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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Davenport, Iowa (April 23, 2013) - The Figge Art Museum will hold its third PechaKucha Night on Thursday, April 25th at 6:30pm in the museum lobby.

At PechaKucha Night, guests will hear a variety of entertaining talks, from RAGBRAI to wood carving, Junior Theatre to photography! This week's lineup includes: Dawn Wohlford-Metallo, Peter Small, Anna Pagnucci, Raelene Pullen, Ryan Collins, Megan Schoff, Patrick Reed, Martha Bonte, Bill Wohlford and Dan Sheridan.

Devised by Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham of Klein Dytham architecture, the first PechaKucha Night was held in Tokyo in February 2003 as an event for young designers to meet, network and show their work in public. Now, they are held in over 600 cities around the world by a city organizer. PechaKucha Nights are FREE, informal, and fun gatherings where creative people get together and share their ideas, works, thoughts, or hobbies in the PechaKucha 20x20 format. This format allows presenters to show 20 slides for 20 seconds each (six minutes and 40 seconds in total) to keep presentations concise and fast-paced. The images advance automatically and the presenter talks along to the images.

Museum admission is free on Thursday evenings and this event will include free light appetizers beginning at 5:30 p.m. along with a cash bar. For more information on future dates, visit www.figgeartmuseum.org. If you are interested in becoming a presenter please contact Melissa Hueting at mhueting@figgeartmuseum.org.

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CARBONDALE - April 23, 2013. As chair of an Illinois River conservation council, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon encouraged residents along the Illinois River to remain vigilant and take precautions as flood waters continue to rise over the coming days.

"While the northern portion of the Illinois River starts to recede, areas downstream of La Salle-Peru have not yet crested and could see the river raise another four to seven feet in the coming days," said Simon, who chairs the Illinois River Coordinating Council. "I will continue to work with state, local and disaster relief officials to provide aid to these vulnerable communities."

At present, the Illinois River is projected to crest at 29.4 feet early Wednesday morning in Peoria, about a half-inch higher than the previous record. Flood stage for the Illinois River in Peoria is 18 feet. Farther downstream, the river is projected to crest at 29.5 feet in Beardstown on Thursday morning, where the flood stage is at 14 feet.

As flood waters continue to rise, Simon reminded families to exercise caution and avoid driving through flood waters. Residents can monitor flood levels, find updates on road conditions and search for nearby shelters at www.ready.illinois.gov. To donate to the recovery effort or learn about volunteer opportunities, visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

"With more rain coming down last night and today, flooding throughout central and southern Illinois will get worse before it gets better," Simon said.

Governor Quinn has declared 44 counties as state disaster areas. Counties included in the state disaster declaration are Adams, Brown, Bureau, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Champaign, Cook, DeKalb, Douglas, DuPage, Fulton, Greene, Grundy, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Jersey, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kendall, Knox, Lake, LaSalle, Livingston, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, McHenry, Mercer, Morgan, Ogle, Peoria, Pike, Putnam, Rock Island, Schuyler, Scott, Stark, Tazewell, Whiteside, Will, Winnebago and Woodford.

Lt. Governor Simon and the Illinois River Coordinating Council work with state and federal agencies and local communities to raise awareness of and address watershed issues along the Illinois River. The Council assisted volunteer efforts and agency responses to the 2011 Mississippi River flood in Southern Illinois.

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New Law Increases Senior Homestead Exemption, General Homestead Exemption

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation that will reduce property tax bills for seniors across Illinois. Senate Bill 1894 raises the senior homestead exemption from $4,000 to $5,000 - potentially saving seniors up to more than $200 annually. This new exemption for seniors takes effect for Cook County this year.

"The new law will reduce property tax bills for seniors across Illinois," Governor Quinn said. "This boost in savings will relieve some of the financial burden faced by seniors and working families, and help ensure no one struggles to stay in their home."

