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DES MOINES In reaction to severe weather that struck the region on Monday, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds declared disasters in Hancock, O Brien, Osceolo, and Sioux counties in Northwest Iowa on Tuesday.
Through the governor’s proclamation, the region’s hurricane recovery efforts can access state resources.
The decree goes into effect right away and ends on August 28.
The proclamation initiates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program, which offers grants up to $7,000 to cover temporary housing costs, property or food replacement, and home or auto repairs for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
According to the governor’s office, the proclamation also launches the catastrophe Case Advocacy Program, where case advocates collaborate with affected residents to develop a catastrophe recovery plan and offer direction, counsel, and recommendations to resources or services. The Disaster Case Advocacy Program is open for 180 days following the declaration and has no income threshold.
The Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management website, homelandsecurity.iowa.gov, has further details about both initiatives, including a grant application.
Iowa AG Bird objects to Schwab settlement
In a lawsuit against the retail brokerage Charles Schwab, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird has objected to the proposed settlement, claiming that while lawyers would receive millions, Iowans would receive nothing.
The plaintiffs alleged that antitrust laws were broken by Schwab’s acquisition of TD Ameritrade. Three identified claimants will each receive $5,050 as part of the settlement that the parties negotiated, along with $9 million for legal fees. According to Bird’s office, customers—including Iowans—would not be compensated.
It is my responsibility as Iowa’s attorney general to represent all Iowans, including individuals with Charles Schwab accounts. Attorneys profit $9 million from this deal, while Iowans only get the assurance that attorneys would keep an eye on Schwab. Bird stated in a news release that it is not fair nor right. Lawyers’ fees should be determined by the results they achieve for their clients. Until a better bargain is struck, these attorneys should not be compensated because they won nothing. This is the best deal available.
Rural grocers picked for state grants
The Iowa Economic Development Authority revealed that eight recipients of the most recent Iowa Rural Innovation Grants were rural food producers and grocers.
According to a press statement from the IEDA, the eight funds, which came to a total of $72,624 in total, would go toward projects that aim to improve local services and encourage economic growth.
According to IEDA, the Rural Innovation Grant program promotes innovative approaches to problems encountered by communities with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants that are not next to cities with a population of 40,000 or more.
According to the press release, Debi Durham, head of IEDA and the Iowa Finance Authority, stated that rural companies are critical to the well-being and profitability of Iowa’s small communities. They act as pillars of their communities, bringing fresh meals to more people and attracting new clients. They are able to expand, upgrade, and keep up with the changing demands of Iowans because to this support.
According to IEDA, eight programs were selected out of ten applications. The largest grants were $19,984 for a Winthrop grocer to purchase equipment for take-and-bake meals and delivery, and $25,000 for a Minden grocer to install a drive-thru window for grocery pickup.
Lee Des Moines Bureau Gazette
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