Iowa is Working
Tim Whipple
General Counsel
Iowa Economic Development Authority
Governor’s Growth Agenda
New Economic Development Model
The High Quality Jobs Program
Business Development Tax Credits
Program Description
 The Program provides tax incentives to businesses
that make capital investments and create jobs in the
state.
 Brief Legislative History
 New Jobs and Income Program (NJIP) created in 1995
 In 2005, NJIP changed and renamed High Quality Job Creation
Program (HQJC)
 In 2009, HQJC amended again and renamed High Quality Jobs
Program
Core Eligibility Requirements
 An engaged local partner (for projects larger than $10
million)
 Cannot be a relocation from one Iowa community to
another
 Must meet job creation/retention requirements and wage
threshold requirements
 Must provide sufficient benefits package
 The fiscal return for the state must justify the amount of
incentives
 Cannot be a retail business or a business with a history
of violations of the law
 IEDA must consider the overall quality of the project
before making the award
Results
Total Capital Investment:
$9,026,505,425
Iowa Economic Development Authority – Business Assistance Awards, January 2011 through June 2014
Project Industry Sectors and Breakdown
Projects Awarded by
National Recognition
 U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s
Enterprising States 2014 study
 Top 10 States for Economic Performance -- #8 Iowa
 ICAIncentives’ “Measuring the Quality of Incentive
Programs” study
 “Best Practice” States identified that perform well, combining effective
tax incentive program evaluations with openness – Iowa among the six
Brownfield/Grayfield Tax Credits
New Additions for 2014
Program Description
 The Program provides tax incentives to for the
redevelopment of brownfields and grayfields.
 New features:
 Abandoned public buildings eligible
 Refundability for nonprofits
 Award amounts negotiated by board
 Transferrable credits
 $10M available
Workforce Housing Tax Credits
New Program for 2014
Program Description
 The Program provides tax incentives to housing
developers – NOT TIED TO ZONES.
 EZ Program REPEALED.
 Eligibility:
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A grayfield or brownfield site.
The repair or rehab of dilapidated existing housing stock.
An upper story project.
New construction IF in a community with demonstrated workforce
housing needs.
 Cost per unit doesn’t exceed $200K, or $250K for historic rehab.
 Transferrable credits
 $20M available
Iowa’s Public Entrepreneurial
Funding Continuum
Innovation Funding
 Since January 2011, IEDA has supported start-up
projects with innovation funding equaling:
$14,984,000
 Program Sources
 $9.215 million (Innovation Fund – SSBCI)
 $ 575,000 (i6 Challenge Grant Fund)
 $5.194 million (Demo Fund)
CJ Bio America
Fort Dodge
Iowa Fertilizer Company
Lee County
Valent Biosciences
Osage
Rail.One
Clinton
Small Business
 IASourceLink.com
 A statewide resource and economic development tool for entrepreneurs
and small businesses across Iowa and for those considering Iowa for a
business location
 Partnership between IEDA and University of Northern Iowa’s
MyEntre.Net
 What is it?
 Resource Navigator – connects entrepreneurs and small businesses
with resource providers across Iowa
 Statewide Events Calendar – comprehensive listing of networking,
educational and training opportunities taking place across Iowa
 Business Concierge – personalized assistance with marketing
demographics, trends and resources
 Business Licensing – customized help with identifying necessary
business registrations and licenses
 Information Source – webinars, e-newsletter, blogs and resources
offered on timely topics
Workforce Challenges
Education & Workforce Training Initiatives
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Certification & credentialing of workforce – NCRC
Skilled Iowa
Expand Apprenticeship Programs
STEM
Immigration Reform
Home Base Iowa Military
Recruitment Effort
Home Base Iowa
 A new non-profit, private-public partnership that will
recruit veterans and active duty service members for
private-sector job opportunities in Iowa
 Dedicated Staff – Kathy Anderson, Project Manager
 Website – www.homebaseiowa.org
 Comprehensive source for job services available to veterans in Iowa
 Marketing outreach:
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National advertising
In-person outreach
Social media campaign
Military publications
 Legislative Changes:
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Military Pension Income Tax Exemption
Increases Military Homeowner Assistance
Permissive Veteran Preference in Employment
Streamlines Occupational Licensure
Automatic in-state tuition for veterans, spouses and dependents
2014 Legislative Workforce Initiatives
 STEM Internships
 Funding to support internships in science, technology, engineering and
mathematics
 The program will fund 400 interns at up to $5,000 each, allowing
employers to claim $1 for every $2 it pays interns
 Apprenticeships
 Expansion of the 260F job training program would triple the amount of
state funding allocated for apprenticeships
 Support is increased from $1 million annually to $3 million by providing
additional funds and reforming and streamlining administration of the
program
Development Ready Communities
 Freight Network Optimization Strategy  Sustainability
 Certified building sites
 Quality of life initiatives
 Arts and Culture
 Connect Iowa
 Main Street Iowa
 Workforce Housing
Certified Site Program
 Announced the first-round certifications
 Dexter, Fort Dodge, Iowa Falls and Van Meter
Community Development
Program Overview
Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG)
 Iowa receives approximately $21 million per year
from HUD to:
o Assist low and moderate income communities to
preserve and develop basic infrastructure and
community systems
o Promote owner occupied housing rehabilitation to low
and moderate income homeowners
o Support economic development activities that benefit
low and moderate income persons through job
creation/job training
Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG)
Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG)
o Most of Iowa’s CDBG programs accept applications
on an annual basis.
o Applications are submitted online through
Iowagrants.gov
o Applicants must be units of local government (cities
less than 50,000 & counties)
o More information on Iowa’s CDBG programs can be
found here:
http://www.iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/Communi
tyDevelopment/CDBG
Main Street Iowa
New Director – Jim Engle
 Net business gain in MSI districts occurred in all 26
years of the state Main Street program
 3,800 business starts, expansions and re-locations
 Sales tax collections from net new businesses in MSI
districts is 48 times the state appropriation to fund
program
 Added three new Main Street Communities in 2014
 Newton, Avoca, Guthrie Center
 $1 million Challenge Grant funding available to MSI
communities
Iowa is Working
Tim Whipple
General Counsel
Iowa Economic Development Authority