Regional 2023 Public Policy Priorities

2023 PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES

The Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance and the Iowa City Area Business Partnership annually recommend and support positions on key policy issues affecting our region and state’s economic growth. These positions and recommendations are made with significant input from our combined 2,000 members, investors, partners, and community stakeholders.

Now, more than ever, our economic growth relies on our ability to compete for, attract, and retain a skilled workforce. For businesses to thrive in this economic environment, we must remove barriers to work by developing innovative solutions in immigration, child care, affordable housing, community placemaking, and talent development.

A strong urban and rural connection, in which we rely on one another, contributes to mutually beneficial growth in Iowa’s population and economic environment. We support policies that equally value the unique strengths and needs of both.

Finally, we all win when policy makers find common ground to agree upon long-term solutions to the challenges faced by our region, state, and nation. We expect our elected officials to argue their perspective passionately, civilly, and respectfully. It is time to focus on solutions that will grow Iowa and our region, help all of us prepare for a promising future, and bring trust to America’s political system.

Together we support state and federal policies that:

• Welcome workers from all populations

• Enhance community attraction and livability efforts

• Regain educational leader status & invest in the future workforce

• Close the opportunity gap & remove barriers to employment

• Embrace solutions utilizing technology and natural resources

• Promote and incentivize business growth

Goal: Welcome Workers from All Populations

Our members and investors agree – they need more workers. The impact of this worker shortage crosses every industry, every business size, and every skill set category. To meet current and future labor demands, we must ensure skilled, qualified workers can live and work in Iowa.

It is time to address immigration policies that create barriers for new people to join, or remain, in Iowa’s workforce. Immigrants comprised 44% of Iowa’s population growth from 2010-2019, according to the most recent U.S. Census.

Business leaders recognize a diverse workforce means greater success. It is vital to our population growth that Iowa is welcoming to people of all backgrounds, experiences, and it is a place where everyone can thrive.

We support policies that provide a permanent path to citizenship for individuals who came to America as children; to individuals granted asylum upon coming to America; and that simplify the work VISA system. Under the current system, it can take years for hardworking, talented individuals to legally obtain the documentation required to work in the United States. In turn, countless jobs remain unfilled due to labor shortages.

POLICY SOLUTIONS

FEDERAL POLICY STATE POLICY

Support policies that protect the nearly 4,000 recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protective Status (TPS) and create a simple pathway to citizenship * x

Expand and simplify the Visa capacity of all professions, including the expansion of options for international students to acquire work authorization in the U.S. upon graduation, and seasonal workers to fill important roles with in our agricultural industry.

x

Support policies that encourage and support secondary migration and refugee resettlement to live and work in Iowa. x x

Encourage the modernization of a reliable federal employment verification (e-verify) system to check work documentation and discourage a siloed state-bystate approach. x x

Support policies that are inclusive to all populations to live and work in Iowa, allowing businesses to attract a diverse workforce and cities to compete to host national events. x

Support policies that encourage new workers to move and stay in Iowa and pay taxes in Iowa, as well as policies that do not penalize Iowa businesses from employing workers that live outside of Iowa. x

*Featured Priority

Goal: Enhance Community Attraction & Livability Efforts

By creating desirable and robust communities, Iowa can establish itself as a great place to live and work. Available housing stock, modern and accessible airports, robust broadband connections, community placemaking projects, and recreational opportunities are vital to Iowa’s workforce attraction and retention strategy and create great “quality of place.”

Likewise, providing businesses and communities with resources to recover from disasters and prepare for the future will help our state thrive. To meet the demands of a modern economy, funding commitments must be maintained. These commitments ensure ongoing local investments remain as planned, and provide support for roads, bridges, waterways, transit, and hospitals.

POLICY SOLUTIONS

FEDERAL POLICY STATE POLICY

Support funding increases and policy changes that meet the demand for affordable and available housing stock as well as limiting regulations that raise the cost of housing. * x x

Support public-private partnerships that mobilize private capital and leverage public investments for infrastructure and community placemaking projects, including funding grants from programs such as Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE), Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy (RISE) and the National Endowment for the Arts and Iowa Arts Council.

