Recommendations for Supporting Local Governments making Americain Rescue Plan (ARP) Eligible ExpendituresCity of Dubuque
City Council Meeting
Consent Items # 10.
Copyrighted
September 7, 2021
ITEM TITLE: Recommendations for Supporting Local Governments making American
Rescue Plan (ARP) Eligible Expenditures
SUMMARY: Correspondence from Chuck Isenhart, Iowa State Representative of
House District 100, on recommendations he has provided to Iowa
Governor Kim Reynolds for supporting local governments making
American Rescue Plan (ARP) eligible expenditures.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
Email from Representative Isenhart
Isenhart Recommendations Phase 1
Isenhart Recommendations Phase 2
Isenhart Recommendations Phase 3
Isenhart Recommendations Phase 4
Type
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Adrienne Breitfelder
From: Isenhart, Charles [LEGIS] <Charles.lsenhart@legis.iowa.gov>
Sent: Monday, August 23, 2021 4:40 PM
To: Adrienne Breitfelder
Subject: Fwd: Goals and priorities input
Attachments: RescuePlanPhase 1.pdf, RescuePlanPhase2.pdf; RescuePlanPhase3.pdf; RescuePlanPhase4.pdf
For the record to be received and filed.
Chuck lsenhart
State Representative, House District 100
Member: Government Oversight Committee, Environmental Protection Government Committee, Ways and Means.
Liaison: Watershed Planning Advisory Council, Iowa Innovation Council
P.O. Box 3353
Dubuque, IA 52004-3353
In district: 563-599-8839
In Des Moines (January through April): 515-281-3221 charles.isenhart@legis.iowa.gov
Legislative website: www.repchuckisenhart.org Campaign website: www.commongoodcampaign.com
Facebook: lsenhart Campaign for the Common Good
Subscribe to newsletter: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/legislator/newsletter?id=6575&ga=88
From: lsenhart, Charles [LEGIS] <Charles.lsenhart@legis.iowa.gov>
Sent: Monday, August 23, 2021 1:23:33 PM
To: 'Roy D. Buol' <rdbuol@cityofdubuque.org>; 'dsprank@cityofdubuque.org' <dsprank@cityofdubuque.org>; 'rjones@cityofdubuque.org' <rjones@cityofdubuque.org>; 'dresnick@cityofdubuque.org'
<dresnick@cityofdubuque.org>; 'Brad Cavanagh' <Bcavanagh@cityofdubuque.org>; 'sfarber@cityofdubuque.org' <sfarber@cityofdubuque.org>; 'Iroussell@cityofdubuque.org' <Iroussell@cityofdubuque.org>
Cc: ctymgr@cityofdubuque.org <ctymgr@cityofdubuque.org>; James, Lindsay [LEGIS] <Lindsay.James@legis.iowa.gov>; Jochum, Pam [LEGIS] <Pam.Jochum@legis.iowa.gov>; 'Rick Dickinson'
<rickd@greaterdubuque.org>; 'Ryan Sempf' <rsempf@dubuquechamber.com>
Subject: Goals and priorities input
Colleagues,
For review and consideration as part of your goal setting sessions, I am forwarding to you four documents that represent an "Iowa Rescue Plan" that I have recommended to Governor Reynolds. In each of the
four proposals, I suggest that the state establish a preference for supporting/matching local governments making ARP -eligible expenditures over the next 2-3 years (whether or not those expenditures are made
using ARP dollars). Hopefully, some thought can be given to investing in shared commitments.
The four "phases" of the Iowa Rescue Plan recommended so far include:
1: Investing in public health infrastructure
2: Turbo -charging travel and tourism
3: Prioritizing environmental health
4: Serving everyone with a resilient food system
In particular, I encourage you to think of the City's role in delivering important public health essentials to City residents, especially vulnerable populations, as the current disaster emergency has exposed
weaknesses in both state and county -level responses.
I also encourage the Council to think boldly about partnering with the County of Dubuque on conservation, environmental health and quality -of -life priorities, which are so important to our community's
employers and workers as we struggle to attract and retain the next generation of workers needed to sustain the vitality of our economy.
Chuck Isenhart
State Representative, House District 100
Committees: Ways and Means, Government Oversight, Environmental Protection, Local Government, Tax Expenditure Review
Ex-officio: Watershed Planning Advisory Council, Iowa Innovation Council
P.O. Box 3353
Dubuque, IA 52004-3353
In district: 563-599-8839
In Des Moines (January through April): 515-281-3221 charles.isenhart@legis.iowa.gov<mailto:charles.isenhart@legis.iowa.gov>
Legislative website: www.repchuckisenhart.org<http://www.repchuckisenhart.org/>
Campaign website: www.commongoodcampaign.com<http://www.commongoodcampaign.com/>
Facebook: Isenhart Campaign for the Common Good<https://www.facebook.com/commongoodcampaign>
Click https://www.mailcontrol.com/sr/Fo-KcnhDvorGX2PQPOmvUgW_Rl4xiDLrlkupbBFUhhUG2volYipaOihKXckjMg4uwEtOYvdvXSWDL_bKPtQR4w== to report this email as spam.
