Flood funding glossary

STATE JUMPSTART FUNDS - This refers to the $40 million Iowa provided this fall from state fund balances.

• Jumpstart money to Cedar Rapids: $7.9 million for homeowners (it all will be awarded by the end of December 2008) $3.5 million for businesses (funneled through the chamber).
• Jumpstart money to Iowa City: $686,000 for homeowners (all of it distributed); $2.2 million for businesses.

FEDERAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS – This term refers to the large chunks of money coming to Iowa from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Federal block grant money is approved by Congress.  It is not state money. The Iowa Department of Economic Development divides the block grant money between cities and Councils of Government. These block grants can be considered “pork” since congressional delegations work hard to bring home this disaster funding.  The block grants  were key to the revival of Grand Forks, N.D., after its 1997 flood and fire.  The problem in 2008: 30 federal disaster areas are now competing for block grant  money, making it harder for Iowa to get the huge sums it needs to rebuild.

• Federal block grant money designated for use in Iowa: Three big blocks have been announced: $85 million; $71 million; $125 million. Not all of it is actually in the state yet and more should be coming. (Damage statewide is estimated at $8 billion.)
• Federal block grants in Cedar Rapids: $13.9 million for housing (another $8 million expected soon); $15 million to businesses (funneled through the chamber). Homeowners can use the money for housing rehab, for mortgage and down payment assistance. Cedar Rapids is still working on giving away this money. Assuming block grants keep coming, some of this money eventually can be used for buyouts on the “dry” side of proposed levees and flood walls.
• Federal block grants to Iowa City: $1.2 million for housing (all of it distributed).

FEMA MONEY –

• FEMA individual and household assistance — This is the money FEMA handed out to flood victims right after the flood.
• FEMA public assistance -- This is the money that will go to governmental bodies (like cities/counties) to pay for damage to public buildings, public infrastructure (roads, sewers, water systems, etc.)
• FEMA flood mitigation grants – This is money that will be coming later (it’s a percentage of all public damage) that cities can use to buy out properties that must, by law, revert to green space. Cedar Rapids likely will use this program to help buy out properties on the “wet” side of the levee.

Source: Gazette Flood Editor Mary Sharp