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Ernst Applauds Long-Overdue Funding for Cedar Rapids Flood Mitigation Project

Cedar Rapids to receive $117 million in federal funding for flood project

WASHINGTON –Today, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) applauded the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) announcement that it will award 117 million dollars in federal funding to the Cedar Rapids flood mitigation project. This funding comes more than 10 years after record-breaking flooding in the city caused approximately $5.4 billion in damages.

“Over the past ten years, the City of Cedar Rapids has worked tirelessly to develop and advance this project which will protect its residents and businesses from future flooding events. Hundreds of millions of state and local dollars have already been committed, but what has been missing is this critical federal share of the project.

“In addition to efforts by the city and state governments, for years, I have pushed the Corps to review its flawed benefit-cost ratio (BCR) metrics, which disadvantage projects in rural states, and find a way to fund projects like this. I am proud to see our combined efforts pay off today—this funding will not only protect the city, but also give businesses the certainty they need to confidently invest in the Cedar Rapids community.”

Senator Ernst’s efforts to secure funding for Cedar Rapids: