Miller-Meeks Secures over $5 Million in Community Project Funding for Southeast Iowa
IOWA — Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) announced that she has successfully secured $5 million in Community Project Funding for three transformational projects in southeast Iowa, including major investments in childcare, rural health care, and workforce development.
“These projects will strengthen our communities for decades to come,” said Miller-Meeks. “From expanding childcare in Newton, to restoring access to health care in Keokuk, to training the next generation of Iowa nurses at Jones Regional Medical Center, we are delivering results that will improve lives, grow our workforce, and support families across southeast Iowa. I am incredibly proud to have secured this funding, and I will continue fighting every single day to ensure rural Iowa gets the resources and respect it deserves.”
Dr. Jawad Shah, President & CEO of Insight Health Systems, said, “U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks has been a tremendous champion for reopening the Keokuk hospital. The announcement of the federal community project funding for the Insight Keokuk hospital is a turning point for the project. We’re deeply grateful to the Congresswoman for her steadfast commitment to rural health and the local community. Insight is honored to be part of addressing the regional gaps in healthcare and we look forward to moving the project forward to the next phase.”
"On behalf of everyone at UnityPoint Health - Jones Regional Medical Center and the communities we serve, I want to extend our sincere gratitude to Rep. Miller-Meeks and her staff for this Community Projects grant. This grant will have a profound positive impact on our ability to effectively recruit, train, and retain healthcare professionals, ensuring that quality care remains accessible to everyone, regardless of where they live." - Eric Briesemeister, President of UPH-Jones Regional Medical Center
Project Details
This funding will expand the Newton YMCA to open 50 new childcare slots, helping address Jasper County’s severe childcare shortage. The expansion will also support youth programming, fitness access, and community wellness, strengthening economic growth and supporting working families.
Jones Regional Medical Center (JRMC) – $2 Million
Funding will expand and modernize JRMC’s west wing to build a permanent 17,000 sq. ft. Advanced Simulation Lab, replacing the temporary trailers currently used for nursing education. This new state-of-the-art facility will allow JRMC’s nursing program to graduate 14 additional nurses per year and expand advanced training opportunities for other high-demand medical professions. The project will secure long-term workforce development and help meet Iowa’s growing need for healthcare providers.
Keokuk Area Hospital – $825,000
This investment will help restore critical health services to Lee County, which has not had an operational hospital since October 2022. Funding will support facility improvements that allow the Rural Emergency Hospital to offer outpatient specialty services in addition to emergency care, filling a dangerous gap in access and strengthening health outcomes for the entire region.
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