"we Affop. Carr ram...
...puffing lomm Aback to work
o
VESCUt ;
� 44
46► 416
202A
PHASE ONE: INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC HEALTH USING
PRESIDENT BIDEN'S AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS
The COVID-19 disaster emergency has shown that our national, state and local public health systems
have atrophied from disuse and are hollowed out by lack of funding. Responding the pandemic,unpre-
pared, thinly -staffed agencies have worked overtime for a year, with employees putting their own health
at risk, often with little moral support from elected officials and sometimes vociferous public hostility.
Through the end of 2020, the state, cities, counties, local public health departments, private health care
providers and citizens have received significant federal coronavirus relief and emergency management
funding, with more than $8 billion in aid coming to Iowa through the "CARES Act."
Along with other Iowa Democrats, I am pleased that Iowa has a once -in -a -lifetime opportunity to partner
with President Biden to support pandemic response, relief and recovery in our state via an additional
$1.48 billion in American Rescue Plan funds, administered through the governor's office. Help is here!
Phase One of this proposed "Iowa Rescue Plan" recognizes the services provided by essential health care
workers and caretakers of dependent individuals during the public health emergency. The plan makes
long-term investments in our state and local public health infrastructure, especially in the area of
communicable disease prevention. Learning our lessons from the national, state and local public health
disaster emergency, public health must be a cornerstone of an Iowa campaign to "build back better."
The key proposal directs funding to be distributed by the State Treasurer:
1) $125 million for Iowa 529 Plan personal/professional development/education savings accounts of
$2,500 per person for public health and essential health care and long-term care workers employed
during the pandemic, in recognition of services performed and sacrifices made.
Other recommendations include funding for the College of Public Health at the University of Iowa:
2) $750,000 undertake a comprehensive long-term study, together with the Carver College of Medi-
cine, to identify the incidence and prevalence of the chronic conditions and disabilities attributa-
ble to COVID-19 that are affecting Iowans who contracted the virus.
3) $250,000 to conduct a comprehensive review and evaluation of the existing public health
structure and infrastructure in Iowa, with policy and funding recommendations, to improve the
capacity of the state and local communities to effectively respond to public health threats,
including chronic and infectious diseases.
4) $2 million to coordinate increased, systematic efforts with Iowa's local public health authorities
to address the chronic health conditions, personal behaviors, and societal conditions -- including
but not limited to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, smoking, and social disparities -- that are iden-
tified as risk factors for poorer outcomes associated with infectious disease. Such funding can be
used by the College to provide grants to county boards of health to implement evidence -based
community programming, policies, and collaborative projects with health care providers to
reduce such risk factors.
5) $200,000 to help create and facilitate the startup of a state association of local boards of health, so
appointed county officials and their staff can work together across boundaries that diseases do not
respect, to strengthen their ability to plan, implement prevention and containment strategies and
respond to public health threats.
6) $400,000 to provide paid internships for University students paired with local health departments
to support the development of local public health infrastructure, conduct community health needs
assessments and assist in the successful implementation of health improvement plans.
The recommendations include funding for the Department of Human Services:
7) $50 million to increase payments to providers of specialized oral health care for disadvantaged
Iowans who are referred for services through community health centers. Better nutrition leads to
disease resistance. Better oral health leads to better nutrition. The COVID-19 pandemic has
shown that people with chronic health conditions suffer most from sickness and death due to
contagious diseases. Simply put, helping Iowans eat well will make us more resilient to infestious
disease and reduce the demands on our health care system in the future.
8) $2 million to partner with the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative the to set up a "food -as -medicine"
project using Double Up Food Bucks distributed to Medicaid members by oral health providers.
This program will allow Iowans receiving public food assistance to increase their consumption of
healthy fruits and vegetables and support local food producers.
The recommendations include funding for the Iowa Department of Public Health:
9) $19 million for information technology infrastructure upgrades, improvements, or replacements,
so that data and information related to communicable diseases and infectious disease outbreaks in
the state can be collected and reported in a timely way. Such systems will also allow the tracking
of other critical public health data and information related to the population health priorities and
goals of the state board of health and county boards of health. Use of funds should ensure the
capacity of county boards of health to interact and work with the technology to obtain local health
data and provide for easy public access to data or information not required to be confidential.
