Kathleen M Parisot

Starting Wednesday, July 1st, homeowners in Davenport, Iowa will have their own stimulus package available for purchasing or improving a home, or expanding or relocating a business. The Davenport NOW program is an innovative program to enhance neighborhoods and grow the City through a tax rebate program. Every property owner who constructs a new, owneroccupied residential structure or new commercial structure (excepting rental properties ) will be eligible, as will every property owner investing more than $5, 000 in new assessed value to a current structure. The Davenport NOW program may be combined with the $8, 000 federal tax credit program for first time homebuyers. The Davenport City Council approved this new initiative at its June 24, 2009 meeting. Davenport Mayor Bill Gluba applauded the efforts of elected officials, homebuilders, construction industry workers and City staff for this innovative approach to sustaining and growing the City, This is an exciting economic development tool that will spur growth in our City while creating jobs. It is all about, jobs, job, jobs and the benefit those jobs bring to individuals, businesses and the City. Davenport NOW will rebate 50% of the City's portion of property taxes for increase in assessed value for a period of ten years. This reduction in the City's tax rate will decrease the total tax rate ($28.92 / $1, 000 and $31.16 / $1, 000, depending on location ) below that of any city with comparable service capability, history and quality of life in the Midwest. Davenport is recognized for its affordability, environmental leadership, excellent schools and quality of city services. A Midwest leader, Davenport is on track to be one of the first ten cities in the nation with fully accredited police, fire, public works, and parks departments. Participants can choose from tax rebates provided each year or an upfront, lump sum rebate at project completion. City staff is experiencing a strong interest in the program from existing property owners and new homeowners looking to buy and build in Davenport. The City of Davenport, nationally recognized as the 2007 Most Livable Small City in the country, has a population of just under 100, 000. Located along the Mississippi River, Davenport is the hub of the metropolitan Quad-Cities, population 400, 000, and the third largest city in Iowa. For more information about this release, contact Bill Gluba, Mayor, 563 326-7701; Craig Malin, City Administrator, 563 326-6139; or Pam Miner, Community Planning and Economic Development Department Director, 563 326-7769. City of Davenport Citizens interested in participating should call Candice Graf with Community Planning &Economic Development at 563 888-3380 for more information. Are you a first-time homebuyer? Are you thinking of improving your house through energy efficient upgrades? The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides you with a refundable first-time home buyer credit, tax credits for energy-efficient improvements to existing homes, as well as a making work pay tax credit and an increase in earned income tax credit. Official designation underscores our commitment to understanding and promoting good green building techniques and greener product choices. Seiffert Lumber Company is pleased to announce that it has achieved Certified Green Dealer status after its staff participated in voluntary educational training and testing on good green building techniques and green product choices in lumber and building materials. The Certified Green Dealer Program was created under the auspices of LBM Journal, a national trade magazine serving the lumber and building material industry. The Program is based entirely on demonstrated understanding by lumber dealer personnel of best practices building science and green building basics. A lumberyard or building material dealer location can become a Certified Green Dealer if 75% or more of its sales personnel view a series of Web-based training vide