August 5, 2021 - Veterans who move into Davenport and purchase a home now may be eligible for up to $8,250 in relocation incentives thanks to a new partnership between the City of Davenport, Scott County and Home Base Iowa (HBI).
Scott County recently was designated as a Home Base Iowa Community, joining more than 100 other Iowa communities in the statewide network. The designation, which covers the entire county, involves several Quad Cities partners including Scott County, the City of Davenport, the Quad Cities Chamber and area employers.
"It's an outstanding accomplishment having Scott County join other HBI communities across Iowa supporting veterans and their families,” said HBI Program Manager Jathan Chicoine. “It's an important milestone in helping us onboard all 99 Iowa counties by Veterans Day of 2021."
To honor veterans and transitioning military and to encourage them to relocate to the Iowa Quad Cities, the Scott County Board of Supervisors and Davenport City Council have invested $25,000 each to fund the local HBI incentives. The new relocation incentives include:
• $1,500 closing costs reimbursement from Scott County. This incentive is available to qualifying veterans living outside of the county who purchase a home in Scott County.
• $1,500 closing costs reimbursement from the City of Davenport. This incentive is available to qualifying veterans living outside of Davenport who purchase a home in Davenport.
• Interview expenses reimbursement. Scott County will reimburse qualifying veterans living outside the county with up to $250, up to two times, for hotel and meal costs incurred while interviewing for a job with a Scott County employer.
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“Scott County is actively involved in providing services to veterans - making Scott County a Home Base Iowa community is the right thing to do to help those who served our county,” said Scott County Board Chair Ken Beck. “We welcome veterans and their families to Scott County.”
“I am extremely proud that Davenport and Scott County have been able to partner together to become a Home Base Iowa community,” said Davenport Mayor Mike Matson. “As a veteran, I understand the unique contributions that veterans bring to the area, and we hope that through this program, more veterans will choose to make Davenport a place they call home.”
The new Scott County and City of Davenport benefits are in addition to a $5,000 tax credit available from the State of Iowa. This credit, awarded at the time of closing, is available to qualifying veterans who live outside Scott County and purchase a home in Scott County. To be approved, the veteran must work with a Scott County lending institution affiliated with the Iowa Finance Authority.
Home Base Iowa connects more than 2,000 military-friendly companies statewide with qualified veterans, transitioning service members and their spouses who are in search of career opportunities. Veterans can search opportunities and post their resumes at homebaseiowa.gov. The website’s Find A Veteran tool helps connect businesses and communities to those seeking jobs.
Scott County’s HBI program will be administered by the Quad Cities Chamber, which will assist veterans in the application process to receive the new benefits. “The incentive will be a powerful vehicle to recognize and celebrate the service that military personnel have provided to this country,” said Mike Oberhaus, the Chamber’s Vice President, Talent & Administration.
Oberhaus credited Scott County and the City of Davenport for their foresight and support of the HBI program. “Talent attraction is a key strategy to building a successful region. Veterans provide the skills and experiences needed by many employers in the region and will assist in building a vibrant community,” Oberhaus said.
Among the Quad-Cities employers involved in the HBI network is Deere & Company. “At John Deere we’re passionate about giving back to those who have served our country, including helping veterans and their spouses find new careers after they leave the military,” said David Ottavianelli, John Deere’s Director – Strategic Workforce Projects. “We’re excited to see Scott County become a designated Home Base Iowa community as it will play a key role in helping local companies attract new talent and will help grow our communities. We would like to thank Home Base Iowa, Scott County, the Quad Cities Chamber and the many local businesses and communities for their support to make this happen.”
To earn an HBI Community designation, communities must: ensure at least 10 percent of eligible, hiring businesses become HBI businesses and pledge to hire veterans; provide an incentive/welcome package for veterans; prominently display HBI Community designation; and have obtained a resolution of support from the appropriate local governing bodies. Scott County is the third county in the Quad Cities region to be designated an HBI Community joining Clinton and Muscatine counties.
The State of Iowa offers a variety of veteran incentives including: no state taxes on military pensions as well as veteran hiring preference, which allows veterans preferential treatment in hiring decisions by both the private and public sectors. In addition, HBI works with 29 colleges and universities across Iowa through its Certified Higher Academic Military Partners (CHAMPS) program. Among the CHAMPS partners in the Quad Cities region are: Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, St. Ambrose University, University of Iowa and Upper Iowa University. Veterans moving to Iowa can receive special tuition rates for themselves, their spouses, and their dependents.
For more information on Scott County’s Home Base Iowa program, visit quadcitieschamber.com or contact Mike Oberhaus, the Chamber’s Vice President, Talent & Administration, at 563-322-1706 or [email protected]. For more information on Home Base Iowa, visit HomeBaseIowa.gov or email [email protected].