The recommendations include funding for the University of Iowa Hygienic Laboratory:
10) $9.5 million to develop capacity for genomic sequencing in all cases of transmission of
communicable human pathogens, supporting the state's ability to prevent and/or contain future
pandemics;
The recommendations include funding for the Office of the Governor:
11) $10 million for incentives and rewards for attaining COVID-19 vaccination goals, administered
either directly by a State -identified contractor or outsourced by counties with grants from the State.
Counties can supplement with local American Rescue Plan dollars. Such a performance -based
incentive program pays for itself if as few as 263 COVID-19 hospitalizations are avoided.
The recommendations include funding for the Department of Administrative Services:
12) $12 million to reimburse the State for COVID-related health benefits claims paid on behalf of
persons covered under the state health care insurance program with Wellmark, to prevent such
costs from being included in calculations of future health care premiums.
If approved by the governor, the Iowa Rescue Plan public health phase would add a total of $234.5
million to these programs over the next two years. This would account for about 15.8 percent of the
federal monies allocated to Iowa.
Understanding the lessons learned from the COVID-19 public health disaster emergency, we recognize
the special health risks faced by workers providing people -facing health care services. This proposal
calls on state and local agencies responsible for public health and their contractors to provide at least 56
hours of annual paid family sick leave to workers employed in their operations.
Program
Department or Authority
ARP funds proposed
Health worker Iowa 529 Plan contributions
State treasurer
$125,000,000
Study: Long-term health impacts of COVID-19
UI College of Public Health
$1,500,000
Evaluate state/local public health system
UI College of Public Health
$500,000
Address infectious disease risk factors
UI College of Public Health
$4,000,000
State association of local boards of health
UI College of Public Health
$200,000
Internships for public health students
UI College of Public Health
$800,000
Oral health care coverage
Department of Human Services
$50,000,000
"Food -as -medicine" program
Department of Human Services
$2,000,000
Information technology upgrades
Department of Public Health
$19,000,000
Genomic sequencing of pathogens
UI Hygienic Laboratory
$9,500,000
COVID-19 vaccine incentives and rewards
Office of the Governor
$10,000,000
COVID-19 related health care costs Administrative Services $12,000,000
Total $234,500,000
State Representative Chuck Isenhart of Dubuque is a member of the House Government Oversight
Committee. These are not the only ideas. What are yours?
Contact information: 563-599-8839
Charles.Isenhart(clegis. iowa.gov
Isenhart Campaign for the Common Good
P.O. Box 3353, Dubuque, IA 52004-3353
May 19, 2021; updated July 30, 2021
Snare ?ep. CJ7...
...patti"g Iowaback o erro r
Q �
o
u
202A
PHASE TWO: INVESTMENT IN TRAVEL AND TOURISM RECOVERY
USING PRESIDENT BIDEN'S AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS
Iowa's travel and tourism industry has been one the hardest hit sectors of our economy during the
COVID-19 pandemic. Travel and tourism workers, such as those staffing hotels, museums, parks and
other people -packed venues, continue to face economic hardship as businesses struggle to keep the doors
open.
While travel and tourism activity is beginning to recover from 2020 pandemic year lows, according to
AAA Travel, Iowa has not returned to 2019 levels. Employment continues to rebound, but many workers
face uncertain work hours. Employers with bills to pay and fluctuating cash flows have difficulty making
ends meet and making future commitments to their employees.
Meanwhile, if we have learned anything about Iowans and Iowa during the pandemic, it's our love for
the outdoors, as well as both our wonderful outdoor and indoor attractions. We have missed them due to
cutbacks in travel. Or, closer to home, we have discovered them for the first time.
Along with other Iowa Democrats, I am pleased that Iowa has a once -in -a -lifetime opportunity to partner
with President Biden to support pandemic response, relief and recovery in our state via $1.48 billion in
American Rescue Plan funds, administered through the governor's office. Help is here!
Last year, many travel -dependent businesses in Iowa weathered the pandemic storm with state small
business relief grants of up to $25,000 using federal coronavirus relief funding or participated in the
federal Paycheck Protection Program to maintain operations. This year, we can pivot to long-term
recovery by turbocharging several state programs that diversify recreational options and make Iowa a
more attractive destination, generating more customers for small businesses, putting people to work at
both the front and back end of the deal.
Phase Two of a proposed "Iowa Rescue Plan" makes long-term investments in travel and tourism assets.
This will help to not only stabilize this sector of our economy but also strengthen this foundation as part
of an Iowa campaign to "build back better." As the travel season shifts into high gear, making these com-
mitments will allow industry leaders to engage visitors from around Iowa, other states and abroad to
identify what more, different and better things we can do enhance quality -of -life in Iowa.
