Governor Culver and Lt. Governor Judge believe that job retention and creation have never been more important than now. Since taking office, they have worked hard to grow our economy, and have invested in giving Iowa’s workers the skills they needed. And during these challenging times, they have offered bold solutions that will grow our economy and put thousands of people to work statewide. Governor Culver and Lt. Governor Judge will not rest until every Iowan who wants a job has a job, and will continue to do whatever they can to build Iowa’s future.

• CNBC’s 2009 “Top States for Business” survey ranks Iowa the 4th best in the nation and 1st when it comes to having the lowest cost of doing business. And in 2008, Iowa had the 8th fastest growing economy in the nation according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis
• Governor Culver and Lt. Governor Judge created the I-JOBS program, which will invest $830 million in our communities, rebuild our aging infrastructure, and create and retain thousands of well-paying jobs statewide.
• The Governor’s efforts have attracted two international leaders in technology to our state – Google in Council Bluffs and IBM in Dubuque.
• Governor Culver and Lt. Governor Judge efforts have supported hundreds of jobs through renewable energy. Iowa is home to many wind turbine manufacturers, which in turn support more than 200 companies across the state. In addition, Iowa continues to lead in ethanol and biodiesel production, which creates good jobs in all corners of the state.
• Governor Culver signed into law a modernized unemployment insurance system, becoming the first state in the nation to take this step to help streamline benefits to Iowans.
• Under Governor Culver’s leadership, Iowa’s state workers compensation system is ranked as the most efficient in the nation.