Biden Is Coming Back To Iowa. Here’s What He’s Done For The State, So Far

President Joe Biden is set to visit Menlo, a Guthrie County town about 45 minutes west of Des Moines, to tout his infrastructure investments in rural Iowa, according to the Des Moines Register.

Since entering office, the Biden Administration has placed a large emphasis on helping the country recover from the coronavirus pandemic and rebuilding America’s crumbling infrastructure.

Two pieces of legislation Biden signed into law to address those issues are the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Act. ARPA provided nearly $4.5 billion in funds to the state of Iowa while cities and counties also received hundreds of millions. The infrastructure bill will bring about $5 billion to Iowa.

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Since last year, Starting Line has covered how and where some of those funds will be used in the state. Here are some of the ways the Biden Administration has helped Iowans:

For a great overview of Iowans’ impacted and dollars doled out under Biden, check out this piece:

By the Numbers: Biden’s First-Year Impact on Iowans

This story breakdowns how Iowans will benefit from ARPA:

Here’s What Iowans Can Get Out Of Biden’s COVID Relief Law

As part of ARPA, the Biden Administration bolstered the child tax credit:

Answers to Common Questions, Concerns on the Child Tax Credit

Jill Biden and Cindy Axne Tout Child Tax Credit Help in Des Moines

ARPA funds will support a day-care project in Decorah:

One Year Later, How Biden’s Rescue Plan Is Helping Northeast Iowa

In Marshall County, officials used ARPA funds to support child care and overall vaccine confidence:

How the American Rescue Plan Has Helped Marshall County

Child care was also a priory for ARPA funds in Ottumwa, which also used the federal funds to support overall health care:

Federal Funds to Bolster Health Care, Child Services in Ottumwa Area

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The Field of Dreams outside of Dyersville again put Iowa in the national spotlight last year after Major League Baseball hosted a game at the tourist attraction. The site and two others across Iowa will benefit from ARPA dollars to help with water infrastructure:

Federal Rescue Plan Funds Boost Iowa Water Infrastructure Projects

Some Iowa mayors already have ideas in mind on how to utilize the upcoming infrastructure dollars to improve their communities:

Mayors On What The Infrastructure Package Means For Iowa

We could also use the help for deficient bridges, a category in which Iowa ranks as the worst in the country:

Infrastructure Plan Would Bring ‘Significant’ Help For Deficient Iowa Bridges

Another benefit of the infrastructure bill is the projected good-paying job boom expected to be created in its wake:

A Lot Of Good-Paying Jobs Are Coming To Iowa, Labor Leaders Say Of Infrastructure Bill’s Signing

If you want one of those good-paying jobs, here’s a guide on how to get started:

Want A Good-Paying Labor Job In Iowa? Here’s What You Need To Do

While there have been a number of great projects federal funding from the Biden Administration has gone toward, there have also been some controversies on how officials have used those funds:

Woodbury Co. Residents Criticize Using Rescue Plans Funds On Jail Cost Over-Runs

And here:

https://www.ketv.com/article/organizers-county-officials-split-on-how-to-spend-pott-county-arpa-dollars/39482535

by Ty Rushing
04/11/22

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