Project: Center for Digital Communications in Development and Education
Recipient: The University of Iowa
105 Jessup Hall
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA 52242
Amount Requested: $900,000
Description: This project will support quality jobs while investing in the University of Iowa’s students and faculty. Funding for the Center for Digital Communications in Development and Education will allow University of Iowa faculty and students to enhance efforts currently being undertaken by USAID, the State Department, the Library of Congress, the National Science Foundation, the Peace Corps, and other federal agencies. It will support the distribution of hundreds of Digital American Corners – as well as millions of digital educational resource materials – to primary schools, secondary schools, higher education institutions, research centers, clinics, and public libraries throughout the developing world. By supporting these low-cost education tools, this funding will provide a highly cost effective development tool to foster education worldwide, thereby spurring global economic growth and reducing the extreme poverty that can foster security threats to the United States.
Project: Coe College Campus and Neighborhood Improvement Project
Recipient: Coe College
1220 First Ave. NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Amount Requested: $600,000
Description: This funding would be used for the acquisition and demolition of blighted houses in the neighborhood near Coe College’s campus. Coe College has already acquired 63 houses in the area and found that many of the current homes that have yet to be acquired are in a serious state of decay, have become structurally unsound, are beyond restoration and pose safety and security issues for families in the Mound View neighborhood. Coe College has found the vast majority of property owners in the area favor Coe College’s plans.
Project: Communication Studies Technology and Laboratory Equipment Project for a New Economy
Recipient: Coe College
1220 First Avenue NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Amount Requested: $765,000
Description: The recent economic downturn has shown that inroads in new industries, and effective, long term training and coursework in new technologies are critical to keep America at the forefront of the global economy. Coe College is in the process of transitioning its traditional rhetoric and speech communication academic programs into a modern Communication Studies major. Interest in communication studies courses has grown noticeably among all college students. Enrollments in journalism courses at Coe are high, and the first offering of a class in media production in May of 2007 had a waiting list. Students inquire about internships in media—newspaper, television, radio, and websites—and would be greatly aided through the use of their own media studios and platforms on campus. Prospective students are also interested in communication courses at Coe. The requested funding will go toward equipment and software to educate students in the way the new convergent media works. Smart classrooms and communication laboratories would be designed to maximize the benefits for students, both now and in the future. Specifically funds will go to: 1) A Convergence Laboratory, 2) A Speaking Center 3) Rhetoric Faculty Computers, 4) KCOE Radio modernization, 5) Coe TV Studio Equipment, and 6) Communication Classrooms. This funding will allow students to enter increasingly challenging and specialized professional environments throughout the region and the state.
Project: Digital Library for Disability Rights
Recipient: The University of Iowa
105 Jessup Hall
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA 52242
Amount Requested: $1,500,000
Description: This project will support quality jobs while streamlining organizations that help people with disabilities. United States disability rights advocacy groups play a vital role in supporting countries that have recently signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, many of whom must upgrade their laws and develop disability programs. The eGranary Digital Library is seen by many as the best mechanism for outreach to areas where Internet connectivity is rare or lacking. The creation of a portable digital library for disability rights would provide a low cost method for US disability organizations to better assist their counterparts in developing countries through the dissemination of information on best practices, legal issues, and general education on disability rights. Funding would be used to support personnel, faculty, and graduate student participation in the identification, development, and delivery of resources, tutorials, curricula, and specialized portals for policy makers, legal professionals, grassroots organizations, and individuals with disabilities. This highly cost effective program would further enhance US leadership in international development and human rights.
Project: Invent Iowa Program
Recipient: University of Iowa
105 Jessup Hall
Iowa City, IA 52242
Amount Requested: $150,000
Description: Investing in children and their education is key to our country’s growth. Greater investment in science, technology, engineering and math prepares our young children for an increasingly global economy. Invent Iowa is a statewide outreach program that encourages K-12 students to invent and display their inventions at local, regional, and state invention conventions. The goal of Invent Iowa is to encourage students to identify a real-world problems and develop their own invention that successfully solves this problem. Invent Iowa helps students gain the sense of accomplishment and purpose vital to the development of a creative, competent, and involved workforce. In alignment with STEM goals, inventing also increases student interest in social science and history; improves attitudes toward science; and inspires flexibility and originality. Participation in Invent Iowa is open to all students and is not limited by gender, race, class, academic standing, or any other classification. The requested funds would support stipends to regional coordinators, supplies, travel and project management and administration.
Project: MCC Regional Partnership Centers for Job Training and Creation
Recipient: Eastern Iowa Community College
306 West River Drive
Davenport, Iowa 52801
Amount Requested: $1,200,000
Description: Job training and workforce development, coupled with hard work and dedication, will help pull us out of the current economic downturn. Muscatine Community College (Eastern Iowa Community College District) is expanding its programs and services by establishing regional partnership centers in the rural parts of its service area. The MCC Regional Partnership Centers will be located in the towns of Wilton (Cedar County), West Liberty (Muscatine County) and Columbus Junction (Louisa County). The Centers will be a community point of contact and access to higher education in the following programs and services: continuing education, regional economic development, local business and industry training, career academies, and high school collaborations. Each center will house a unique community partnership and a range of community based programming. The requested funding would be used to support these programs and services.