The recommendations include additional resources for cultural grants, Iowa Great Places, historic sites,
regional sports authorities, trails and state parks, tourism marketing, as well as the visionary CAT,
RECAT and REAP programs. The Mississippi River is an international attraction. Major investments in
our rivers can make Iowa, the Driftless Area in particular, a gateway to this geographic jewel.
To foster state -local partnerships using federal money, Iowa should earmark grants and assistance for
cities and counties that match the state's contributions with their own American Rescue Plan dollars.
The Iowa Rescue Plan travel and tourism phase also recommends an allocation of $1 million for ,I001h
Anniversary: Take Two." This money would allow the Department of Natural Resources to partner with
county conservation boards to create events celebrating the state and county park systems. The original
state park celebrations were eliminated or scaled back last year due to the pandemic.
If approved by the governor, the Iowa Rescue Plan travel and tourism phase would add a total of $78.8
million to these programs over the next two years. This would account for about 5.3 percent of the
federal monies allocated to Iowa.
Understanding the lessons learned from the COVID-19 national, state and local public health disaster
emergency, we can recognize the special health risks faced by workers providing people -facing hospital-
ity services. This proposal calls on the Iowa Economic Development Authority, the Department of Cul-
tural Affairs, Department of Natural Resources and other state agencies responsible for grant programs to
give first preference to grant recipients that provide at least 56 hours of annual paid family sick leave to
workers employed in their operations.
Program
Department or Authority
Current
budget
ARP funds
proposed
Total
Cultural grants
Cultural Affairs
$150,000
$850,000
$1,000,000
Iowa Great Places
Cultural Affairs
$1,150,000
$850,000
$2,000.000
Historic sites
Cultural Affairs
$462,398
$1,537,602*
$2,000,000
Sports authorities and
sports tourism
Economic Development
$2,000,000
$2,000,000
$4,000,000
Community Attractions
and Tourism CAT
Economic Development
$5,000,000
$25,000,000
$30,000,000
River Enhancement
Community Attraction
and Tourism RECAT
Economic Development
$0
$25,000,000
$25,000,000
Tourism marketing
Economic Development
$1,900,000
$2,000,000**
$3,900,000
Resource Enhancement
and Protection Program
REAP
Natural Resources
$12,000,000
$13,000,000
$25,000,000
Water trails
Natural Resources
$1,000,000
$3,000,000
$4,000,000
State park infrastructure
Natural Resources
$2,000,000
$2,000,000
$4,000,000
Recreational trails
Transportation
$1,500,000
$2,500,000
$4,000,000
1001h anniversary parks
celebrations
Natural Resources
$0
$1,000,000
$1,000,000
Total
$27,162,398
$78,737,602
$103,902,000
*Of the additional $1,537,602 for historic sites, I recommend that at least $500,000 be used for sites
related to emancipation, the elimination of slavery and racism, or the advancement of human and civil
rights in Iowa and the United States.
**Of the additional $2 million for marketing, I recommend that at least $100,000 be used for promotion
of Iowa wineries, $100,000 for promotion of Iowa craft breweries and $250,000 for promotion of agri-
cultural tourism, including educational activities and events involving farmers' markets and farm -to -table
dinners.
State Representative Chuck Isenhart of Dubuque is a member of the House Government Oversight
Committee. These are not the only ideas. What are yours?
Contact information: 563-599-8839
Charles.Isenhart(alegis. iowa.gov
Isenhart Campaign for the Common Good
P.O. Box 3353, Dubuque, IA 52004-3353
June 22, 2021
srate A p. CA&MCA
...puffing lomm Aback to work
ESCU �
101,
Z
4610, * _ A
202A
PHASE THREE: INVESTMENTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH --
CLEAN WATER, CLEAN AIR, CLIMATE ACTION
The Biden Administration's American Rescue Plan offers unprecedented opportunities for states, cities
and counties to provide pandemic response, relief and recovery to our citizens, including via $1.48
billion in funds to be channeled through the office of the Iowa governor. Help is here!
In recent weeks, I have offered suggestions to strengthen our public health infrastructure, as well as to
help our travel and tourism economy "build back better" by turbocharging programs that will enhance
our quality -of -life for residents and visitors alike.
Phase Three of an "Iowa Rescue Plan" focuses on environmental health and protecting our natural
heritage with targeted investments in clean water, clean air, climate action and environmental justice.
The recommendations include funding for the Department of Natural Resources:
1) $10 million for the lake restoration program to minimize health hazards and to improve safety and
quality -of -life for users of the state's public waters.
