Legislative Launch policies revealed, workforce remains first priority

The Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance (CRMEA) and the Iowa City Area Business Partnership (ICABP) are urging Iowa governmental officials to pass workforce-friendly legislation, as part of 40 policy recommendations announced at the 2023 Legislative Launch. Hosted at Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery, the night's audience consisted of influential business leaders and elected officials across the Corridor and the state. It is the fifth annual Legislative Launch event. "We intend to concentrate on workforce population growth policies that address immigration, affordable and available housing stock, increase apprenticeships, address childcare, invest in automation, in addition to supply chain product availability to keep costs down for businesses and consumers," said Kim Casko, ICABP President and CEO, in a statement. While several of the individual polices are different from the 2022 Legislative Launch priorities, the six overarching themes are the same. "It's typical that the broad priorities don't change," said CRMEA Executive Director Doug Neumann. "We're trying to drive community growth, economic growth, workforce growth and the way to do that doesn't change a lot from year to year. What changes is some of the tactics, some of the strategies." The six themes are:

• Welcome workers from all populations
• Enhance community attraction efforts and livability efforts
• Regain educational leader status and invest in the future workforce
• Close the opportunity gap and end barriers to employment
• Embrace solutions utilizing technology and natural resources
• Promote and incentivize business growth.

Although absent from the 2023 public policy booklet, the two organizations identified the launch under the ICR moniker at the event. "I don't get too bogged down on what the brand is, but we're very proud to be doing this on a regional basis," he said. "The voice of business and the voice of these communities are more powerful when we do it together. What exact brand we do that under is less of a concern of mine." He referred to 2022 accomplishments that included funding increases for community attraction and tourism grants, as well as simplifying the tax code, as examples of this voice coming together in a bipartisan manner during a speech to the crowd on hand.

Aviation a key focus

A major addition to this year's priorities is capitalizing and expanding upon the partnership between Kirkwood Community College and the Eastern Iowa Airport, said Mr. Neumann. The two business organizations are calling for the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to include the expansion of the Aviation Workforce Development Grant program, lower financial barriers to becoming a pilot by re-examining the 1,500-hour minimum flight time rule, and expanded grant eligibility under the Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP).

In September, Kirkwood and the airport announced $1 million in funds from local and federal sources to go toward the project. They also hope to see increased funding for ESL (English as a Second Language) programs to advance opportunities for immigrants. "I think that's a workforce issue," said Ms. Casko. "That's something our businesses struggle with and are asking for."

Education and childcare more important than ever

The biggest priorities for the 2023 session include a wide range of issues impacting dozens of industries, some of which are not typically thought of as business-centric. "Business leaders are concerned about education issues," Mr. Neumann said. "That wasn't always true. Business leaders are concerned about childcare and healthcare. That wasn't always our lane. I can't tell you how many meetings I am in now with business leaders with a wide open agenda, and we wind up talking about mental health issues." Regarding education, Mr. Neumann says the 2023 agenda does not form an opinion on the statewide push from Governor Kim Reynolds push to expand public-funded private school scholarships. "That's not part of our priorities," he said. "I think it's part of the intrigue of this session but it's not an issue that we're taking a stance on." While there is no mention of several priorities from 2022,  Mr. Neumann said many of the 40 priorities are simply the next iteration in ongoing issues facing the state. "Some of the things listed are just the next step in the same priority," he explained, citing childcare as an example. "It remains such an important issue for workforce...and there was some really good accomplishments last year. There has been some nice legislation that has helped a little bit on the margins, closing some of the economic challenges with childcare."

A $25 million Child Care Business Incentive Grant Program was unveiled in May, with 200 additional child care slots being created in Cedar Rapids as a result of the program. Elsewhere, a new daycare opened in Outlets Williamsburg, thanks to a $406,888 grant from the Future Ready Iowa Child Care Challenge.

Pipelines still at play

In the 2022 priorities, the two organizations announced support for the findings from the Governor's Carbon Sequestration Task Force. They issued their final recomendations last December. While there is no mention of the task force for 2023, there is still support from the groups for carbon pipelines and the production of ethanol, nuclear, hydrogen, solar and wind energy. "We have proven that it works," said Chris Riley, director of state government relations for ADM, at the event. "There's going to be more economic development in the region because the sustainable aviation fuel has to get to net-zero. So that's the business aspect of this. It also has this environmental thing, too. That probably works out for some people anyway, from a CO2 perspective." ADM was a sponsor for the 2023 Legislative Launch, in addition to GreenState Credit Union. A crowd of opposition spoke out against a Wolf Carbon Solutions pipeline in front of the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) in south Linn County Dec. 5. It would run through several Eastern Iowa counties.