As budgetary talks continue in the Iowa Legislature, one lawmaker is in charge of a budget that drives economic growth.

House District 47 Representative Phil Thompson is the chair of the economic development budget, which is $78 million. He says this budget funds Iowa Workforce Development, Iowa Economic Development Authority and the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. Thompson notes additional funds were allocated to certain areas to help expand and create more opportunities for economic development. The additional funds include a $3 million increase to a new childcare challenge grant, $2 million for job training with employers and community colleges, and a 25-percent overall budget increase for tourism and marketing of $286,000. 

Thompson talks about the increase to tourism and marketing in anticipation of people wanting to travel and visit Iowa as more things open back up from the pandemic.

“It is a big deal for us to bounce back strong and people are ready to get back out there and go see the state again, and go exploring. People have been home for a long time, they want to go see the state, they want to go see the communities around them. The tourism and marketing through economic development is a wonderful resource for finding places to go on day trips and all of that.”

Thompson is hopeful to also allocate funds to the new butchery bill to help expand local meat lockers and provide skill training in colleges.