Advocacy

Advocacy

Growing Iowa and Creating Economic Opportunity 

PDI members passionately support continuation of business tax credits including the Research Activities Credit, Angel Investor Tax Credit, Renewable Chemical Production Tax Credit, Redevelopment Tax Credits, Workforce Housing Tax Credits, and the High-Quality Jobs Program.

PDI supports additional income tax reform that continues to improve Iowa’s competitive position, is growth oriented, is simple and understandable, provides predictability, certainty, and permanence, is fair and responsible, and has a clear transition path to implementation, all while protecting and maintaining local control of city, school, and county government. 

2024 STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

  • Build the best Economic Development Environment that empowers Iowa, its communities, regions, and our businesses to collaborate and thrive.
  • Accelerate training programs and investments that support Workforce Attraction & Retention.
  • Invest in Iowa’s Infrastructure to leverage our unique assets and position Iowa to compete globally.
  • Develop and reinvest in sustainable programs to fill our housing gaps, support quality affordable Child Care, and deliver resources to quality-of-life investments that support Iowa’s growing workforce.

Economic Development Environment

  • Protect tax credits, economic development assistance tools, and programs that deliver a positive ROI to the state. Ensure they are fully funded to align with market opportunities.
  • Pursue innovation in new incentives that align with emerging industries.
  • Defend tax increment financing (TIF) and be a leader in educating partners and stakeholders on the importance of such tools in both rural and urban development.
  • Modernize the tax system to make Iowa more predictable, user-friendly, and competitive while maintaining investments in key growth strategies.
  • Protect local control of Local Option Sales Tax.
  • Leverage port authority, land bank, or other legislation to assist regions and communities in the redevelopment of blighted properties.
  • Support programs that incentivize business and job growth, such as the Major Economic Growth Attraction (MEGA) Program and High-Quality Jobs.
  • Support regional economic development tools that empower local and county governments.
  • Protect local control of Local Option Sales Tax.



Workforce Attraction and Retention

  • Recognize the importance of the community college system and last-dollar scholarships in equipping Iowans for high-demand careers.
  • Grow Iowa’s jobs training, retraining, and apprenticeship programs and partner with Iowa’s community colleges and IWD to efficiently deploy throughout the state.
  • Sustain and increase use of 260E and 260F training programs.
  • Fully fund workforce training, retraining, apprenticeship, internship and other upskilling programs.
  • Regain Iowa’s status as an educational leader, break down barriers between local school boards, consider expanding preschool access, and continue funding for community college programs.
  • Grow Iowa’s population by investing in programs such as student loan repayment tax credits, child care, and housing.
  • Simplify legal immigration into Iowa by advocating for federal policy changes that strengthen talent acquisition and retention.
  • Position Iowa as a welcoming state to all individuals to urgently grow Iowa’s population.



Investment in Iowa’s Infrastructure 

  • Continued investment in Iowa’s water quality and existing infrastructure.
  • Invest in outdoor recreation and natural resources through direct funding and consideration of implementing the ⅜-cent sales tax appropriation to IWILL while maintaining local control of Local Option Sales Tax.
  • Develop sustainable, innovative, and diverse funding mechanisms for Iowa’s transportation infrastructure.
  • Sustain the state’s investment in broadband expansion until 100% of Iowa can connect.
  • Invest in Iowa’s levees and flood mitigation systems.
  • Establish an infrastructure bank to reinvest earnings from state reserves into a low-interest program for community and county infrastructure projects.



Housing, Child Care & Quality of Life

  • Support strategies and innovative funding tools that expand housing opportunities, lower costs, and overcome current market barriers.
  • Continue to pursue innovation that addresses a lack of quality affordable child care, addresses the broken child care model, and prevents individuals from entering the workforce.
  • Boldly invest in sustainable quality of place initiatives and continue permanent funding for Destination Iowa.
  • Increase annual Workforce Housing Tax Credit allocation to $50M to support new owner-occupied housing and investments in the state’s aging housing stock.
  • Establish annual allocation in the highly successful Manufacturing 4.0 Grant Program


PDI Legislative Committee Co-Chairs

Nick Glew, Legislative, Committee Co-Chair - 319-743-4724; Email Nick 

Nicolas Hockenberry, Committee Co-Chair, 563-557-9049; Email Nicolas

Dave Miller, Legislative, Committee Co‐Chair – 712-470‐5110,; Email Dave

PDI Lobbyist

Craig Patterson, Lobbyist – 515-554‐7920; Email Craig

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