ANF Game Day Celebrates Farmers, Features Former Hawkeye Legends

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - September 16, 2011 - Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) announced today that Farm Bureau members interested in attending the first America Needs Farmers (ANF) Game Day at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Oct. 15 can register to win tickets at www.iowafarmbureau.com.  The sold-out Big Ten Conference game against Northwestern includes autographs by former Hawkeye legends, including Tim Dwight, Jared DeVries and Marv Cook, along with other special surprises.

"ANF Game Day is an important event for farmers in Iowa.  It's a chance to show the nation and a whole new group of consumers just how important farming is today.  We know that in less than a generation, the world's population will need 100 percent more food than we grow today.  Since there is only so much land to grow that food, farmers will have to embrace progress and diversity," says IFBF President Craig Lang.

Each member who wins the ANF Game Day prize will receive free tickets to the game, ANF merchandise, admission to special tailgating activities and an opportunity for autographs of Hawkeye Legends.

ANF, initiated in 1985 by former Iowa Hawkeye football coach Hayden Fry during the Farm Crisis, is embraced today by Hawkeyes' current head coach, Kirk Ferentz.

"Farming has changed considerably since the 1980's," said Lang. "The way we grow and raise food and energy today has changed dramatically, but so has our need. Much of the nation's innovation in renewable energy, medicine, building materials and diagnostic tools come from what we grow. The list continues to grow and so does our population, but the goal remains unchanged - making sure consumers have safe, wholesome food choices at the grocery store."

For a listing of rules and to register, click on www.iowafarmbureau.com by October 3. Winners will be notified within that week.  You must be a current member to win. To join Iowa Farm Bureau, visit www.iowafarmbureau.com.

For more information about the Iowa Farm Bureau/U of I ANF partnership, click on www.americaneedsfarmers.org.

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MONTICELLO, IA --The annual Camp Courageous of Iowa Pancake Breakfast and Open House is set for Sunday, September 25, 2011  from 7:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.

Camp Courageous began serving individuals with disabilities during the summer of 1974 with campers totaling 211. Camp Courageous is run on donations, without government support, without paid fund raisers, and without formal sponsorship. Today the camp is open year-round and the campers number nearly 6,000!

Camp Courageous is celebrating their 38th anniversary. A DVD presentation about the camp, as well as new camp merchandise can be found in the camp store in the main office.

In the lodge, pancakes will be prepared on six pancake grills to get everyone through the line quickly. The cost is $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children under 12 for pancakes and sausage. Other events during the open house include a Live WMT Broadcast from the camp's main lodge. Leo Greco CDs and DVDs will be available and we will be featuring Leo's Marconi Award and Leo's accordion at the WMT table.

See the progress being made at Lake Todd, just west of base camp. Take a free train ride and be a part of a live reenactment of a train robbery by Red Cedar Regulators at the Train Depot at 9:00 AM, 9:45 AM, 10:45 AM, and 11:45 AM.  And in the Sill Barn at base camp, camp will be featuring the talents the Dixie-Notes-Plus performing free at 9:30, 10:30, and 11:30 AM.

The Pancake Breakfast is also kick-off for sales of the Camp Courageous Fruitcakes. The fresh baked Fruitcakes are $10.00 each.

The camp is located five miles southeast of Monticello off Highway 38 and 151 - Exit 65. You can go online to www.campcourageous.org for more details.

WEST BRANCH, IOWA–On Saturday, September 24, more than 180,000 volunteers will visit their favorite parks, beaches, wildlife preserves, or forests and chip in to help improve these treasured places. They'll be taking part in National Public Lands Day (NPLD), the largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands in our country.

This year marks the 18th annual National Public Lands Day, an event that brings together thousands of volunteers from coast to coast to improve and restore the lands and facilities that Americans use for recreation, education, exercise and just plain enjoyment. Last year more than 170,000 Americans participated at more than 2,000 sites in all 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico and Washington, DC. More information about nationwide National Public Lands Day events can be found at www.publiclandsday.org.