Sponsored by Senator Toi Hutchinson (D-Olympia Fields) and Representative John Bradley (D-Marion), SB 1894 increases the Senior Homestead Exemption - property tax breaks for Illinois residents age 65 and older - from $4,000 to $5,000. Seniors in the city of Chicago will have the increase applied to their taxable year 2012 taxes, due in 2013. All other counties will benefit from the increase beginning next year.

In addition, this bill raises the general homestead exemption for Cook County starting next year. Originally phased-in over three years, Cook County's Alternative General Homestead Exemption was designed to limit yearly increases and assessments on residential property. Cook County currently has a seven percent exemption cap, while the rest of the state maintains a flat exemption rate of $6,000. The new law moves Cook County to a flat exemption rate of $7,000 beginning taxable year 2012.

City of Chicago homeowners will be the first to benefit from the increased exemption as the seven percent cap expires in the city this year. Chicago's maximum reduction under the cap would have decreased from $8,000 to $6,000, but SB 1894 bumps up the maximum to $7,000. Northern Cook County will begin benefitting from the increase in 2014 when the cap expires in that region, and Southern Cook County will begin benefitting in 2015.

"Property owners throughout Cook County have seen their taxes increase year after year," Sen. Hutchinson said. "This will go a long way for many families who continue to struggle to make ends meet."

"This is good public policy that will help take some of the sting away as the 7 percent provision expires," Assessor Berrios said. "Due to the quick action of the state legislature and the governor, the additional exemption savings will be seen on second-installment bills Cook County homeowners will receive this summer."

The law is effective immediately.

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Rock Island, IL/April 23, 2013 - Augustana College closes its 2012-2013 River Readings series this Thursday, April 25 with fiction writer Donald Ray Pollock. The event will be held at7 p.m. in Wallenberg Hall inside Denkmann Hall (3520 7th Ave). Every reading is open to the public and the campus community alike.

Donald Ray Pollock found fiction writing late in life, spending thirty-two years employed in a paper mill before enrolling in Ohio State University's MFA program at age 50.  After graduating in 2009, Anchor Books published Pollock's first book, Knockemstiff, which won the 2009 PEN/Robert Bingham Fellowship.  His work has appeared in The New York TimesThird CoastChiron ReviewBoulevardWashington Square, and the Berkeley Fiction Review, to name a few.  Pollock's second book, The Devil All the Time (Doubleday, 2011) has been listed by Publisher's Weekly as one of the top ten books of the year and was released last summer to rave reviews.

The River Readings at Augustana is an annual literary reading series featuring authors from around the country and beyond, working in a variety of genres.

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Total of 8 counties affected by strong storms and flooding now available for state assistance

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after Governor Branstad issued a disaster declaration for three additional counties in Eastern Iowa.  People who qualify in Iowa, Lee and Muscatine Counties are now able to apply for state grants to help with home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and for the expense of temporary housing.  Last week, disaster declarations were made for Cedar, Johnson, Mahaska, Scott and Washington Counties.

"I am pleased with the Governor's actions to make assistance available to folks in Eastern Iowa who have seen the brunt of the damage from the recent storms and flooding," said Loebsack.  "Over the weekend, I toured some of the affected areas and saw firsthand the damage that occurred.  I will continue to fight to ensure those with significant property damage get the help they need."

For more information, Iowans should visit www.dhs.iowa.gov and click on the Disaster Assistance link.

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Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today released details of a timeline on a key Medicare policy decision earlier this month that reportedly moved stock prices when correctly described  by an outside firm prior to public release.  Grassley received information about the timeline from Marilyn Tavenner, acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, in response to his inquiry.  Grassley's office has calculated that the Medicare Advantage policy decision was worth about $8 billion to the health care companies participating in Medicare Advantage.  He made the following comment on the new timeline details and the nomination of Tavenner to serve as permanent administrator.