Support funding sources and flexible policies to address needed water infrastructure improvements, including funding of the Iowa Flood Center, programs and projects that improve flood mitigation efforts, flood protection and forecasting, and implement the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund as it was originally intended.

Support the development of a future proof broadband network and other necessary infrastructure using a collaborative state and federal funding strategy and support the needs of individuals and industry including education technology, autonomous vehicle technology, and cyber security.

x x

x x

x x

Support infrastructure commitments and the fair allocation of federal monies to develop local infrastructure projects in rural and urban areas including airport improvement, roads, and bridges. x x Support continued funding for the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Passenger Rail Fund Program to provide matching funding for passenger rail infrastructure development, with the goal of establishing intercity passenger rail service from Chicago to Iowa City-Des Moines-Omaha along the Iowa Interstate Railroad.

x x *Featured Priority

Goal: Regain Educational Leader Status & Invest in the Future Workforce

A strong education system that aligns with the needs of the business community is critical to meeting our region’s workforce needs. Iowa must support innovative education initiatives and programs that develop workplace skills. Additionally, we must expand employer involvement in developing workforce programs that align with PK-12, community colleges, universities, and private institutions to build a talent pipeline and attract the best and brightest to Iowa.

To regain our status as the best education system in the nation we need to promote and reward high-quality teachers, create personalized learning by tracking student progress, invest in continuing education training programs, and in early childhood education options.

Longstanding race-based education gaps continue to exist at all levels, from early childhood and K-12 to postsecondary education and in on-the-job training. As Iowa’s population continues to become more diverse, these education gaps perpetuate inequalities in employment, income, and wealth development and must be addressed.

POLICY SOLUTIONS

Promote and expand employer sponsored innovative educational experiences like “earn and learn” and apprenticeship programs as a low-cost option for workforce training. *

Support funding requests, research grants and program flexibility so higher education institutions can continue to offer Iowans quality education that meets the state’s workforce needs, including protecting the Iowa Tuition Grant so more programs are available to all residents and have the option to enroll at Iowa’s private institutions.

FEDERAL POLICY STATE POLICY

x x

x x

Support funding Future Ready Iowa initiatives, including the Employer Innovation Fund and Last-Dollar Scholarship program, without diverting funding from other local and state efforts to build our talent pipeline. x

Support policies that modernize and improve the education funding formula in a way that serves all school districts and students and allows school boards to effectively manage their financial resources. x

Reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to include the expansion of the Aviation Workforce Development Grant program to help increase the aviation-focused workforce. x x

Support expanding funding for financial aid and educational savings programs so post-secondary degrees and training are accessible for more students studying high-demand careers. x Support increased funding and access for mental health services in schools and communities. x x

Goal: Close the Opportunity Gap & Remove Barriers to Employment

Workforce challenges remain a top concern for our member businesses. These challenges are exacerbated by an unemployment rate hovering below 3% and low population growth. We have an opportunity to address core workforce issues, including mental health issues within the workplace, in addition to issues related to the opportunity gap and barriers to employment. We must adjust policies to meet future demands.

Iowa must look for sustainable solutions to close race-based opportunity gaps that hinder our economic growth and the vitality of our communities. By addressing inequity in education, employment, entrepreneurship, and other systems we can develop strategies and create new opportunities that strengthen our communities, our businesses, and remove barriers to success.

POLICY SOLUTIONS

Support policies that address access to high quality, affordable child care and early childhood education, including increased wages and benefits to grow our child care workforce, and expanded Child Care Assistance benefits to support working families. *

Support policies that help prepare offenders for successful reentry to Iowa communities and employment, including the expansion of high school equivalency diploma pathways and apprenticeships. It is also imperative to support correction facility employee training.

