Iowa Rural Innovation Grant

Liesl Seabert
515.348.6154
Liesl.Seabert@iowaeda.com

The Iowa Economic Development Authority provides grants to support innovative projects that address current issues and challenges faced by rural communities in Iowa. Project themes include community investment, growth, and connection.

Competitive projects will fulfill the following criteria:

• Project is unique in its design or implementation
• Project can be replicated in other rural communities of similar size and situation
• Project has multiple partners engaged in its success
• Project has not been implemented in other communities in Iowa
• Project will have local impact beyond an individual business or organization
• Project is either a new solution to an existing challenge or a new application of an existing solution

Eligible use of funds include:

• Construction
• Land acquisition
• Major renovation and repair of buildings or secondary structures
• Park, trail, or permanent design exhibits
• Site development
• Engineering, planning, and design costs
• Community training program development and implementation
• Materials
• Equipment and electronics
• Marketing
• Personnel time dedicated to the project

A list of past projects is provided in the application instructions.

Eligible Iowa applicants include:

• Businesses
• Colleges and universities
• City and county governments
• Private 501(c)3 nonprofit agencies
• Foundations

The project should include a collaboration of partners with a single eligible entity serving as the primary applicant.

Award ceiling: $50,000
Award floor: $10,000
Project period: October 15, 2023 - June 30, 2025

Applicants must provide a cash match for 50% of the award request.

Links to additional guidance and the application instructions are available on the program website.

Submit applications online through the Iowa grants portal.