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State of Iowa Long-Term Economic Recovery Strategy Prepared for the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce October 2010 Page intentionally left blank. State of Iowa Long -Term Economic Recovery Strategy Table of Contents DISASTER OVERVIEW & BACKGROUND Disaster Summary 8 Iowa Disaster Events & Response Timeline 9 Mission, Vision & Goals 10 The RIO & the RIAC 11 Rebuild Iowa Office & Advisory Commission Timeline 14 ECONOMIC RECOVERY STRATEGY METHODS Obtain & Expedite Disaster Recovery Funding 18 Identify & Quantify Disaster Impacts 24 Public Outreach & Assistance 26 Obtain Public & Expert Input 34 Enact Policy & Legislative Changes 38 ECONOMIC RECOVERY STRATEGY ROAD MAP Goal 1: Housing Recovery 52 Goal 2: Business & Workforce Recovery 64 Goal 3: Infrastructure Investments 74 Goal 4: Individual Services & Guidance 80 Goal 5: Local Economic Recovery 92 Goal 6: Smart Planning 100 Goal 7: Statewide Mitigation Planning 114 Goal 8: Floodplain & Watershed Management 124 Goal 9: Floodplain Mapping 136 Goal 10: Quality of Life 142 REGIONAL RECOVERY STRATEGIES Statewide Obstacles & Recommendations 152 Area 15 Regional Planning Commission 158 East Central Intergovernmental Association 160 East Central Iowa Council of Governments 166 Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments 176 Metropolitan Area Planning Agency 184 Mid Iowa Development Association 190 North Iowa Area Council of Governments 193 Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Commission 198 Region 6 Planning Commission 200 Region XII Council of Governments 208 Siouxland Interstate Metropolitan Planning Council 214 Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission 218 Southern Iowa Council of Governments 228 Southwest Iowa Planning Council 234 Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission 240 Conclusion 248 APPENDIX Maps, Charts & Graphs 250 Revolving Loan Funds 251 Iowa Disaster Recovery Funding Timeline 252 Iowa Disaster Recovery Assistance Programs Timeline 254 Glossary 257 Iowa Infrastructure Projects 258 ―Appendix A‖ Disaster Recovery Programs 260 Rebuild Iowa Office Budget & Expenditures 268 Rebuild Iowa Office Staffing 269 Rebuild Iowa Office Contracts 270 3 Scope of Work In July, 2008 Iowa received a $3 million grant from the Economic Development Administration to create an Economic Recovery Strategy for recovering from the devastating floods and tornadoes that impacted the state earlier that summer. This report outlines the final version of that strategy. It includes the methods, goals, objectives, measures and key projects that the state has undertaken and will continue into the future to ensure the state‘s complete recovery. Elements of the scope of work of this grant can be found throughout the report. Some highlights are outlined below. Scope of Work Item #1 Staffing and support for the RIO and RIAC. This includes efforts to solicit public, community and expert input on economic recovery issues and the development of a long-term recovery strategy on behalf of the state. Pages 10-16 outline the history and set-up of the RIO and RIAC. Pages 34-39 outline efforts to obtain public and expert input through surveys and events around the state, including the three ―Speak Up Iowa‖ surveys conducted, the Iowa Recovery Analysis Workshop and Survey, and most recently, Iowa‘s first ever Disaster Recovery Tabletop Exercise. This entire report and its attachments serve as the final State of Iowa Long- Term Economic Recovery Strategy. Scope of Work Item #2 Identification and quantification of disaster impacts on Iowa‘s economic sectors. This includes an economic impact study, task forces with key stakeholders and experts and outreach. Page 11 outlines the Task Forces originally created under the RIAC and the work they produced. Pages 24-25 outline efforts to identify and quantify disaster impacts including a three surveys of the most impacted communities and their results and a report created by Iowa State University‘s Department of Economics. This report, ―Evaluating Direct and Indirect Economic Outcomes of the 2008 Iowa Weather- Related Disasters‖, can be found in the appendix of this report. Scope of Work Item #3 Comprehensive economic recovery planning. This includes assessments and analyses related to the economic needs and priorities in the state during the recovery period. The purpose of this plan is to look at the devastation of the disaster as an opportunity to rebuild smarter, safer and stronger than before. Out of this process will come goals and objectives for the state and a road map for disaster recovery including key milestones. The components of the final strategy are included in this report at the point they are developed right now. Those include: Overview of disaster damage and impacts (see pages 8, 9 and