Iowa Public Television

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  Program: The Iowa Journal #216
  Broadcast Date: Feb. 12, 2009
  

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The Iowa Journal looks at the Iowa impact of the federal stimulus package and what it would mean to the state.

The picture is still a little fuzzy, but Iowa's share of the federal stimulus is starting to come into focus. The Department of Economic Development asked for shovel-ready projects in the next six months that could be completed in two years. What other projects would be good to help the Iowa economy?

Guests on this discussion include Thom Hart of the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) who discusses his office's efforts to sift through thousands of requests from Iowa cities, counties and schools for stimulus funds. The IDED is setting the criteria and we'll talk about those standards for these shovel-ready projects.

Also joining the discussion is Tom Stanberry, President and CEO of West Bank and Chairman of the Iowa Bankers Association, who explains why Iowa banks are in good shape and their role in the stimulus.

Finally, David Swenson, an Iowa State University economist, helps make sense of all these ideas and what else can be looked at to help build durable value in the shortest amount of time.

David Pitt of the Associated Press and host Paul Yeager talk about Ellen Gordon as a finalist for the FEMA head job and her Iowa ties. Also the latest on the federal stimulus discussion and the creation of the populist caucus.

Documents:

• Transcript (RTF)

• economy
• Iowa
• job market
• jobs
• stimulus
• unemployment

Post Date: February 12, 2009