Off to Washington, D.C.: Economic development effort takes flight

The quest for better roads and sewer systems begins with support from members of Congress.

A delegation led by the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation is in Washington, D.C. to get that support this week.

Twelve community leaders have set up a series of meetings with Iowa's representatives in the nation's capital. They'll focus much of their time with Rep. Steve King, who serves Buena Vista, Clay and Dickinson counties as well as Rep. Tom Latham, who represents Emmet County residents in Congress.

Shorter appointments are planned for District 1 Rep. Bruce Braley of Waterloo, District 2 Rep. Dave Loebsack of Mount Vernon and District 3 Rep. Leonard Boswell of Des Moines.

U.S. Senator Tom Harkin, U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley and their staffs also will meet with the local group.

"We spend a good half-hour or so with each of the elected officials talking about our top six priority projects, said Kathy Evert, the corridor's president and CEO. "Then we spend time with their staff going into each of those projects in much more detail."

The delegation's efforts to help the Spencer area will focus on funding for the Green Industrial Center in east Spencer and a $30 million storm water and sanitary sewer separation project for the city.

Spencer's leaders have broken the $30 million Combined Sewer Overflow effort into thirds. They'd like the federal government to cover about $2.5 million of the first $10 million of the project.

"As we have reached an agreement with the EPA to try to move forward to meet their goals and objectives, obviously the funding of those goals is an important part," said Spencer City Manager Bob Fagen. "We feel the federal government has a role in that."

The second item broached by the city involves development of the $3.5 million Green Industrial Center.

"Now, more than ever it's important with the loss of recent jobs, is to try to make sure we bring in new industry," Fagen said.

A Revitalize Iowa's Sound Economy grant of $422,000 has already helped. Fagen will ask the delegation for an additional $1 million. The money will extend the streets, sewers and water line all the way out through the industrial park area.

"It puts us in a great position," Fagen said. "It's an industrial park so it is going to be appealing to a lot (of industries), but wind energy and alternative energy seems to be a high priority for not only us but the state and federal government. We think this project fits quite well with what they're trying to promote."

Other items on the Corridor's agenda for 2009 is an expansion of U.S. Highway 20 and upgrades to Iowa Highway 86.

The group will request funding to dredge Storm Lake. A wastewater treatment project in Superior and a south side sewer project in Storm Lake are also on the corridor's wish list.

A second purpose of the visit is to maintain a strong relationship with the state's elected leaders and their staffs, according to Evert.

"I can't give them enough credit and let people here know how much time and effort they spend for organizations and groups like ours when they make these trips," she said. "They're briefed in advance, they're prepared -- the have the right people in the room when we're there and they do their very, very best to help us."

Infrastructure projects are a key component of economic stimulus proposals coming from Washington, D.C. Evert said the approach makes her more optimistic about the corridor's current wish list.

"But it also makes it even more interesting this year because nobody knows how these kinds of projects might be funded or if they'll be funded," she said.

Wednesday and Friday are primarily travel days for the northwest Iowa delegation. Many of the meetings with federal leaders will take place Thursday.