Maquoketa - HUSCO

Well, we are back on the road, this time heading north. But before we leave, I want to say that we had a great stay in Davenport.

Last night, we ate at a great restaurant called the Woodfire Grill in downtown. The portions were awfully big, and were not good for my diet but VERY tasty. Davenort is doing great things with revitalizing the downtown area. The restaurant is just one example. And after a good night's sleep, we hit the road again - this time north to Maquoketa.

Maquoketa is a great town, and I always love visiting this beatiful eastern Iowa community.

This time, we were here to talk jobs, and we visited a company that is new to the community but is already having a large impact.

We stopped by HUSCO - a manufacturer of hydraulic equipment - that came to Maquoketa a couple years ago. Their facility employs more than 150 people, which is helping to support and grow the economy here in Maquoketa.

Our administration partnered with HUSCO to bring these jobs and investment to our state. Through DED, we provided technical and financial assistance. This facility demonstrates the power of state investment in our economy, and that is why we are asking the legislature to fully fund our administrations job creation efforts.

While I was there, I saw my good friends Bob and Ann Osterhaus. Bob was a long-time Representative in the legislature, and we worked together several times throughout our careers.

Also there was another friend from the legislature - Sen. Roger Stewart, who is retiring this year. He has done an outstanding job during his time in the Senate, and I am sad that to see him go.

Well, one more stop today in Anamosa before we head home.

Until next time,

Patty

Muscatine - HON Companies

Well, another day is done. But before we head to Davenport and the hotel, we made a stop at one of Iowa's great companies - HON.

Started in the 1940s as a manufacturer of recipe boxes, it has grown into one of the world's leading makers of quality office furniture.

Here in Muscatine, HON employs 3000 team members (they don't believe they are employees, but rather team members, an interesting approach that has worked well for many years). I had a chance to visit with some of them today when we stopped by their newly renovated and restored 100 year old headquarters building.

When you talk to the team members you can just feel their pride in working for a great company in a great state.

HON is an Iowa success story. They demonstrate that here in Iowa, small companies can turn into world economic leaders for generations. The Governor and I are going to do whatever we can to help businesses all across the state reach their fullest potential.

Well, the car is heading further east to our home for the night - Davenport. We are back at it bright and early tomorrow for two more events before heading back to Des Moines.

Until next time,

Patty

Washington - PowerCom

After a nice lunch, we stopped at a local business in Washington called PowerCom.

When we pulled up the building just north of the town square, I didn't know what to think.
However, I soon found that this company is on the front lines of the green energy revolution.

PowerCom is a new company that was started four years ago by two local entrepreneurs. They had a vision to design and help create energy efficient solutions for Iowa's Ag community. Now, that vision has become a reality as they work with farmers to reduce their energy use. But its more than just local farmers. They are now working with some of our state's biggest firms, like John Deere.

PowerCom is the type of company that we need more of, small start-ups that are helping to not only create jobs and grow the economy, but also to help us realize our goal of being a leader in energy efficiency. The Governor and I have worked hard to help create companies like this through economic development programs like the Iowa Power Fund and the Iowa Values Fund, and we are going to keep on doing that work as long as we are in office.

I was really happy that we stopped here at PowerCom and could see for ourselves the great work they are doing.

One more stop left today on our tour - HNI Corp in Muscatine.

Until then,

Patty

Oskaloosa Preschools

Our second stop today brought me to another community I've spent a lot of time in - Oskaloosa. This time, we were talking about preschool education.

We started at Webster Elementary and visited their program. Just as we were getting there, the students were finishing up their Valentine's Party. After saying hi to a few kids, we had a nice visit with the people who have made this program work.

Let me tell you, Oskaloosa has done it right. They have worked with local businesses to secure funding that helped expand this program to even more students. And the program has worked. 4 years ago, 50 students coming into kindergarten did not have preschool. Today, that number is 12.

They have done an amazing job.

