HOPEFULLY YOURS BURLINGTON IOWA FULL

Starting last July, Hope Haven has operated a five-bed crisis intervention center for Des Moines and Lee counties for those with mental illness, 'which has really made an impact on the area,' Bartles said.

'We give them a place to stay, supply medical care if they need it, jobs and recreational opportunities,' Bartles said. Hope Haven serves more than 400 people with disabilities, mostly in Des Moines County. 'Private cash and pledges total $630,000,' Bartles said. 'We'll borrow money if we have to,' he said. The Des Moines County Board of Supervisors wants Hope Haven to receive the grant and passed a letter of support at their Tuesday meeting, which will be sent to Branstad.īartles said the organization still is raising funds, but if the grant comes through, it will have enough to start construction on the $1.6 million building. 'We are still very happy with the $500,000, if it meets with the governor's approval,' Bartles said.īranstad could do a line-item veto on the grant. On the likelihood of a governor's veto, Taylor said, 'It wouldn't surprise me if he vetoed the entire RIIF budget. We had promised money to a few recipients, and we kept those commitments.' Taylor said nearly all the RIIF applicants took a cut, 'straight across the board. It's a really good project, creating jobs, employing the disabled and developing their work skills.' 'This project does fit the definition for infrastructure and fits exactly what that budget is intended to do. 'I hope the governor doesn't cut it,' Cohoon said.

Rich Taylor, D-Mount Pleasant, also helped get Hope Haven's grant through the legislature, Bartles said. Dave Heaton, R-Mount Pleasant and state Sen. Dennis Cohoon, D-Burlington, was instrumental in getting the $500,000 through the Legislature. It now is on Branstad's desk.īartles said state Rep. When it came out of conference committee, the grant was at $500,000 and passed the Senate and House.

HOPEFULLY YOURS BURLINGTON IOWA FULL

Initially, the Senate approved the full amount, and the House cut it to zero. The appropriation for the RIIF grant is in House File 650. The organization applied for a Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund grant for $700,000, Hope Haven Executive Director Bob Bartles said. Terry Branstad signs a bill without touching a state grant to Hope Haven Area Development Center, it can start construction on a new Hopefully Yours thrift store and gift shop.

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