On Saturday, September 24, Herbert Hoover National Historic Site will participate in National Public Lands Day with a volunteer project in the 81-acre tallgrass prairie. Volunteers are needed to help remove trees, shrubs, and weeds from the grassland, or with other projects to improve the park landscape. Volunteers interested in helping on September 24 may contact Adam Prato at (319) 643-7855. Work in the prairie will be from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Meet at the Visitor Center at 8:30 a.m. for an orientation and to get signed up. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable work clothes. Water, sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, and insect repellent are recommended. Long pants and closed-toe footwear are required. "Volunteers who participate will be rewarded with coupons for free entry into their favorite federal public land areas that have entrance fees," said park superintendent Pete Swisher.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum are in West Branch, Iowa at exit 254 off I-80. Both are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. Parking is limited so please allow extra time to find a parking space. For more information go online to www.nps.gov/heho or call (319) 643-2541.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
110 Parkside Drive
PO Box 607
West Branch, Iowa  52358

319 643-2541 phone
319 643-7864 fax
www.nps.gov/heho

Governor Quinn Announces $345 Million Mortgage Assistance Program in Illinois

"Illinois Hardest Hit" Program Leverages Federal Dollars to Help
Homeowners Avoid Foreclosure

CHICAGO - September 15, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today announced a program to help approximately 15,000 Illinois homeowners threatened by foreclosure. The Illinois Hardest Hit program utilizes $345 million in federal funds to support working families having trouble making mortgage payments due to unemployment or under-employment.

"The economic downturn has left too many Illinois families at risk of losing their homes," Governor Quinn said. "Everyone suffers when a home goes into foreclosure. The Illinois Hardest Hit program will help keep families in their homes, help them regain economic stability and keep our communities strong."

The program allows eligible participants to receive up to $25,000 over 18 months as a 10-year loan to keep mortgages current and make ongoing payments, including fees and penalties. The loan is forgiven over the last five years of the 10-year term, and carries zero interest. Funds for the program are supplied by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Illinois is among 18 states and Washington, D.C. that received funding for the program earlier this year. The Illinois Hardest Hit program will be administered by the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).

"The best way to stabilize our neighborhoods is to prevent foreclosures before they happen," said Mary Kenney, IHDA executive director. "This program will make a difference in people's lives and in our communities."

Free applications for the program are available exclusively through IHDA's Illinois Hardest Hit website: www.IllinoisHardestHit.org. Applicants will be matched with a local review agency that will answer questions, pre-screen applicants for eligibility and assist homeowners in preparing the application and assembling the required supporting documentation.

Eligibility criteria for the program include :

• Property must be located in Illinois;
• Household must have a documented income reduction of at least 25 percent due to unemployment or under-employment through no fault of their own;
• Household income must be at or below 120 percent of the area median income;
• Principal loan balance of a mortgage must not be more than $500,000;
• Household liquid assets cannot exceed 3 months of mortgage payments;
• Property, which can be a 1-4 unit building, must be the primary and only residence of all borrowers/owners;
• Homeowners must carry a fixed or adjustable rate loan; negative amortization or interest-only loans are not eligible;
• The delinquency and forward payments must fall within available assistance and program guidelines;
• Applicants must not have been convicted of a mortgage-related felony in the last 10 years.

"The Hardest Hit Fund provides Illinois and other states that were hit hardest in the housing market downturn the funds to implement local programs to assist struggling homeowners," said Treasury Assistant Secretary for Financial Stability Tim Massad. "With these funds, Illinois can provide critical support to homeowners impacted by unemployment so they can remain in their homes and avoid foreclosure."

Governor Quinn has long been a strong advocate for affordable housing, and his administration has championed important legislation and housing initiatives, including:

• $100 million in federal Hardest Hit funds to form public-private partnership to modify loans to affordable levels
• $130 million in the Illinois Jobs Now! capital program for affordable and supportive housing, including a development in Springfield for transitional and permanent supportive housing for Veterans and residents facing homelessness;
• $53 million in federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funds to enable communities to revitalize neighborhoods by returning foreclosed or abandoned properties to use through rehabilitation or new construction;
• Passing the Homeowner Protection Act;
• Extending the Affordable Housing Tax Credit through 2016 to stimulate additional affordable housing development;
• Establishing the Illinois Anti-Predatory Lending Database;
• Creating the Foreclosure Prevention Program;
• Launching www.ILHousingSearch.org, a bilingual website to match residents with specific rental housing and resources;
• Partnering with local housing agencies for IHDA's Mortgage Relief Project outreach events;
• Creating a loan modification program for homeowners who borrowed under the state's first-time homebuyer program;
• More than $8 million in National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling (NFMC) funds targeted toward foreclosure and mediation through partnerships with local governments and not-for-profits.

