CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa- Cedar Rapids will receive 117-million-dollars in federal funding for its planned flood control system, 10-years after the 2008 flood. The city will work closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to establish a project partnership agreement to guide construction of the next stages of the project. The estimated cost for the total project is 550-million-dollars.
Our News Partner KCRG reports Mayor Brad Hart and City Manager Jeff Pomeranz gave a lot of the credit to Senator Joni Ernst.
"There's well over a $100,000,000 commitment that the city needs to make so there's work to be done but we feel confident as far as the plan but it's it going to take a little while to get through those details," said Pomeranz.
Senator Ernst told TV9 that the fight to get flood funding was a personal one for her. She said getting people familiar with rural areas into the White House was a key breakthrough to finally getting funding.
"I was a national guardsman serving on the ground during that flood event," said Ernst. "I kind of made this my personal mission to make sure that we get this done."
Mayor Hart told TV9 the news for him was emotional. He says he is excited now for what he calls a "fun" journey ahead.
(Photo from KCRG-TV/The Gazette)