Project: National Institute for Twice-Exceptionality (NITE)
Recipient: University of Iowa
105 Jessup Hall
Iowa City, IA 52242
Amount Requested: $752,000
Description: By investing in our twice-exceptional students, and creating learning environments that enable our students to thrive and succeed, we help them achieve their goals, and contribute to American growth and success. The funding that I have requested would be used to support the following activities: comprehensive assessments for twice-exceptional students; professional training institutes for psychologists and educators to help them work effectively with twice exceptional students; consultation and training for parents of twice-exceptional children; practicum and internship training of future psychologists specializing in twice-exceptionality; national dissemination of information on twice-exceptionality through publications, presentations, print materials, and a Web-based clearinghouse for materials on twice-exceptionality; and research and evaluation to develop empirically validated intervention methods for twice-exceptional learners. The NITE project has important implications for workforce development. The goal of NITE is to increase the capacity of psychologists, counselors, and educators nationwide to better serve K -12 twice-exceptional students and their families. The project goal will be achieved through the development and implementation of a systematic approach to professional development and training for educators who work with twice-exceptional students in school settings.
Project: Orchestra Iowa Music Education Program for Children
Recipient: Cedar Rapids Symphony
119 3rd Avenue
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Amount Requested: $500,000
Description: Education can open many doors. Studying the arts enables our students to dream and see what is beyond their surroundings. These dreams are often what creates the next great innovation or bold new industry. According to the U.S. Department of Education, in addition to studying the arts for their own sake, experiencing and making works of art benefits students in their intellectual, personal, and social development, and can be particularly beneficial for students from economically disadvantaged circumstances and those who are at risk of not succeeding in school. Research studies point to strong relationships between learning in the arts and fundamental cognitive skills and capacities used to master other core subjects, including reading, writing, and mathematics. The Orchestra Iowa is seeking federal funding to work in partnership with From the Top to create a residency of activities that would inspire and entertain local audiences, motivate and engage school children across the state, and provide young artists in Iowa, and the arts in Iowa in general, unique and positive national exposure. From the Top is a national non-profit multi-media education and arts organization that empowers extraordinary young musicians to act as role models and inspire positive change in schools and communities. The Orchestra Iowa Music Education Program will reach hundreds of students in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Des Moines, and surrounding communities through its live concerts and in-school performances and residencies. Students and families from throughout Iowa will be able to listen to radio broadcasts and use online multimedia materials to learn about and enjoy classical music. The project will also work directly with at least ten classroom teachers to create new materials that respond to the needs and priorities of their schools.
Project: Specialized Equipment for Fire and Emergency Training
Recipient: Indian Hills Community College
525 Grandview Avenue
Ottumwa, IA 52501
Amount Requested: $1,167,200
Description: Our first responders and service members are the backbone of our communities. Their selfless work allows families to sleep safely. I requested funds that will be split between Indian Hills Community College, Southeastern Community College, and Southwestern Community College for the purchase of specialized training equipment that will provide for adequate preparation of emergency personnel, and provide the United States Army Reserve 475th Engineering Detachment Fire Fighting Unit with local access to fire training. Iowa code mandates that by 2010 Iowa fire fighters must be: Fire Fighter I certified or have completed equivalent training to fight structure fires and will be required to complete continuing education of 24 contact hours per year. Fire fighter certifications that can be offered using the specialized training equipment include Fire Fighter I & II and Driver/Operator Pumping Apparatus. In addition, the equipment would allow “hands on” training in components of EMS certification levels the colleges currently offer but must presently “role-play.” These EMS certification levels include: First Responder, Emergency Medical Technician – Basic & Intermediate, and Paramedic (all state and national certifications), as well as Iowa Intermediate & Paramedic Specialist (college diploma and association degree programs). Within the 25 counties served by the three colleges there are nearly 3,400 fire/emergency personnel. They work in approximately 260 different departments, most of which are volunteer and do not have training budgets. In addition, the United States Army Reserve, 475th Engineering Detachment Fire Fighting Unit is located in Creston with a total of 52 reservists. The 475th has an acute need for local access to fire training, as the nearest Army Fire Training available to them is Ft. Riley, KS.
Project: University of Iowa International Writing Program
Recipient: The University of Iowa
105 Jessup Hall
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA 52242
Amount Requested: $600,000
Description: Investing in education is critical to providing our students with the tools they need to compete in the 21st century. In 2008, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated Iowa City the world's third City of Literature, and the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa plays a critical role in the city’s literary tradition. Furthermore, the Department of State has long recognized that the International Writing Program, and the exchange of writers in general, fulfill national and international needs for cultural exchange and citizen diplomacy. This type of citizen-to-citizen diplomacy has, in turn, been recognized as a cost effective method of supporting democracy overseas and building good will and cultural understanding of America abroad. Funding will be used to support travel, programming, and expenses of 15-18 foreign writers to travel to the US during the fall semester and five to seven Americans to travel abroad for a symposium and reading tour in the spring. Funds will also be used to support the Between the Lines summer high school enrichment program. Remaining funds will be dedicated to readings, panels, special events, the recruitment of a diverse group of writers, and translation and publication of the works of the visiting writers.
Project: Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Center Redevelopment
Recipient: Linn County Conservation Board
1890 County Home Road
Marion, IA 52302
Amount Requested: $2,651,000
Description: The Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Center is extremely popular with local community school districts and receives more scheduling requests than they are currently able to accommodate. This funding would be used for the revitalization and redevelopment of Wickiup and would allow the Conservation Board to consolidate staff into one central location. This funding will create jobs and expand educational and economic opportunities in the area.
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