2) $15 million for distribution to Iowa's 26 watershed management authorities, which bring together
cities, counties and soil and water conservation districts to address impairments and other issues
in threatened watersheds, as identified by local stakeholders through comprehensive planning
consistent with Chapter 18B of the Iowa Code.
3) $50 million for cost -share grants to owners of private wells used for drinking water to address
causes of contamination identified through testing by county boards of health or by the Center for
Health Effects of Environmental Contamination.
4) $10 million for source water protection projects to secure the quantity and quality of drinking
water in the state.
5) $1 million for the state floodplain management program to identify and address nutrient pollution
due to agricultural production in two-year floodplains, in collaboration with watershed groups.
6) $1.5 million for the forestry management program to develop and implement practices making
Iowa's forests and other wooded areas more resilient to climate change.
7) $5 million to partner with regulated water utilities and the Center for the Health Effects of
Environmental Contamination at the University of Iowa to begin testing of drinking water at K-12
schools and child care facilities, in anticipation of updated federal requirements related to lead
and copper in drinking water.
The recommendations include funding for the University of Iowa:
8) $50 million for the Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination to partner with the
University of Iowa Hygienic Laboratory, the Iowa Department of Public Health and county
public health officials participating in the Grants -to -Counties program, to offer free, expanded
testing for all contaminants to ensure safe drinking water for all Iowans using private wells.
9) $500,000 to IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering to develop and populate a system to track the
land application of manure, by watershed, as identified in manure management plans.
10) $10 million to the Iowa Flood Center to partner with local entities to draw down resources for
flood prevention and mitigation from the Federal Emergency Management Administration's
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Program.
11) $2 million to the Vaughn Institute of Risk Management and Insurance to collaborate with the
Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to develop and pilot an insurance program to
assist agricultural producers in mitigating the financial risk of lost production attributable to the
adoption of nutrient reduction practices.
12) $750,000 for the Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research to provide science -
based measurement and evaluation of the carbon impacts of Iowa agriculture and to inform state
policymaking with respect to carbon reduction initiatives.
The recommendations include funding for the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship:
13) $250,000 to the Pesticide Bureau to enhance capacity for web -based filing of complaints for
investigation and enforcement, case processing and public reporting.
The recommendations include funding for Iowa State University:
14) $11 million to enhance the capacity of the Nutrient Research Center in the College of Agriculture
and Life Sciences in support of the state nutrient reduction strategy.
15) $500,000 to the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture to provide research and evaluation
support for the Source Water Protection Program of the Department of Natural Resources.
16) $2.75 million for the Iowa Water Center to lead in the establishment and joint support of a
research and policy development consortium of land grant water centers in the Mississippi River,
Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay watersheds; of the amount, $250,000 would be used to facilitate
the work of and provide access to research for the watershed management authorities of Iowa.
The recommendations include funding for University of Northern Iowa:
17) $250,000 to the Center for Energy and Environmental Education to partner with the Clean Energy
Districts of Iowa to assess the capacity and demand for property -assessed clean energy (PACE)
financing in Iowa to facilitate and accelerate the adoption of building energy efficiency
improvements and the development of site -based renewable energy generation and storage.
The recommendations include funding for the Economic Development Authority:
18) $20 million to provide matching grants to school districts and community college districts for
solar installations and energy efficiency projects to contain energy costs and reduce carbon
pollution.
19) $5 million to support the Clean Cities program focus on planning and pilot projects facilitating
the expansion of electric vehicle deployment in Iowa.
20) $5 million to pilot energy storage projects to support carbon -free distributed energy generation
facilities.
21) $250,000 to support Iowa's participation in the U.S. Climate Alliance, ensuring that Iowa is
credited for its clean energy attainments to date and continuing our leadership role in climate
action, in coordination and collaboration with other states.
The recommendations include funding for the Department of Revenue:
22) $10 million to ensure that all applicants for solar installation tax credits on the "waiting list"
receive the incentives for which they are eligible, with priority for residential users when the
program expires and/or appropriated funds are exhausted.
The recommendations include funding for the Department of Justice:
23) $10 million to the Office of Consumer Advocate for grants to county energy districts associated
with the Clean Energy Districts of Iowa to fund innovative energy efficiency projects and
programs, including leveraging utility energy efficiency programs, with a focus on low-income
energy users and small, locally -owned businesses.
24) $5 million to the Office of Consumer Advocate to support participation of low and moderate -
income utility customers in pilot community solar projects.
The recommendations include funding for the Auditor of State:
25) $200,000 to audit performance and return -on -investment of clean water and clean energy projects
funded with public dollars through agencies of the State of Iowa, including American Rescue
Plan funds.
