DES MOINES, IA (07/27/2011)(readMedia)-- College-bound Iowa youth active in 4-H and/or FFA livestock projects and current undergraduate students may apply for $10,000 in new scholarships available from the Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advancement (IFAA).

The scholarships are available to freshmen entering any Iowa two- or four-year post-secondary institution this fall or current undergraduates attending Iowa State University. Applicant must have a strong background in 4-H and/or FFA and demonstrate leadership while being involved in activities. Preference will be given to applicants who show a strong desire to remain active in agriculture after graduation. Two $5,000 Branstad-Reynolds Agriculture Scholarships are available.

Applications and additional information are available by visiting the Sale of Champions section of the Iowa State Fair's web site (www.iowastatefair.org/competition/sale-of-champions/winners-circle-scholarships/), the IFAA web site (www.ifaa.org), or by calling 515/291-3941. Applications must be postmarked by August 1, 2011. All materials should be sent to Winner's Circle Scholarship, c/o Linda Weldon, 1440 NW 134th Ave., Slater, IA 50244 or emailed to Linda@slweldon.net.

Winners will be announced during the Iowa State Fair's annual 4-H/FFA Sale of Champions on August 20, an event sponsored by IFAA. The IFAA is a non-profit organization founded in 1988. It is comprised of agricultural enthusiasts dedicated to encouraging 4-H and FFA livestock, poultry and agricultural project members to pursue ag-related careers.

"Nothing Compares" to the 2011 Iowa State Fair, celebrating 100 years of the Butter Cow August 11-21. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visitwww.iowastatefair.org.

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New Law Will Benefit Minority-Owned, Female Businesses; Ensure Fairness in Minority and Female Employment on Public Works Projects

CHICAGO - July 27, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation to help ensure a fair state contract bidding process for minority- and women-owned businesses, and to advance minority and female employment in Illinois' workforce.

"This important new law will help ensure fairness, transparency and equal opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses in Illinois," Governor Quinn said. "Today's action underscores my commitment to maintaining a diverse, skilled and effective labor force."

House Bill 2987 creates the Project Labor Agreement (PLA) Act, which requires state agencies under the Governor to consider the use of PLAs on public works construction projects. A PLA establishes the terms and conditions of employment for a construction project, ensuring a level bidding field for minority- and women-owned businesses and helping increase minority and female employment on public job sites. The new law codifies an Executive Order issued by the Governor in 2010.

The law requires the state department, agency, authority or board responsible for awarding the project to negotiate the PLA with labor organizations engaged in the construction industry. If the parties cannot agree to the terms of the project labor agreement, the Governor appoints a designee to assist the parties in reaching an agreement.  

Sponsored by Rep. Patrick J. Verschoore (D-Rock Island) and Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights), the law includes provisions for binding procedures for resolving jurisdictional labor disputes and grievances; guarantees against strikes; ensuring a reliable source of skilled and experienced labor; setting goals for apprenticeship hours for minorities and females as well as total number of hours to be performed  by underrepresented minorities and females; and binding all contractors and subcontractors on the public works project through the inclusion of appropriate bid specifications.

The law also requires that an entity with a PLA in connection with a public works project to file a quarterly report with the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) that includes workforce participation by minorities and females. The IDOL will submit an annual report to the General Assembly and the Governor that details the number of minorities and females employees under all public labor agreements within the state. The new law takes effect immediately.

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MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., July 27, 2011 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that rural telecommunications companies have been selected to receive nearly $192 million in loans for projects that will deliver broadband services to rural customers across eight states. These funds represent the latest investment from The Department of Agriculture's Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan Program and will add thousands of miles of cable to the telecommunications grid in rural America. The announcement was made by Rural Utilities Service Administrator Jonathan Adelstein on Vilsack's behalf at the summer meeting of the Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunication Companies in Minneapolis.