"This timeline suggests CMS knew it was going to assume a sustainable growth rate fix in the Medicare Advantage rates on March 15.  I don't think anyone who understands the background believes CMS made the decision on its own or that the first time it was known outside of CMS was May 22.  This was a decision not only with a high price tag, but also with political implications for the White House.  A policy decision benefiting the big insurance companies by $8 billion is not a routine undertaking for this Administration.  Given the high probability that the White House, National Economic Council, and Domestic Policy Council were involved in the $8 billion decision before March 15, a significant number of people likely knew what the outcome would be long before the decision was announced.  It seems unlikely that none of them hinted at it to anyone else for more than two weeks.  That's especially true with the efforts from lobbyists and at least one political intelligence firm to get early insight into the decision.  Acting Administrator Tavenner has been responsive to my inquiries on this issue, in a letter last Friday and on a phone call this morning.  I intend to support her nomination and continue to work with her to get to the bottom of what led to the early release of information about the Medicare Advantage decision."

Grassley's April 4 letter to Tavenner is available here.  Tavenner's April 19 response to Grassley is available here.

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Historical LeClaire, Iowa has a penchant for fun times and is always coming up with new events to attract people to town. Many people who are aware of the fun to be had in LeClaire return year after year; while others are looking forward to attending LeClaire's events for their first time.

"We often hear how much people love LeClaire or that they need to come visit LeClaire, because they have heard so many great things," stated Cindy Bruhn, LeClaire Tourism Manager. "We think the events sometimes are what first attracts a person to our town, and we like to keep fresh, new things happening to bring people back who have visited before."

A new event that is a spin-off from an event LeClaire has traditionally had is "French Market Days". In years past, LeClaire hosted "May Market Days" that included sidewalk sales, artists and musicians. "French Market Days" will be an extension of that event with a French twist. It will include a parasol decorating contest for the businesses, "Tour de LeClaire" Big Wheel races for the kids, Rue du Marche - vendors in the alley just off Cody Road, plant sales, an afternoon tea, art and craft classes, and much more. Organizer, Terri Applegate says, "French Market Days includes something for everyone - all ages and interests. We are having a plant sale put on by our Rec Board. The plants are extras from our parks and the proceeds will go back into improving our parks, so it is a win-win." French Market Days take place on May 17 and 18. Details and pre-registration for the afternoon tea and craft classes can be found at www.visitleclaire.com

Another fun event that it is scheduled in June is the 3rd Annual "Girls' Getaway Weekend" on June 21 and 22. This event has attracted local women and visitors from out-of-town who stay overnight to enjoy the many exciting Friday and Saturday activities. This year's event is bigger and better than ever. Saturday evening, special guest Anthony Ryan Auld, winner of the 2013 Project Runway All Stars, will speak about becoming a Top Fashion Designer and what it's like being on a reality TV show. Complete details and registration can be found at www.leclairegirlsgetaway.com.

A popular event with many local residents and visitors is "LeClaire Garage Sale Days" on June 7 and 8. If you enjoy "picking" in your own back yard, LeClaire is a great place to find elusive treasures. You can always stop by Antique Archaeology - home of the American Pickers - and see what fresh picks they have, too.

On the "First Friday" of each month, LeClaire has a mini-festival of sorts from 5:30 - 8:00 pm with stores staying open late, restaurants offering specials, and Mississippi River Distilling Co. and Wide Rivery Winery offering food and drink sampling. Details can be found at www.visitleclaire.com

Monthly "Trivia Nights" are scheduled through July and a car show or two is also in the works for this summer. On August 3rd, the Heartland British Auto Fest will be taking place on the LeClaire riverfront. Also coming up in August is the world famous "Tug Fest" and in October LeClaire will have the annual "Apple Fest", "Dogtober Fest", "Hallowine" and "Witches' Walk". "Christmas in LeClaire" in December is always a popular tradition among visitors and LeClaire residents.

