Funding is available through the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) to support innovative rural projects, housing assessments, child care needs and resident attraction. Up to $500,000 is available through four programs designated for cities less than 20,000 in population.
- Rural Innovation Grant Program
Provides up to $200,000 in grants supporting creative, non-traditional ideas that focus on current issues and challenges faced by rural communities associated with the themes of community investment, growth and connection. - Rural Housing Assessment Grant Program
Provides up to $100,000 to support the use of publicly available online information through the “Profile of Iowa” tool and rural community efforts to interpret this hard data with supplemental information, as well as to implement through changes to development codes, local ordinances and housing incentives specific to their community needs in partnership with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. - Rural Child Care Market Study Grant Program
Provides up to $100,000 to support the use of data and analysis by rural communities to determine the specific needs and solutions for their area. In partnership with First Children’s Finance, funding from the program will empower communities to assess their current child care market environment and develop strategies. - Rural Return Program
Provides up to $100,000 to support creative programming that attracts new residents to move or work in rural communities. Grant funding will support the development and implementation of incentive programs.
Grant applications are due December 1 and additional information is available on the IEDA website.