"A significant portion of America still does not have adequate broadband for job and economic development activities," Vilsack said. "Working with our partners, including cooperatives and the telecommunications industry, USDA delivers broadband to rural areas, creating jobs and providing critical financial, educational and health care services. We've made a good start, but it is clear that the work of the Obama Administration and USDA is far from done."

Administered by USDA Rural Development's Rural Utilities Service (RUS), this financing is part of the $690 million investment during fiscal year 2011 and is in addition to the $3.5 billion in broadband funding RUS awarded for projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The telecommunications infrastructure program funds facilities and equipment to upgrade, expand, maintain and replace rural telecommunications networks.

Projects announced today include a $70 million loan to 3 Rivers Telephone Cooperative, Inc. (3 Rivers) in Fairfield, Montana to install almost 1,700 miles of buried cable, construct buildings, and install electronic equipment to upgrade 10 exchanges. The deployment of this equipment will make upgraded broadband services available to approximately 4,700 households, 500 businesses, and 82 critical community organizations, such as public safety departments. 3 Rivers provides telecommunications services to subscribers over nearly 17,000 square miles of Montana.

In Oregon, Molalla Telephone Company has been selected to receive a $22.5 million loan to expand a Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband system to approximately 85 percent of their subscribers.

Funding of each recipient is contingent upon their meeting the conditions of the loan agreement. A complete list of the rural utilities approved for funding is listed below:

Iowa

• Farmers Mutual Telephone Company: $18,205,000

Iowa and Missouri

• IAMO Telephone Company: $14,972,000

Kansas

• Wilson Telephone Company, Inc.: $14,312,000

Montana

• 3 Rivers Telephone Cooperative, Inc.: $70,000,000

Oregon

• Molalla Telephone Company: $22,500,000

Texas

• Coleman County Telephone Cooperative, Inc.: $22,540,000

Washington

• Western Wahkiakum County Telephone Company: $12,708,000

Wisconsin

• Baldwin Telecom, Inc.: $16,716,000

USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a national network of state and local offices. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. Rural Development has an existing portfolio of more than $150 billion in loans and loan guarantees. Visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov for additional information about the agency's programs or to locate the USDA Rural Development office nearest you.

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DES MOINES, IA (07/27/2011)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald reminds Iowa State Fair visitors to stop by the College Savings Iowa booth and register for a chance to win a $1,000 College Savings Iowa account for their child or grandchild. "Some lucky boy or girl will go home from the fair this year with more than just fond memories -- free money for college," says Fitzgerald. "Make sure you stop by our booth and see us while you're in the Varied Industries Building."

Treasurer Fitzgerald encourages families to start saving for college as soon as possible. "Saving ahead of time may reduce a need to borrow to cover educational expenses, which can help parents - and their children - get through college with less debt," says Fitzgerald. "Even a small amount of money, invested regularly over time, can grow into a substantial sum," he added.

Anyone - parents, grandparents, friends and relatives - can invest in College Savings Iowa on behalf of a child. Participants who are Iowa taxpayers can deduct contributions up to $2,865 per beneficiary from their 2011 adjusted gross income, and there are no income or residency restrictions.* Investors can withdraw their investment federally tax-free to pay for qualified higher education expenses including tuition, books, supplies and certain room and board costs at any eligible college, university, community college or accredited technical training school in the United States or abroad.

Investors can enroll online in about ten minutes with as little as $25. Online account services and multiple contribution methods, including electronic investment options that allow for the transfer of money directly from an existing checking or savings account, make it easy for busy families to save regularly and manage their accounts.

Saving for a child's education is always a smart investment, and College Savings Iowa is here to help. For more information about College Savings Iowa, visit www.collegesavingsiowa.com or call 1-888-672-9116.

*Adjusted annually for inflation. If withdrawals are not qualified, the deductions must be added back to Iowa taxable income. The earnings portion of non-qualified withdrawals may be subject to federal income tax and a 10% federal penalty tax, as well as state income taxes. The availability of tax or other benefits may be contingent on meeting other requirements.

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