Legislature works to revitalize rural Iowa

Iowa is a rural state and its people have great pride in the bustling communities that dot our state. Countless Iowans grew up and continue to live in small-town Iowa because of the great quality of life that our rural communities offer.

As state lawmakers, it is our responsibility to ensure that Iowans living across our state continue to have abundant opportunities to live, work, and raise a family in small-town Iowa. Whether it is economic development, health care, or education, the Legislature must continue to make rural Iowa a priority and keep our small communities vibrant and growing.

One of the key elements to attracting and growing businesses and services in any area is access to reliable broadband internet service. While cities like Des Moines and Cedar Rapids have had no trouble getting this critical piece of infrastructure, high-speed internet access has been very slow to arrive in many of our smaller towns. Rather than continue to wait, Governor Reynolds and the Legislature have provided funding to help communities jump start the process and invest in broadband access.

Another element to help businesses grow is to ensure that workers have access to affordable housing options. This past session, the Legislature expanded a workforce housing program by earmarking a portion of these credits to help spur development specifically in rural counties and cities. Fort Dodge is already using these incentives effectively, and the Legislature’s action this session will allow new rural communities to tap into this successful program as well.

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