Federal Rescue Plan Funds Boost Iowa Water Infrastructure Projects

Federal dollars continue to flow into Iowa as Gov. Kim Reynolds announced $38 million in funding for three water infrastructure projects Friday morning, including up to $15 million toward the Iowa Confluence (ICON) Water Trails Project in Des Moines.

The money comes from the Water Infrastructure Fund (WIF), a state program financed through Iowa’s allocation of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The law was signed by President Joe Biden in March 2021.

In addition to the ICON Water Trails Project, which aims to connect 150 miles of waterways with 86 separate projects that provide recreational opportunities, the WIF funds will provide $11 million to the Dyersville East Road Utilities Project at the “Field of Dreams” site and up to $12 million toward the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System.

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The Dyersville project is intended to provide municipal water and wastewater services to the site made famous by the 1989 Kevin Costner movie filmed there. The Lewis & Clark Regional Water System is a multi-state endeavor to bring water from the Missouri River to 20 rural communities including five in northwest Iowa as well as cities in South Dakota and southwest Minnesota.

Reynolds broke the news in Sioux Center, one of the Iowa cities committed to Lewis & Clark.

“Our goal is to build and nurture our communities by investing in infrastructure that promotes healthy and welcoming areas to live, work, and raise a family,” Reynolds said.

“Not only will these three grants enhance our state’s water infrastructure, but they will make significant contributions to economic development.”

by Ty Rushing
1/28/22

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