The Illinois Hardest Hit program is funded by the U.S. Department of Treasury and does not have a fee for applying. Applicants should be aware of the prevalence for mortgage assistance fraud; no mortgage assistance program requires a fee. The official Illinois Hardest Hit website (www.IllinoisHardestHit.org) is the only website for applications.

About IHDA

The Illinois Housing Development Agency (www.ihda.org) is an independent bonding authority that finances the creation and preservation of affordable housing throughout Illinois. Since 1967, IHDA has allocated more than $10.6 billion to finance more than 215,000 affordable housing units for the residents of Illinois. IHDA sells bonds independently, based on its own good credit, to finance affordable housing in Illinois.

 

Governor Quinn to Lead Trade Mission to China

Trip Will Focus on Exports, Foreign Direct Investment, Education and Supporting Emerging Technologies  

CHICAGO - September 15, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn will travel to the People's Republic of China tomorrow in an effort to increase economic opportunities between Illinois and China. The Governor will arrive in China Sept. 17 for an eight-day trade mission designed to strengthen Illinois' exports and foreign direct investment. With Illinois already leading the Midwest in exports and foreign direct investment, the trade mission will build on the state's prior successes as part of Governor Quinn's agenda to create jobs in Illinois.

"Illinois' relationship with China and with Chinese businesses is an extremely important part of not only helping our economy grow but also making sure Illinois continues to be a strong competitor in today's global marketplace," Governor Quinn said. "Trade and investment in China are essential to growing our economy and during this trip, we will promote Illinois' exports and encourage Chinese companies to invest in Illinois."

For his first visit to China, Governor Quinn will lead an Illinois delegation made up of officials representing Illinois businesses and educational institutions, as well as state and local governments. The group will visit Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong in an effort to strengthen the state's exports, foreign direct investment and tourism between China and Illinois.

During his trip, Governor Quinn will preside over the signing of new Illinois export contracts in the agriculture and telecom industries worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Governor Quinn will also meet with Chinese officials in an effort to boost investments in Illinois businesses.

While in Shanghai, the Governor will serve as the keynote speaker at a meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce in the People's Republic of China (AMCHAM). Nearly 30 Chinese companies have already invested in Illinois, including automotive parts and solar panel producer Wanxiang Group and Shenhua International, China's largest coal producer.

Governor Quinn will also sign memorandums of understanding to foster future business exchanges in emerging fields such as biotechnology, clean energy and education. The Governor will also meet with graduates of the University of Illinois now living in China. During the trip, the Governor will sign a sister river agreement to promote pollution control and clean water technology.

Illinois currently leads the Midwest in exports and foreign direct investment. Last year's exports totaled nearly $50 billion, with China as the state's third largest export destination. In recent years, Illinois has seen a 35 percent increase in exports to China. Last year alone exports to China totaled $3.14 billion, with the top products exported ranging from machinery, electronics and appliances to chemicals, plastics and agricultural products.

Overseas visitation from China to Illinois is showing strong growth, up from Illinois being the sixth top overseas market in 2009 to fourth in 2010. Illinois hosted 97,000 visitors from the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong in 2010. The Chinese visitors stayed on average 7.2 nights in Illinois, with the top activities being shopping, dining in restaurants, sightseeing and visiting historical sites, museums and art galleries.

The state of Illinois opened its Hong Kong office in 1983 and later established an office in Shanghai in 2000. Many Illinois cities have established sister city relationships with Chinese cities. Governor Quinn will sign new sister agreements to promote further economic development and tourism during his visit to China.

For updates on Governor Quinn's trip, visit www.Illinois.gov or follow him on Twitter at @GovernorQuinn. More information about Illinois trade and business opportunities can be found on the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity's website at www.illinoisbiz.biz.