hope United, in partnership with the Conscience Community Network (CCN). Today's announcement is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to ensure that all Illinois youth have the opportunity to follow their dreams and reach their full potential.

"The innovative Pay for Success model will generate major investments and improve outcomes for some of our most at-risk youth," Governor Quinn said. "One Hope United and CCN's evidence-based approach will help these youth successfully transition into adulthood."

Governor Quinn launched the PFS program one year ago, aiming to provide critical resources to address community needs while decreasing long-term negative outcomes that are costly for taxpayers. The innovative program invests private dollars into proven social programs, which are then paid back by the state when results are achieved and long-term savings are realized. The state will then see continued savings as benefits accrue after the investments are paid off.

For the state's first PFS project, the program will generate new private investment for support programs targeting at-risk youth, putting them on the right path by reducing their dependence on the state's welfare and criminal justice systems, which will lead to long-term savings for taxpayers. Today's announcement is expected to generate up to $30 million in direct investment into these critical programs. Because success payments by the state are based upon achievement of outcomes, the PFS program will always be cost-neutral to taxpayers.

In September of 2013, the Governor's Office launched a Request for Proposals (RFP) from organizations seeking to partner with the state to fund new opportunities for at-risk youth involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. One Hope United and the Conscience Community Network were selected from six applications submitted in response to the RFP. As part of Governor Quinn's commitment to transparency, Illinois was the first state in the nation to publish responses related to a Pay for Success Request for Information.

"Scars of trauma and pain can lead abused and neglected youth towards criminal behavior as well as a deeper involvement in the child welfare system," Mark McHugh, Executive Director of One Hope United said. "This Pay for Success project will catalyze a comprehensive solution that responds to the unique challenges of dually-involved youth throughout the state. Together with the partners of the Conscience Community Network, we are establishing the foundation for lasting cross-systems change that benefits Illinois' most disadvantaged children and families."

One Hope United will serve as lead provider of the Conscience Community Network. They have proposed a project based on the Crossover Youth Practice Model, a set of proven interventions developed by the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform at Georgetown University. Third Sector Capital Partners is providing financial advisory services to the network.

The Conscience Community Network is a collaboration of seven child welfare and juvenile providers with more than 741 years of collective service in Illinois: Lawrence Hall Youth Services, Maryville Academy, OMNI Youth Services, One Hope United, SGA Youth & Family Services, UCAN and Youth Outreach Services.

The Governor's Office of Management and Budget will be entering into negotiations with One Hope United on a project to improve placement outcomes and reduce re-arrests through evidence-based community alternatives to institutional care. The program will serve approximately 800 youth cared for by Illinois' Department of Children and Family Services with histories of justice-involvement, commonly referred to as dually-involved youth.

In his fiscal year 2015 budget, the Governor committed to growing the state's use of PFS contracts as part of his five-year fiscal stabilization plan.

The Harvard Kennedy School's Social Impact Bond Technical Assistance Lab (SIB Lab), in partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation, received a grant from the Aurora-based Dunham Fund to support the initiative in Illinois. The Rockefeller Foundation has been a leader in helping to bring the PFS model to U.S. and the Dunham Fund is expanding that investment to Illinois. The Harvard SIB Lab is providing technical assistance to 10 state and local governments around the country that are implementing PFS contracts. Innovation Fellow Scott Kleiman is leading the SIB Lab's work in Illinois.

In the PFS model, governments partner with service providers and private and philanthropic investors to scale and fund proven social programs. Investors are repaid by the state from accrued savings only when a rigorous third-party evaluation determines that programs reach specific outcome targets. Because effective programs can help avoid expensive negative outcomes, PFS contracts help avert long-term taxpayer costs.  They represent a smarter way for government to do business, furthering transparency and accountability to ensure that taxpayer funds are not spent on ineffective programs.

Illinois is on the leading edge of PFS among states in the U.S., following New York and Massachusetts. The world's first PFS contract was introduced in the U.K. in 2010. Illinois becomes the third state in the country to announce a PFS project and the first to implement PFS towards improving child welfare outcomes, as well as the first to partner with a network of community providers for service delivery.

For more information on Pay for Success in Illinois, please visit www.payforsuccess.illinois.gov.