Chamber statement on Governor Reynolds’ Condition of State
On Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2025, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds presented her last Condition of the State, touching on several issues that are top priorities for the Quad Cities business community.
The QC Chamber was pleased to hear Gov. Reynolds say, “We want to send a message to businesses: Invest in Iowa, and you won’t regret it. You’ll have the workforce, the energy infrastructure and the low cost of doing business to compete with any company in the world.”
Property Tax Reform
Gov. Reynolds met with QC business leaders in the fall to discuss property tax reform and as this issue is tackled this legislative season, the QC Chamber seeks property tax reform that supports growth while protecting public services.
Unemployment Insurance
As noted in her speech, we are pleased to hear that the Iowa unemployment system is working and that people are getting back to work faster than the national average. With faster reemployment and a nearly $2 billion surplus, Governor Reynolds called for lowering unemployment taxes so businesses can reinvest locally, an initiative the QC Chamber supports.
Energy & Infrastructure
The largest barrier to new economic development in the Quad Cities, next to site availability, is energy. The Governor signaled interest in expanding Iowa’s energy capacity, including nuclear energy, and announced plans to form a task force to address permitting, workforce needs and local input - key steps as energy infrastructure remains a concern of the QC Chamber and Grow Quad Cities.
Business Attraction
While Gov. Reynolds may have targeted Illinois businesses as a growth opportunity, our aim is to ensure that both sides of the QC region grow and thrive and we remain steadfast in our promise to ensure a strong bi-state region.