A complete list of LeClaire events can be found at http://www.visitleclaire.com/events.html

LeClaire, Iowa is located at a point where the Mississippi River makes a sharp bend to the southwest. LeClaire's historic bond with the river and the bold men who tamed the Upper Rapids is still visible in the homes and buildings they left behind. On May 7, 1979, their homes were recognized as part of the nine-block Cody Road Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places. LeClaire's other attractions include the Buffalo Bill Museum/Lone Star Stern Wheeler, Mississippi River Distilling Co., and Antique Archaeology, home of the American Pickers.

For more information on LeClaire visit www.visitleclaire.com.

If you're using social media for marketing, what should you say following a tragedy like the deadly blasts at the Boston Marathon on April 15?

The horrific elementary school shootings in Newtown, Conn.?

The October storm that took lives and devastated communities across the Northeast?

Sometimes, nothing at all.

The age of digital marketing brings with it new challenges, including how to respond during a national tragedy. Remember, as recently as Sept. 11, 2001, we had no MySpace, much less Facebook, Twitter or YouTube. Except for email, no vehicle for delivering instantaneous marketing messages existed. After 9/11, one of the most painful days in American memory, most of us had time to pause, reflect and put on hold print, radio and TV marketing campaigns that might be viewed as inappropriate or offensive.

In recent months, there has been lively debate on this topic in the marketing community, including how and when to tie - or not to tie -- a marketing message into the news of the day, a  widely used strategy.

Gaffes can occur with the most innocent of intentions in any media content, marketing or not. Earlier in April, a new episode of the musical comedy "Glee" upset and angered parents in Newtown, Conn., because the plot featured a student bringing a gun to school, where it accidentally discharges.

"A lot of people were upset about it and that I feel horrible about," Jane Lynch, one of the stars, told Access Hollywood Live days later. "If we added to anybody's pain, that's just certainly not what any of us wanted. ... We're always rather topical and rather current."

Usually, however, simply applying your own sense of decency and good taste can help you avoid a blunder. Consider American Apparel's notorious "Hurricane Sandy Sale - in case you're bored during the storm," advertised as tens of thousands of people endured freezing temperatures without power. Most of us wouldn't have even considered such a ploy!

Here are a couple more suggestions for do's and don'ts:

• If you use automated posts scheduled through a site such as HootSuite, turn them off immediately. If people don't find them insensitive and uncaring or silly, they'll likely conclude your messages come from a robot - not a real person - which is just as bad.

• Can you be helpful? Hours after the blasts in Boston, with cell phone service out in the city and family and friends desperately trying to connect with loved ones, Google.org launched "Person Finder: Boston Marathon Explosions." There, individuals and organizations could share information about the status of marathon participants and spectators for those trying to find them.

If your community has suffered a tragic event, perhaps you have helpful information to share. Here in Florida, which is affected by hurricanes, people use social media to help evacuees and their pets find shelter, and to alert others to danger, such as downed power lines. Depending on your area of expertise, you may be able to provide more general information or commentary. For instance, an educator can share tips for answering children's questions about the event. Philanthropists might comment on those selflessly step up to help.

• Of course, social media is also about reactions and, for many, that's a sincere expression of sympathy for and unity with those affected.

If you want to post something and you're unsure about what to say, take a look at what businesses and other brands are sharing, and how online users are reacting. You may decide to just say nothing for a day or two, or whatever time seems reasonable given the nature of the event.

Sometimes, saying nothing at all speaks volumes.

About Marsha Friedman

every Thursday at 3:00 PM EST. Follow her on Twitter: @marshafriedman.

Archivist Craig Wright from the Hoover Library in West Branch Iowa travels to the Center for Active Seniors, Inc. (CASI) today to share about the lives of Lou and Herbert Hoover from 12:00-1:30 p.m. He will also talk about the Presidential Library.

Come learn more about one of our outstanding presidents! Members are free and non-members are just $2.00! We'll see you and your friends at 12:00 p.m. today!

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