To foster state -local partnerships using federal money, Iowa should give preference to cities and counties
that match the state's contributions with their own American Rescue Plan dollars.
The Iowa Rescue Plan would direct $230.95 million to environmental health initiatives over the next two
years. This would account for about 15.6 percent of the federal monies allocated to Iowa. These projects
would invest in clean water infrastructure, provide for economic recovery and address some of the
negative impacts of the disaster emergency, including through clean, renewable energy projects that
would provide long-term benefits to low and moderate -income Iowans most impacted by the coronavirus
pandemic.
Understanding the lessons learned from the COVID-19 emergency, we recognize the importance of
involving employers in the response and providing protections for workers when public health disasters
strike. This proposal calls on state agencies responsible for grant programs and contracting to give first
preference to grant recipients and contractors that provide at least 56 hours of annual paid family sick
leave to workers employed in their operations.
Program
Department or
Current budget
ARP funds
Total
Authority
proposed
Lake restoration
Natural Resources
$9,600,000
$10,000,000
$19,600,000
Watershed management
$0
$15,000,000
$15,000,000
authorities
Natural Resources
Private well safe water
cost -share program
Natural Resources
$0
$50,000,000
$50,000,000
Source water protection
Natural Resources
$0
$10,000,000
$10,000,000
Flood lain management
Natural Resources
$1,885,000
$1,000,000
$2,885,000
Forestry health
Natural Resources
$500,000
$1,500,000
$2,000,000
management
Clean drinking water:
Natural Resources/
Schools & child care
University of Iowa
$0
$5,000,000
$5,000,000
facilities
Drinking water well testing
Public Health/
$3,000,000
$50,000,000
$53,000,000
Universit of Iowa
Manure application
University of Iowa
$0
$500,000
$500,000
mapping
Partnering with FEMA's
University of Iowa
$0
$10,000,000
$10,000,000
BRIC program
Carbon impacts of Iowa
University of Iowa
$0
$750,000
$750,000
agriculture
Nutrient reduction
University of Iowa/
insurance pilot program
Agriculture
$0
$2,000,000
$2,000,000
Pesticide management
Agriculture
$0
$250,000
$250,000
Nutrient research
Iowa State University
$11,000,000
$11,000,000
$22,000,000
Water research consortium
Iowa State University
$0
$2,750,000
$2,750,000
Leopold Center for
Iowa State University
$0
$500,000
$500,000
Sustainable Agriculture
Property -assessed clean
University of Northern
energy
Iowa
$0
$250,000
$250,000
Public school and
community college solar
Economic Development
$0
$20,000,000
$20,000,000
installations
Energy storage projects
Economic Development
$0
$10,000,000
$10,000,000
Clean Cities: Electric
vehicles
Economic Development
$0
$5,000,000
$5,000,000
U.S. Climate Alliance
Economic Development
$0
$250,000
$250,000
Solar installation credits
Revenue
$7,000,000
$10,000,000
$17,000,000
County energy districts
Department of Justice
$0
$10,000,000
$10,000,000
Community solar projects
Department of Justice
$0
$5,000,000
$5,000,000
Performance audit
State Auditor
$0
$200,000
$200,000
Total
$32,985,000
$230,950,000
$263,935,000
State Representative Chuck Isenhart of Dubuque is a member of the House Government Oversight
Committee. These are not the only ideas. What are yours?
Contact information: 563-599-8839
Charles.Isenhartklegis. iowa.gov
Isenhart Campaign for the Common Good
P.O. Box 3353, Dubuque, IA 52004-3353
July 14, 2021
2, 2021
se Rep cur e,ffm.
..►pu ing Iowa back to work
Oscye
Q -0
o a
2021 �
PHASE FOUR: INVESTMENTS IN A RESILIENT
FOOD SYSTEM THAT SERVES EVERYONE
The Biden Administration's American Rescue Plan offers unprecedented opportunities for states, cities
and counties to provide pandemic response, relief and recovery to our citizens, including via $1.48
billion in funds to be channeled through the office of the Iowa governor. Help is here!
In recent weeks, I have offered suggestions to strengthen our public health infrastructure, to help our
travel and tourism economy "build back better," and to invest in environmental health through clean
water, clean energy and climate solutions.
Phase Four of an "Iowa Rescue Plan" focuses on paving (with permeable pavers, of course) existing
pathways and clearing new pathways for Iowa to grow resilient food systems rooted in sustaining and
regenerating our soil and water resources, creating new opportunities for young, beginning and
transitioning farmers in both rural and urban settings, and providing for advancements in food self-
sufficiency and food security.