FEDERAL POLICY STATE POLICY

x x

x Retrain workers for jobs of tomorrow by creating a streamlined return to work program and expanding Pell Grants to cover more program areas. x x

Support policies that improve access to talent, capital, and opportunities for early and growth-stage companies and expand access to capital to allow minority business owners to start and grow businesses. x x

Address the nation’s pilot shortage, including lowering financial barriers to the profession, re-examining the 1,500hour minimum flight time rule, and increasing the number of pathways to accrue the necessary experience to ensure sustainable and competitive regional air service.

x

Support funding for law enforcement crisis intervention training and staffing for community mental health coordinators to alleviate pressures on law enforcement to also act as social workers. x x

Expand funding for ESL programs to advance the educational and employment opportunities for immigrants. x x

*Featured Priority

Goal: Embrace Solutions Utilizing Technology & Natural Resources

Businesses often lead the way with innovative solutions for the economic challenges community’s face. Manufacturing 4.0 is an innovation that will allow Iowa to thrive in an era of change and to utilize our rich natural resources that provide a significant global competitive edge to us.

Iowa’s use of renewable energy sources is the highest in the nation according to a recent report by the American Clean Power Association. Smart sustainability practices are key to business attraction. Companies seeking to relocate are increasingly looking to find 100% renewable energy sources to power their businesses and attract a younger workforce. We must leverage new funding sources to develop strategies and incentives that prepare workers for the future and allow businesses to grow and thrive while also preparing for disasters.

POLICY SOLUTIONS

FEDERAL POLICY STATE POLICY

Support investments and research in automation, smart technologies, semi-conductors, and cyber security to modernize the nation’s digital infrastructure. * x x

Support policies that leverage technology and innovation for educational instruction and testing to encourage further growth of the EdTech industry. x x

Open avenues for exports and international investment making it easier for Iowa’s small business owners, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, and farmers to sell their products abroad. x x

Support polices that allows farmers and businesses within the agriculture supply chain to responsibly invest in Iowa’s natural resources. x x

Support policies, rules and regulations that encourage the production of renewable, alternative energy resources, and biomanufacturing such as ethanol, nuclear, hydrogen, solar and wind that are environmentally responsible and keep energy costs down.

x x

Support common ground climate policies that that are efficient, sustainable, reliable, flexible, predictable and make Iowa resilient in the face of natural disasters. x x

Support funding sources and flexible policies to address necessary water infrastructure improvements allowing for affordable rates and the capacity for growth. x

*Featured Priority

Goal: Promote and Incentivize Business Growth

Businesses, across industries, continue to be impacted by and need assistance in recovering from COVID-19. Additionally, small businesses, which contribute significantly to local economies and identities, need innovative solutions and resources to support their ongoing recovery.

Tax structures must lead to economic growth and job creation. These structures must further simplification, predictability, promote fairness, and fiscal responsibility. Ongoing review and analysis of agency rules and regulations is essential to promote a business environment that fosters an entrepreneurial mindset and works to grow our regional economy. Economic development incentives have been successfully leveraged to grow our economy and allow us to remain competitive. These incentives must be protected to continue to encourage capital investment, entrepreneurship, and create jobs in Iowa.

Finally, we must expand access to affordable, high-quality, and transparent health care services that do not over burden employers with costly regulations that prohibit their ability to grow.

POLICY SOLUTIONS

Support policies that ensure a sustainable, reliable, safe and predictable supply chain of products, and keep costs down. *

Support policies that lead to a more affordable and flexible health insurance system for employers and employees, lessen the burden on small business owners, and increase transparency, access to unbiased information, and accountability for brokers.

Protect and expand state and local economic development incentives that demonstrate a positive return on investment and work to further innovation, workforce, and development in both rural and urban areas. For Iowa to remain competitive, we must honor the incentive commitments made to companies.

FEDERAL POLICY STATE POLICY

x x

x x

x

Expand grant eligibility under the Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP) to include economic development projects that would assist regional airports with local job creating projects. x

Support new payment delivery models and access to capital that allow for innovation within the health care system, including long-term care facilities, and give our health care providers the flexibility to deliver care in new ways. x

Allow local governments and businesses the authority to address issues unique to their communities. x

Support reform that provides liability protection to business and industry from frivolous lawsuits.

x x

The Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance and the Iowa City Area Business Partnership remain committed to finding bipartisan solutions and encouraging our elected officials to work together and focus on serving our communities. We strongly support First Amendment rights and advocate for civil debate among elected officials, candidates and citizens, and we remain committed to leading by example.