After our visit, we went to see the program in action at SONshine Preschool. Located at Oskaloosa Christian School, they see about 20 kids in each of their sessions. I got to play a game or two, and read a book to the kids. It was just fun , and I was really happy that I got to stop by. All in all, it was a great stop.

We are heading further east. Next stop - Washington.

See you down the road,

Patty

Knoxville - 3M

We are back on the road today after having to cancel our trip earlier this week due to the weather.

This time, we are heading east, and our first stop brought us to a town I know well - Knoxville. I have been to this community countless times in my life, and it was great to be back today.

We stopped by the community's biggest employer - 3M - to talk about jobs, and we were greeted by a great and enthusiastic crowd. After a lively discussion about our state's future, we went on a tour and saw the progress the plant has made in recent years.

3M Knoxville is an Iowa success story. Not only does it employ 570 people, but even in this worldwide recession, they have not laid a single person off.

And I'm proud that our administration was a part of their success. Through our state Department of Economic Development, we have provided incentives that helped bring new product lines to the plant. This meant new jobs for people in Knoxville and further investment in our economy.

It was great to see the good work 3M is doing in our state, and meet the people who are making that happen.

Well, we are back on the road heading to Oskaloosa to see some kids who are utilizing our state preschool program.

Until next time,

Patty

Another Snowy Day

Hello again. Its been far too long since I’ve checked in with everyone.

This morning, I was given the gift of time. I was supposed to be traveling throughout the state today, visiting Knoxville, Oskaloosa, Washington, and Muscatine. Unfortunately, the weather has kept me here, and we had to postpone our travels to Thursday and Friday of this week. Just when the weather warms and some of our snow starts to melt, Mother Nature throws us another round of winter. We are expected to get more than 6 inches of snow in the next 24 hours. Hopefully this is the last snow we will see. But I look at the calendar and realize we still have three weeks of February ahead of us, so probably not.

I am using the time today to help clear my desk and work on a few of the issues that we are discussing with the legislature. As you know, one of the most talked about issues this session is Government Reorganization. Last year, the Governor and I announced our plans on how to save taxpayers up to $341 million a year, and our budget called on the legislature to find that much in savings. We knew that it would be tough to get all of what we asked for, but it is so important that we find savings in a year when our entire country is recovering from a major recession. We are working with both the House and the Senate to find those savings and make state government smarter, and more efficient. If you want to know more about what the Governor and I have proposed, visit our website – www.governor.iowa.gov – and click on the tab “Government Efficiency Report.”

Well, I hope everyone is following the DOT’s advice and staying off the roads as much as possible. It took me nearly 40 minutes just to get to the office today, and I'm afraid it will take me longer to get home.

I hope everyone is staying safe, and I will check back in later this week when we hit the road again.

Until next time,

Patty

Kaleidoscope Preschool

We just left Red Oak, but I really wished I could have stayed a bit longer.

Our last stop was at the Kaleidoscope Preschool to highlight further investment in our state's voluntary preschool program.

When we took office, the Governor and I made a commitment to give all of our children access to quality, affordable preschool. And so, over the last three years, this program was created, and has helped educate more than 12,000 kids in 175 schools. We want to finish the job we started, and expand this program so that all Iowa children have access. To do so, we need $15 million, and the Governor and I are asking the legislature to include those funds in our final budget.

It's hard for me to believe, but some people are out there saying that we should cut or even eliminate the preschool program. That just shows a real lack of commitment to our kids and a lack of understanding of child development.

As a state, we have always put our children first, and that is exactly what we are doing with our 4 year old voluntary preschool program.

And if you don't believe me, go to Red Oak and see the kids at Kaleidoscope. While I was there, I read to the kids and helped them put puzzles together. It was so much fun! And what I saw in those kids was a real spark for learning. We must keep this program going, and help all of our kids reach their fullest potential.

Well, another day is done, and now its back to Des Moines. John and I are going to the Iowa Energy game tonight at Wells Fargo, so maybe I will see a few of you there.

And if not, stay dry, warm, and most importantly, safe this weekend.

Until next time,

Patty