The recommendations include funding for the Department of Human Services:
1) $10 million to partner with the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative in support of the Double Up Food
Bucks program, providing incentives for users of the supplemental nutrition assistance program
(SNAP) to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables and support local food producers. This includes
$4 million to develop and implement a "food -as -medicine" project with health care providers,
including dentists, to distribute Double Up Food Bucks to Medicaid members as part of
"prescription" programs.
The recommendations include funding for the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship:
2) $50 million for the Local Farm and Food Fund established in Iowa Code Chapter 267A.5, to
provide for strong local food economies that promote self-sufficiency and job growth in the
agricultural sector and allied sectors of the economy by A) promoting increased production of
Iowa -grown table foods; B) expanding the processing of Iowa -grown agricultural products into
food products, including canning, freezing, dehydrating, bottling, or otherwise packaging and
preserving such products; C) supporting the distribution and marketing of fresh and processed
Iowa -grown agricultural food products to markets in this state and neighboring states; D)
increasing consumer and institutional spending on Iowa -produced and marketed foods; and E)
increasing the profitability of farmers and businesses engaged in enterprises related to producing,
processing, distributing, and marketing local food; and F) increasing the number of jobs in this
state's farm and business economies associated with producing, processing, distributing, and
marketing locally -produced table food. Initiatives to be addressed through projects supported by
the Local Farm and Food Fund include the development of food hubs, the growth of urban
agriculture, the expansion of year-round food production and the elimination of food deserts;
3) $300,000 to the Local Farm and Food Council, to partner with the Iowa State University Farm,
Food and Enterprise Development Program and Economic Development Authority to support the
strategic allocation of resources from the Local Farm and Food Fund;
4) $3 million for the Farm -to -School Produce and Protein Program, to incentivize schools to
purchase locally -grown and raised foods produced by Iowa farmers, with participating schools
eligible to be reimbursed $1 for every $3 spent on local foods including fruits, vegetables, meat
and dairy, providing new markets for farmers, creating lasting connections between schools and
local producers, and strengthening Iowa's local and regional food systems;
5) $4,750,000 for the Value -Added Agriculture Program to identify, evaluate and financially
support programs and services that add value to agricultural products, enable new technologies,
support alternative marketing strategies, expand fruit and vegetable production along with other
alternative crops, increase processing capacity, open new market opportunities for livestock
products, as well as enhance food safety and sustainability to meet changing consumer market
preferences.
The recommendations include funding for the Department of Education:
6) $100 million to support school meals, including enabling all pre-school and K-12 students in the
state to eat breakfast free of charge for the next two school years
7) $3 million for allocations to Iowa's community colleges to strengthen culinary arts programs
committed to connecting Iowa's chefs, restaurants, hotels and "food technicians" with the state's
local foods producers;
8) $3 million for allocations to Iowa's community colleges to establish and/or expand nutrition
programs and curricula designed to educate households and individuals on the purchase,
preparation and health benefits of serving and eating locally -produced foods.
The recommendations include funding for the Iowa Economic Development Authority:
9) $24 million to provide financial assistance to beginning farmers to sustainably produce table food
for sale in Iowa or neighboring states by offsetting the land and capital costs incurred to establish
or expand operations on small acreages;
10) $500,000 to partner with Sustainable Iowa Land Trust in support of SILT's "Circle our Cities"
campaign to secure and permanently conserve land for the sustainable production of table food by
young, beginning or disadvantaged farmers;
11) $750,000 for the Butchery Innovation Program to award financial assistance to eligible
businesses for expanding or refurbishing small-scale meat processing businesses, licensed custom
lockers, or mobile slaughter units. Funds may also be used to establish an artisanal butchery
program at a community college;
12) $1,100,000 to the World Food Prize Foundation: $500,000 to support a two-year project to
engage stakeholders to identify public and private action steps that can be taken to make Iowa
food self-sufficient; $500,000 to support George Washington Carver internships within the 17
areas in Iowa represented by a council of governments, with assignments to work with local
stakeholders to assist in local food system development in support of food self-sufficiency; and
$100,000 to collaborate in the development and implementation of an Iowa Food Prize program
to recognize champions advancing the cause of local/community food systems in Iowa;
13) $1,550,000 for Councils of Government, with $550,000 to be allocated over two years to assist
local governments working together on and administering joint projects using American Rescue
Plan dollars, including projects of local food policy councils of cities and counties, with $1
million to be sub -granted to food policy councils as matching funds for local food system
development projects supported with local government and/or private sector dollars.
The recommendations include funding for the Department of Natural Resources:
14) $1 million to provide grants to food banks, food pantries, non-profit feeding programs and non-
profit organizations serving dependent and vulnerable populations, including nursing homes and
child care facilities, for energy -efficient cold food storage capacity, to significantly increase the
procurement and offering of fruits, vegetables and other nutritious foods.
