(DES MOINES) – Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today (Wednesday) announced that they will travel to Fort Dodge on Friday, March 6, 2015 to recognize five new Home Base Iowa Communities and three new Home Base Iowa Certified Higher Academic Military Partner (CHAMPs).

Among the communities to be announced as Home Base Iowa Communities this Friday, is Carroll County. The communities will join Union County, Mitchell County, Dubuque County, Greene County, Howard County, Clarke County, Floyd County and the City of Marion as current Home Base Iowa Communities.

The Governor says “The Home Base Iowa initiative aims to ensure that members of the military leaving the service are met with an abundance of career and academic opportunities right here in Iowa.” Branstad said he and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds “Continue to be impressed by the outpouring of support for the Home Base Iowa initiative through the Home Base Iowa Community and Home Base Iowa CHAMPs programs.”

Reynolds said  “With thirteen Home Base Iowa Communities and twelve Home Base Iowa CHAMPs institutions, it is clear that Iowans are ready to welcome veterans and their families to our great state. I encourage all Iowa communities and higher education institutions to consider joining our Home Base Iowa initiative.”

The Home Base Iowa initiative does the following:

· Fully exempts military pensions from state income tax.

· Gives veterans, their spouses and dependents in-state tuition at Iowa’s colleges and universities.

· Allows Iowa’s licensing boards to adopt rules allowing credit for military training and experience in the licensing process.

· Allows private-sector companies to follow the public sector’s lead by allowing a preference in hiring and promoting veterans.

· Eliminates the special plate issuance fees charged for plates associated with military service.

· Expands eligibility for the Military Homeownership Assistance Program, which provides $5,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance. Additional funding for the program is provided in a separate appropriations bill.