Leaders from Clinton area call lobbying trip a success
CLINTON, Iowa — Leaders from the Clinton area say they have high hopes that federal funding for local projects will be forthcoming after a lobbying trip this week to Washington, D.C.
A group of about three dozen political, business and education leaders from throughout the Clinton area spent three days in Washington this week, meeting with lawmakers about a variety of projects and issues.
Clinton Mayor Rodger Holm said his city’s top priority was getting funding for the extension of 19th Avenue North to Mill Creek Parkway, a $6 million project for which half the funding has been committed.
Clinton Chamber of Commerce President Julie Allesee said that project is important to the region.
“If we can get that one off the plate, we can move on to the next one,” she said.
Also high on the city’s list of priorities were funding for the Liberty Square road project and a push to receive funding and more time to meet Environmental Protection Agency requirements in separating the city’s sanitary and storm sewers.
“The indication we received on each of those projects is that they’re going to get very high attention,” Holm said.
Holm said the city is considering forming a coalition of Iowa cities, and possibly cities from other Midwestern states, to work together on the sewer issue.
Other issues addressed by the group included expanding U.S. 30 to four lanes in Iowa and Illinois, and seeking funding for the Felix Adler Children’s Discovery Center and the Midwest Sawmill Experience Museum planned to be built in Clinton.
U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said Thursday the group’s financial requests will be forwarded to the appropriate appropriations subcommittee, and the amount of funding the projects receive could depend greatly on how much money those subcommittees have to spend.
Grassley said he appreciates lobbying trips by regional leaders because the participants study the issues and prioritize their needs.
U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said he also was looking forward to helping meet the group’s requests.
“They have a bold vision for the region, and I want to help make that vision a reality,” Harkin said.
Steven Martens can be contacted at (563) 659-2595 or smartens@qctimes.com.
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