State Treasurer Fitzgerald: Iowa's I-Jobs Bond Financing Finalist in the Bond Buyer's Deal of the Year

DES MOINES, IA (11/13/2009)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald announced today that the Iowa has made the cut as one of the country's best financings in 2009 by the Bond Buyer. The Bond Buyer is a premier newsource dedicated to the municipal bond industry. "This is exciting news for Iowa," Fitzgerald stated. "The Bond Buyer is the daily newspaper of public finance. It is a great honor that they have put Iowa's I-Jobs financing among the top 10 finalists in the country."

This is the eighth year the Bond Buyer has been selecting the "Deal of the Year." According to the Bond Buyer, "The Bond Buyer Deal of the Year Awards reward and honor the issuers who drive innovation in public finance."

Iowa submitted the $601 million IJOBS Program Special Obligations Bonds for recognition based upon the timely and innovative public purposes of the program, the new credit structure and effective marketing to reach new investors. The IJOBS financing secured bonds to strengthen Iowa's economy, help Iowa recover from the natural disasters of 2008 and preserve or create jobs.

"This recognition is just one more example of how respected Iowa's financial decisions are viewed across the country," Fitzgerald said. "The work we do to secure a good financing may not be exciting to most people, but it is vital to our economy and outlook. This shows that we are doing things right in Iowa."

The winning deal will be announced on December 8th. "Regardless of the outcome, Iowa can be proud of this honor," Fitzgerald stated. For more information on this award, visit the Bond Buyer's web page www.sourcemediaconferences.com/BBDeal09/.