other impact analysis outlined above). Pages 17-52 outline strategy development methodology including Obtain and Expedite Disaster Recovery Funding, Identify and Quantify Disaster Impacts, 4 State of Iowa Long -Term Economic Recovery Strategy Public Outreach and Assistance, Obtain Public and Expert Input and Enact Policy and Legislative Changes. Short and long term goals and objectives for Iowa‘s overall disaster recovery including projects, accomplishments and difficulties (outlined throughout the road map section of the report, pages 52-150). Measures and milestones linked to those goals and objectives (also outlined under each objective). Suggested implementation strategies and information on what has taken place (also under each goal). Transition strategies going forward are also outlined under each objective. A Regional Recovery Strategy section has been added. Scope of Work Item #4 Conduct economic studies and analysis to feed recovery strategy development and implementation efforts. This includes a Comprehensive Infrastructure Study in partnership with the Iowa Department of Economic Development to include five task forces in Natural Resources, Energy, Telecommunications, Transportation and Vertical Infrastructure. This study was completed in April 2010. An electronic copy will be provided to the Economic Development Administration along with this report and can be found on the RIO Web site. Scope of Work Item #5 Obtain input from stakeholders about vision, priorities and needs for recovery. This includes ―Speak Up Iowa‖ listening sessions and surveys and other related sessions and forums. Pages 34-36 outline outreach efforts including a variety of workshops and forums to obtain expert and public opinion for use in developing the strategy including past and current ―Speak Up Iowa‖ activities. Pages 21 and 22 outline the work of the Rebuild Iowa Coordinating Council to set vision, priorities and needs. Scope of Work Item #8 The Rebuild Iowa Office should engage Council of Government. RIO staff meets regularly with COG staff and leadership and has received copies of their strategies. These strategies are available on the RIO Web site. And overall summary of the conclusions in those strategies can be found on page 151. COGs have been involved in several outreach and planning efforts towards the strategy including the Iowa Long-Term Disaster Recovery Exercise, the Iowa Smart Planning Task Force, state and federal legislative agendas, data collection and their input has been requested in a number of areas related to programs, policy and strategy. New to this final report are the COG‘s Regional Recovery Strategies, which can be found in the Regional Recovery Strategy section. Scope of Work Items #6, #7, #9 and #10 These are both technical items related to staffing, contracts and reporting. 5 Executive Summary The Rebuild Iowa Office (RIO) continues to coordinate the state‘s recovery effort from the storms, tornadoes and floods of 2008. Much has been accomplished since the Office‘s last quarterly report was issued in July 2010. State funding has been disbursed to help Iowans with unmet needs and housing. Local governments and entities are utilizing millions of federal dollars so thousands of disaster-impacted homeowners can be offered a buyout. More infrastructure projects are under construction and new neighborhoods are being built with mitigation efforts in mind. However, as Iowa continues to celebrate many successes along the road to recovery, it must also address the numerous challenges that are encountered along the path. Recovering from the state‘s largest disaster must be looked at as a marathon, not a sprint. Over the past three months, the RIO has especially remained focused on helping small business owners impacted by the 2008 disasters. Many disaster-affected businesses have reopened their doors, however their debt load continues to be overwhelming and many still struggle with the timeliness of the disbursement of funds. This report describes how programs and recent modifications are working to assist recovering businesses. This report contains updates on housing progress while outlining the complexities behind certain programs and the bottlenecks communities are facing due to strict federal guidelines for implementation. This following pages also describe how Iowa is implementing Smart Planning principles, publicizing flood awareness through outreach efforts and preparing a blueprint for the state to follow when future disasters occur. As always, the RIO recognizes and thanks the countless leaders and front- line workers from local, regional, state and federal government, businesses, non-profit organizations and private citizens that have provided input, support and leadership. Their dedication to Iowa‘s disaster recovery
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