There are no centralized databases of economic development subsidies, but Good Jobs First found 6 deals worth a total of about $16.7 million in Iowa. They include the following:

Altoona, IA : $1.2 million
Anamosa, IA : $1.3 million
Grinnell, IA : $1.69 million
Independence, IA : $1.34 million
Mount Pleasant, IA : $10 million
West Des Moines, IA : $1.2 million

Many Wal-Mart workers are ineligible for health coverage from their employer or choose not to purchase what is available, because it is too expensive or too limited in scope. These workers often turn to taxpayer-funded health programs such as Medicaid. In March 2005, the Associated Press bureau in Des Moines reported that it had obtained a list of the Iowa employers with the largest number of workers participating in Medicaid. The list, prepared by the state Department of Human Services, listed Wal-Mart first with 845 employees. Source: Ryan Foley, "IA Medicaid Employers," Associated Press, March 4, 2005 and "Top Ten Employers with Workers on Medicaid," Associated Press, March 4, 2005.

For an estimate of how much Wal-Mart is costing the state of IA for taxpayer-funded healthcare, see http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/feature/healthcrisis/map.html#IA

In the course of researching our report Rolling Back Property Tax Payments , Good Jobs First learned of property tax assessment appeals at the following Wal-Mart locations in Iowa:

Mount Pleasant, IA
Coralville, IA : $40,000
Iowa City, IA : $7,042

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