Gov. Kim Reynolds of Iowa has announced two grant programs totaling $13 million to address opioid treatment and recovery programs in the state. These programs, funded by federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars, aim to increase access to treatment services for opioid addiction. The grants are part of a larger $17.5 million allocation that Reynolds announced earlier this year.
The first grant program, the $10 million Iowa Opioid Treatment and Recovery Infrastructure Grant, will fund improvements to existing opioid treatment and recovery centers. The second program, the $3 million Iowa Recovery Housing Fund, will provide grants to nonprofits to develop sober recovery housing. These grants come after state lawmakers failed to agree on a plan to spend the state’s Opioid Settlement Fund, which held over $47 million in May.
In addition to the grant programs, the state of Iowa saw its jobless rate remain low in June at 2.8 percent, below the national average of 4.1 percent. The number of unemployed Iowans decreased slightly to 46,600, while private industries added 1,500 jobs during the month. The state’s economy has shown resilience, with employers continuing to hire despite ongoing economic challenges.
Furthermore, Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate’s poll worker recruitment initiative was awarded the annual IDEAS award by the National Association of Secretaries of State. The initiative, which aims to recruit the next generation of poll workers, has helped identify over 21,000 poll workers since its inception in 2020. Finally, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a manure spill that caused a fish kill in O’Brien County, advising downstream water users to avoid using water from Mud Creek.
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