News Release: CB Chamber Announces 2021 Legislative Priorities

With the guidance of the CB Chamber’s Public Policy Committee, the Council Bluffs Chamber offers their recommendations for action on issues and strategic policies to foster a healthy economy for Iowa and the Council Bluffs community.  This white paper is respectfully presented to guide the Governor and Legislature in approaching these important issues in order to pursue a healthy economy that creates opportunities for Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, and all Iowans.

Recovery and Mitigation

• Implementation of the recommendations of the Governor’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board.
• Creation of immediately available financial resources for COVID and natural disaster relief.
• Continued support for businesses and organizations adversely impacted by the pandemic. 

• Strongly support the continued funding of the Future Ready Iowa Initiative.
• Fully funding, and growing Iowa’s jobs training and apprenticeship programs.
• Investment in a quality education system, from early childhood to post-secondary 
• New programs and funds to address issues pertaining to childcare throughout the state. 

• Working with IEDA and other partners to ensure tax credits and economic development assistance tools and programs demonstrating a positive ROI are fully funded and supported. 
• Renewing the Brownfield/Grayfield Program and setting it on a sustainable path for the future. 
• Expanding and Workforce Housing Tax Credit Program
• Protecting tax increment financing (TIF) and other local development tools. 
• Continued funding and support for all aspects of Empower Rural Iowa, especially the providing of adequate resources for broadband expansion throughout the state. 
• Focus on financial support for creative placemaking and quality of life/place initiatives.
• Attract new residents to Iowa through student loan, childcare, and other forms of assistance. 

• Support for the Governor’s Invest in Iowa Act to address quality of life/placemaking, water quality, income tax reform, and property tax reform through reformed mental health funding.
• Build off 2018 tax reform to make Iowa’s corporate and individual income tax more competitive. 
• Showcase the return on investment of Iowa’s tax credits in any potential corporate tax reform.
• Emphasize making Iowa the most attractive state for the workforce of tomorrow.

• Continued investment in Iowa’s water quality and existing infrastructure.
• Innovative funding mechanisms for Iowa’s transportation infrastructure. 
• Investment in broadband expansion to meet the needs of businesses, remote workers, students, and telehealth alike. 
• Making resources available to fund Iowa’s levies and flood mitigation systems.