U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $7.7 Million for Flood Protection Infrastructure in Dubuque, Iowa Copyrighted
October 2, 2023
City of Dubuque Action Items # 02.
City Council Meeting
ITEM TITLE: U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $7.7 Million for Flood Protection
Infrastructure in Dubuque, lowa
SUM MARY: The City of Dubuque has been awarded a$7.7 million grant from the
U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration
(EDA)to improve flood prevention infrastructure and help protect homes
and businesses from future flooding.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Press Release Supporting Documentation
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City of Dubuque Awarded $7.7 Million Federal
Grant to Improve Flood Protection Measures
Sept. 28, 2023—FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The City of Dubuque has been awarded a $7.7 million grant from the U.S. Department
of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) to improve flood
prevention infrastructure and help protect homes and businesses from future flooding.
The funding will replace the flood gates which protect the city from Mississippi River
flooding, as well as provide for new pumps with double the existing pumping capacity,
reducing the impacts of heavy rainfall and flooding in the community. The project is
expected to create 150 jobs and help generate approximately $16.5 million in private
investment.
The grant will go toward the $26.7 million project to build and install a new stormwater
pumping station along Kerper Boulevard at the 16t" Street Detention Basin. This new
infrastructure will provide the City with additional flexibility in managing water levels in
the detention basin. It will also assist with flood control and allow for future expansion in
the event that flood events become more frequent in the future.
"President Biden's Investing in America agenda is providing communities in lowa and
across the country with the resources they need to grow their local economies following
flooding and other natural disasters," said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.
"This EDA investment will protect the city of Dubuque from future flooding, supporting
business growth and the creation of new jobs in the community."
"We are grateful to the Department of Commerce, the Biden Administration, and our
federal legislators for this major grant," said Dubuque Mayor Brad Cavanagh. "It is a
significant boost for this project to improve our flood protection infrastructure and our
community's resiliency."
Since 1999, Dubuque has experienced six flood events which drew Presidential disaster
declarations. These storms have occurred with increased intensity and frequency in that
timeframe, necessitating the added flood control measures.
"lowans are no strangers to natural disasters, and Dubuque has been proactively
working hard to strengthen flood prevention throughout the city. This disaster grant will
help make additional progress to protect neighborhoods and businesses and promote
economic development throughout the community," said Senator Chuck Grassley.
The project, a phase of the Bee Branch Watershed Flood Mitigation Project, will benefit
residents and businesses along the Kerper Boulevard corridor whose properties lie
within the 100-year flood plain. This includes the entire Kerper Boulevard Industrial
Park, home to several large employers.
This project was made possible in part by the regional planning efforts led by the East
Central Intergovernmental Association (ECIA). EDA funds ECIA to bring together the
public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen
the regional economy, support private capital investment, and create jobs.
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