The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) today announced that more Iowa small business owners and nonprofits are now eligible to receive financial assistance with electric and natural gas utility bills.

Eligibility criteria for the Iowa Small Business Utility Disruption Prevention Program has been expanded to include utility assistance for eligible small businesses and nonprofits for electric or natural gas service provided between March 17, 2020 and October 15, 2020.

Eligible small businesses and nonprofits must have experienced a COVID-19 loss of income. Full eligibility information and the application is available at iowabusinessrecovery.com. The program will accept applications through October 31 or until all funds have been exhausted.

The program will provide short-term relief in the form of direct payments to utility providers to be applied to accounts. A minimum of $400 and up to $7,500 can be applied towards utility bill costs for eligible small businesses and nonprofits. The state allocated approximately $14.5 million of federal CARES Act funds for the program when launched in early July.

“We’re pleased to announce the extension and expansion of the utility assistance available to COVID-19 impacted small businesses and nonprofits as they work tirelessly to recover from the far-reaching impacts of the unparalleled pandemic,” said IEDA and Iowa Finance Authority Executive Director Debi Durham.

Questions regarding the Iowa Small Business Utility Disruption Prevention Program can be addressed by calling 515.348.8914 (toll free: 855.300.2342).

“The 2020 Wastewater and Drinking Water Treatment Financial Assistance Program (WTFAP) application is now available. 

Grants will be awarded to water and wastewater projects based on the following priorities: 

• Disadvantaged communities
• Projects that will significantly improve water quality in their watershed
• Projects that use alternative wastewater treatment technologies (all projects proposing alternative technologies must be approved by DNR)
• Communities with the highest sewer or water rates
• Projects that use technology to address nutrient reduction
• Projects that will improve source waters for drinking water utilities.”

 There is approximately $2 million available in this program, which is a part of the Senate File 512 legislation.  It is not related to the State Revolving Loan Fund projects.

The application (accessed via the black button mid-page) is due by September 25_th.

The grant awardees are determined by a committee consisting of the Secretary of Agriculture (or designee), the Executive Director of the IFA (or designee), and the Director of the DNR (or designee). 

Please contact the IFA Water Quality Team with questions.

Termination. Sexual harassment. Due process. Employee handbooks. Workers’ compensation. Too often these employment-related issues end up in court cases.

EMC Insurance Companies and the AttorneyConnect program can help answer your employment law questions and resolve issues before they end up in court. AttorneyConnect is a proactive program designed especially for Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities (IAMU) Safety Group members who want to make the right employment decisions.

Under the AttorneyConnect program, IAMU Safety Group members can receive legal consultation on the issues faced by employers every day at no additional cost. Not only does AttorneyConnect help municipalities and municipal utilities solve employment problems, but it helps avoid them in the first place.

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