DES MOINES - Iowa Gov. Chet Culver said on Wednesday that the federal government may boost funding for a new state program to help disaster victims with housing and business recovery if demand for the program becomes too great.

Culver told members of the Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission that he expects the demand for the new Jumpstart Iowa program to exceed the $20 million allotted to housing concerns and the $20 million set aside for business owners.

"The early indication suggests that there is a significant demand and an immediate demand for the Jumpstart programs," he said during the commission's regular meeting Wednesday.

Culver said a special phone number set up Tuesday for Cedar Rapids residents to provide information on the Jumpstart program received 200 calls in its first hour of operation.

He said the state can funnel money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development into the program.

HUD recently accepted Iowa's proposal to spend $85 million in community development block grants on disaster recovery, and Culver said the state is waiting on another round of development money from the department.

Iowans interested in the Jumpstart Iowa program can find out more at www.jumpstart.iowa.gov.

The program allows for homeowners who took disaster damage to receive assistance of up to $72,000 and business owners to receive assistance up to $50,000.

Culver said the Jumpstart program answers the call for immediate action included in the Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission's initial report released in early September, 45 days after the commission's first meeting.

The commission now sets its sights on more long term concerns related to the rebuilding effort for a report to be released in November.

Culver said he expects the commission's next report to influence his priorities in the next legislative session beginning in January.

He said he may yet call the Legislature into special session if there's a delay in federal aid.

Fred Love can be reached at (515) 243-0138 or fred.love@lee.net.