Cities of Bonaparte, Burlington, Cambridge, Davenport, Deloit, Des Moines metro area, Dubuque, Gilmore City, Granger, Hills, Indianola, Keokuk, Lambs Grove, Lidderdale, Maquoketa, Melbourne, Monmouth, Sabula, Schleswig, and Sioux City receive
State Revolving Fund Loans to Further Water Quality Projects

Des Moines - Twenty Iowa cities will benefit from a combined total of more than $42.3 million in low-cost water quality loans through the State Revolving Fund. State Revolving Fund Construction Loans are a low-cost construction financing option available for Iowa cities and municipalities for water quality initiatives. Planning & Design Loans are zero percent loans that assist with the first-phase of project expenses. The Iowa Finance Authority and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources jointly administer the State Revolving Fund.

"I commend the twenty cities that recently tapped into the low-cost financing offered through the State Revolving Fund for their shared commitment to advancing affordable, quality water for Iowans," said Iowa Finance Authority Executive Director Dave Jamison. "These low-cost loans will mean quality water and will help to maintain affordable water rates for thousands of Iowans for generations to come."

"Many Iowa cities and municipalities have a wide-array of water quality improvement needs, and we are encouraged to see them take advantage of the low-cost financing through the State Revolving Fund in order to reach their community's needs," said Iowa Department of Natural Resources Director Chuck Gipp.

The State Revolving Fund has awarded Iowa communities and municipalities more than $2 billion in Construction Loans and $123 million through Planning & Design Loans since program inception. The loans are made available as part of the State Revolving Fund. For more information on Planning & Design Loans, as well as other State Revolving Fund programs, visit IowaSRF.com.

The Iowa Legislature created The Iowa Finance Authority, the state's housing finance agency, in 1975 to undertake programs to assist in the attainment of low- and moderate-income Iowans. IFA also administers the State Revolving Fund (SRF) in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The SRF assists communities with the costs of upgrading or constructing local wastewater and drinking water infrastructure projects.

Recent loan recipients:

QUAD-CITIES?Over the last 10 years, Xstream Cleanup volunteers have pulled nearly 900,000 pounds of garbage and debris from area waterways. In 2013, organizers hope to break one million pounds as they usher in a second decade of Xstream.

"You can't pick up a million pounds of junk all by yourself, but in concert with friends and neighbors?and with the support of organizations and municipal entities?we're almost there. It's amazing what Quad-Citians can do when we band together, and the results of Xstream Cleanup are a testament to the great power of our combined efforts," said longtime event chair Curtis Lundy.

Xstream Cleanup 2013 will be held 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 10. Registration is open online at xstreamcleanup.org. Deadline to register is Aug. 1.

The Xstream Cleanup committee formed in September of 2003 following the successful summertime Duck Creek Cleanup. At that time, Chad Pregracke of Living Lands & Waters suggested that the group expand the cleanup to include sites in Illinois and Iowa. Xstream Cleanup was born.

The first annual Xstream Cleanup was held August 18, 2004. That morning, over 1,300 volunteers bent down and picked up over 80,000 tons of debris from 28 sites throughout the Quad-Cities. The debris included 1,300 bags of trash, 270 tires, 50 pieces of furniture, 45 bicycles, 40 railroad ties, 30 appliances, 18 drums and more.

Xstream Cleanup continues to grow. In 2008, invasive species removal?the removal of non-native plants?was added. And in 2013, volunteers will have another opportunity to make a difference in water quality, this time through marking storm drains with messages that discourage illegal dumping.

"Xstream Cleanup always has been about water quality. While we enjoy seeing our natural areas free from trash, we're cleaning up because garbage on the ground, sooner or later, creates polluted water. Our goal is to help keep Quad-Cities waterways clean for our community, the environment, and everyone downstream," said longtime volunteer Lundy.

Today the Xstream Cleanup committee includes representatives from area cities, as well as representatives from several organizations and businesses throughout the community. The event is made possible by the generous, ongoing support of many proud sponsors.

For more information about Xstream Cleanup, or to sign up, visit xstreamcleanup.org.

Xstream Cleanup 2013 is sponsored by the following. Presenting Sponsors: Group O and Riverboat Development Authority. Platinum Sponsors: Alcoa, THE National Bank, Living Lands & Waters® and Waste Commission of Scott County. Gold Sponsors: Iowa American Water, Rock Island County Waste Management Agency and The Moline Foundation. Silver Sponsors: Alter Metal Recycling, DHL Global Forwarding, Independent Insurance Agents of Scott County, McCarthy-Bush Corporation, MidAmerican Energy, Radish magazine, R. A Jones, Quad City Conservation Alliance, Sears Seating and Wallace's Garden Center. Bronze Sponsors: Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Downtown Davenport Partnership, Eastern Iowa Grain Inspection, Great River Brewery and Midas Auto Systems Experts, Inc. Logistics Sponsors: Cities of Bettendorf, Buffalo, Davenport, LeClaire, McCausland, Milan, Moline, Rock Island and Silvis; Bi-State Regional Commission, Keep Rock Island Beautiful, iLivehere®, Partners of Scott County Watersheds, Republic Services and River Roots Live.

DES MOINES - Gov. Terry E. Branstad has issued a proclamation of disaster emergency for Van Buren County in response to recent storms and flooding. The Governor's proclamation activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Program.

The Iowa Individual Assistance Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or a maximum annual income of $39,060, for a family of three.  Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and for the expense of temporary housing. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery. The grant application and instructions are available at the "Disaster Assistance" link on the Iowa Department of Human Services website: www.dhs.iowa.gov.

DES MOINES -- Gov. Terry E. Branstad today received word that President Obama approved his request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration for 47 Iowa counties impacted by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that began May 19, 2013.

The counties included in the declaration are: Appanoose, Benton, Buchanan, Buena Vista, Butler, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Clay, Clayton, Crawford, Davis, Delaware, Des Moines, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Greene, Grundy, Hardin, Henry, Ida, Iowa, Jasper, Johnson, Jones, Keokuk, Lee, Linn, Louisa, Lyon, Mahaska, Marshall, Mitchell, Monona, Monroe, O'Brien, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Poweshiek, Sac, Sioux, Story, Tama, Wapello, Webster, Winnebago, and Wright.

The governor sent the request for the declaration on June 19 in response to significant damage that was caused by heavy rains, thunderstorms and flooding in those counties between May 19 and June 14, 2013.

The declaration by the President will provide federal funding to the declared counties under the Public Assistance Program. A Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance puts into motion long-term federal recovery programs, some of which are matched by state programs, and designed to help public entities and select non-profits. Public Assistance funds may be used for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities and may include debris removal, emergency protective measures, repair of damaged public property, loans needed by communities for essential government functions and grants for public schools.

The governor also received notification that the Presidential Disaster Declaration includes funding to conduct hazard mitigation activities for the entire state. With this funding, Iowa will be able to minimize the impact of future natural disasters by taking steps now to strengthen existing infrastructure.

Iowa Individual Assistance Program activated for Audubon County

Also today, Gov. Branstad issued a proclamation of disaster emergency for Audubon County in response to recent storms and flooding. The governor's proclamation activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Program in Audubon County.

The Iowa Individual Assistance Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or a maximum annual income of $39,060, for a family of three. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and for the expense of temporary housing. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery. The grant application and instructions are available at the "Disaster Assistance" link on the Iowa Department of Human Services website: www.dhs.iowa.gov.