Thumbs Down: The joint-Iowa House and Senate Agricultural and Natural Resources Appropriation Subcommittee has released its proposed fiscal year 2018 budget, and it's bad news for rural and small town development.
Funding for the Iowa DNR’s Resource Enhancement and Protection Program, more commonly referred to as REAP, would be cut by 25 percent — from $16 million to $12 million.
Iowa’s small towns and rural communities rely on REAP grants to fund projects related to roadside plant life, historic preservation, soil and water enhancements and more.
In Jasper County alone, 138 projects have received REAP grants totaling more than $1.5 million in funding from 1989 to 2014, according to IDNR.
Two are large-scale efforts in development now, likely to bring big economic development and tourism opportunities to our small towns, have used REAP to get off the ground.
Volunteers developing Quarry Springs Park in Colfax secured a $53,000 REAP Grant last year which paid for much of the lake shoreline work, improving safety at the 480-acre former gravel pit.
Prairie City and Monroe’s Rails to Trails Project was awarded $75,000 to secure .75 miles of an abandoned rail bed in Prairie City, meant to be a segment of an 11-mile recreation trail connecting Monroe and Prairie City to Mitchellville and, eventually, the greater Des Moines metro trail network.
Diminishing these funds that help the vitality of rural and small-town Iowa would be detrimental to Jasper County and the state as a whole. In a time of revenue shortfalls for Iowa, we know appropriators have to make hard choices.
But legislators should think twice before taking money away from our lower populated areas which are clinging to life during a time of depressed corp prices and in a post-recession, 21st century economy.
Thumbs Up: Attendees of the annual Skiff Gala did it again, this time they raised $58,000 to go toward the obstetrics department at Skiff Medical Center. The event is a popular one, as guests dress up, mingle, hit up the cash bar and participate in live and silent auctions.
The community’s loyalty remained true to the dessert auction as it raised a whopping $23,650 this year. Some local businesses included Bun in the Oven, The Bake Shoppe and Pretty Little Crumb Coat. The majority of the desserts were made by individuals in the community, and they succeeded in baking and decorating delicious treats.
Meanwhile the community generosity, business support and camaraderie at the event embodied a point of pride in Newton and reminded us why we choose Skiff.