(KIWA Staff Photo)Statewide, Iowa – Democrat Rob Sand says if he’s elected governor, he’ll create an Office of Rural Prosperity, appoint a task force focused on expanding rural housing and work to raise Iowa’s minimum wage.
Sand has released a 15 point economic agenda that includes phasing in increases for Iowa’s minimum wage, to ultimately reach 12-dollars an hour. Iowa’s $7.25 an hour minimum wage hasn’t been raised in 18 years and is lower than Nebraska’s, South Dakota’s and Minnesota’s — all of which are adjusted each year — and Sand says Iowa’s should have an annual cost of living increase, too.
If elected, Sand would ask the Iowa Finance Authority to lead a rural housing task force, to investigate options for affordable housing, including dwellings — called ADUs — that are on the same lot as another home.
Sand says an Office of Rural Prosperity in a Sand Administration would be a one-stop shop that would help Iowa’s rural residents navigate state and federal programs that may be available.
He says that includes increasing state investments in local and regional food systems to help more Iowans grow more of the food Iowans eat, plus identifying ways to support enterprises that convert manure into a commodity farmers can use and sell, like renewable natural gas.
Ohio’s program offers technical assistance as well as training and financial assistance to entrepreneurs who start what Ohio’s law calls “microbusinesses.” Sand made his comments during an interview with Radio Iowa.