The recommendations include funding for Iowa State University:
15) $1 million for the Department of Food Science and Nutrition to partner with the Extension and
Outreach Service to conduct food safety and quality research, consultation and training in support
of the production, processing, marketing and consumption of Iowa -grown foods;
16) $500,000 for livestock disease research, to assess the vulnerability of Iowa livestock to foreign
animal disease due to genetic homogeneity and concentrated feeding, including diseases that may
be communicated to humans.
The recommendations include funding for the University of Northern Iowa:
17) $500,000 for the Iowa Waste Reduction Center to enhance capacity to identify, promote and
support practices providing for the reduction of food waste;
18) $1 million for the Center for Energy and Environmental Education to engage stakeholders in the
development, deployment and maintenance of comprehensive food security and nutrition
standards and goals for the state, with annual status reports, and to support county boards of
health in the creation of local food and nutrition standards, goals and implementation strategies as
part of community health needs assessments and health improvement plans, with emphasis on the
social determinants of health.
The recommendations include funding for the Department of Homeland Security:
19) $10 million to partner with the U.S. Agency for International Development Office of Food for
Peace to pilot a program to subsidize the purchase of additional Iowa agricultural products for
distribution to individuals, families and farmers in the developing countries of Central America to
assist in relieving hunger and the social conditions contributing to refugee migration.
The recommendations include funding for the Iowa Office for State -Federal Relations:
20) $250,000 to forge and coordinate programmatic partnerships between federal, state and local
public and private sector agencies and entities, supporting the establishment of Iowa as a lead
state in local food system development, food self-sufficiency, human nutrition and public health.
To foster state -local partnerships using federal money, Iowa should give preference to cities and counties
that match the state's contributions with their own American Rescue Plan dollars.
The Iowa Rescue Plan would direct $217.2 million to food system initiatives over the next two years.
This would account for about 14.7 percent of the federal monies allocated to Iowa. These projects would
promote public health objectives, provide for economic recovery and address some of the negative
impacts of the disaster emergency.
Understanding the lessons learned from the COVID-19 emergency, we recognize the importance of
involving employers in the response and providing protections for workers when public health disasters
strike. This proposal calls on state agencies responsible for grant programs and contracting to give first
preference to grant recipients and contractors that provide at least 56 hours of annual paid family sick
leave to workers employed in their operations.
Program
Department or
Authority
Current
budget
ARP funds
proposed
Total
Double Up Food Bucks
Human Services
$0
$10,000,000
$10,000,000
Local farm and food fund
Agriculture
$0
$50,000,000
$50,000,000
Farm, food and enterprise
development
Agriculture/Iowa
State University
$75,000
$300,000
$375,000
Farm -to -school produce
& protein
Agriculture
$0
$3,000,000
$3,000,000
Value-added agriculture
Agriculture
$250,000
$4,750,000
$5,000,000
School food programs
Education
$ 2,176,797
$100,000,000
$102,176,797
Culinary arts
programming
Education
$0
$3,000,000
$3,000,000
Household nutrition
Education
$0
$3,000,000
$3,000,000
Beginning farmers
Economic
development
$0
$24,000,000
$24,000,000
Agricultural land
Economic
$0
$500,000
$500,000
reservation
development
Butchery innovation
Economic
$750,000
$1,750,000
$2,500,000
development
World Food Prize
Economic
$375,000
$1,100,000
$1,475,000
development
Councils of government
Economic
$275,000
$1,550,000
$1,825,000
and local food policy
development
councils
Cold food storage
Natural resources
$0
$1,000,000
$1,000,000
capacity
Food safety and quality
Iowa State University
$0
$1,000,000
$1,000,000
Livestock disease
Iowa State University
$170,390
$500,000
$670,390
research
Food waste reduction
University of
$0
$500,000
$500,000
Northern Iowa
Food security and
University of
$0
$1,000,000
$1,000,000
nutrition standards and
Northern Iowa
goals
Iowa food aid
Homeland security
$0
$10,000,000
$10,000,000
Federal -state -local
Office for State-
$0
$250,000
$250,000
partnerships
Federal Relations
Total
$4,072,187
$217,200,000
$221,272,187
State Representative Chuck Isenhart of Dubuque is a member of the House Government Oversight
Committee. These are not the only ideas. What are yours?
Contact information: 563-599-8839
Charles.Isenhartklegis. iowa.gov
Isenhart Campaign for the Common Good
P.O. Box 3353, Dubuque, IA 52004-3353
August 17, 2021