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Community, Economic Development and Housing
- Iowa Arts & Culture Emergency Relief Fund
The Iowa Arts & Culture Emergency Relief Fund provides short-term financial relief to eligible organizations impacted by natural disasters, emergencies and other unforeseen events that pose an active threat to publicly-accessible artistic, cultural or humanities resources.
Deadline: Ongoing - CDBG Community Facilities and Services
Approximately $1.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds are available on an annual basis to cities and counties through the state of Iowa’s Community Facilities Fund. This annual competitive program offers grants to assist communities with a variety of projects including daycare facilities, senior centers, vocational workshops and other community services such as stormwater projects.
Deadline: Ongoing - CDBG Sustainable Community Demonstration
Sustainable Community Demonstration Project Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding is available to local governments on a competitive basis. The Sustainable Community Demonstration Project category provides grants to communities for green infrastructure-based stormwater projects and for a variety of projects and activities demonstrating comprehensive innovative approaches to support community sustainability. To date, the program has funded a demonstration district geothermal project in a community downtown and a demonstration streetscape project that integrated green infrastructure best management practices for stormwater, combined with LED street lights and a building façade master plan.
Deadline: Ongoing - Nuisance/Abandoned Property Remediation Fund (This is a Loan and Not Grant Program)
The Nuisance Property and Abandoned Building Remediation program provides financial assistance to communities to remediate residential nuisance buildings and structures. The administrative rules for the Nuisance Property and Abandoned Building Remediation program can be found in Iowa Administrative Code, section 216- Chapter 22. Please refer to these rules as necessary for more information regarding program requirements. The program has a maximum loan request of $500,000. IEDA will evaluate requests and approve loan amounts based on application scoring, ability to repay, and the amount of program funds available.
Deadline: Ongoing - CDBG 2019 Disaster Recovery – Buyout
To provide for the acquisition of properties located in a floodplain or floodway, or in Disaster Risk Reduction Areas as designated by the grantee, to reduce the risk from future flooding. This opportunity is only open to applicants in Fremont, Harrison, and Mills counties.
Deadline: Open Until Funds are Spent - Emergency Community Catalyst Building Remediation
Through the Community Catalyst Building Remediation Program, the Iowa Economic Development Authority will provide grants to communities for the redevelopment, rehabilitation or deconstruction of buildings to stimulate economic growth or reinvestment in the community. Strong applications will show the potential of catalytic economic growth in the community; improve appearances & safety; make use of underutilized property, exhibit appropriate design standards; and be well-funded. Economic growth may include the creation of additional jobs, growth of new or existing businesses, development of new housing units, increase property values, or potential population growth.
Program Details- Funding based on annual appropriation
- Maximum grants: $100,000
- 40% of funds will be awarded to cities with populations under 1,500
- A mandatory pre-application process will precede the official grant application
- Applications are by invitation only after approved pre-application. City must be the applicant
- Funds available for the rehabilitation of one commercial building per community or two buildings with same ownership that are adjacent to each other
- Deconstruction is allowed in dire situations or for safety reasons
Deadline: Ongoing
- CDBG Downtown Revitalization
The Downtown Revitalization Fund provides grants to communities for activities contributing to comprehensive revitalization in historic city centers or core downtown areas. The program is primarily focused on building façade improvements to privately owned buildings in downtowns. Buildings with first floor residential use are prohibited from program participation. Work on roofs, for up to 40% of that building’s total costs, is also eligible. Front façades of buildings and side facades, when clearly visible from the travel lane of the adjacent public street are eligible. Rear facades are eligible only under unique or rare circumstances. Upper story residential units are subject to Lead Based Paint requirements.
All incorporated cities and all counties in the State, except those designated as HUD entitlement areas, are eligible to apply for and receive funds under this program. The maximum grant award is $650,000. To apply for the maximum award, a minimum of 8 blighted buildings (addresses) must be proposed for improvements in the overall project. A minimum of 6 blighted buildings (addresses) must be proposed for improvement to apply for any lesser amount of funds. Local matching funds from the city/county, building owners or other sources are required to be competitive. Applications for funding are accepted and reviewed competitively with the best applications funded.
Deadline: November 22, 2023 - CDBG Housing Upper Story Conversion
This program funds activities limited to existing buildings to either rehabilitate un-occupiable units or convert existing spaces into new units. All spaces must be vacant and un-occupiable at the time of application and for a period of at least five (5) years. Applications for funding are competitive and must be received prior to the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. The maximum award per project is $600,00; $550,000 for project and administrative costs and an optional $50,000 to assist with Green Streets activities. Projects choosing the optional Green Streets funding should plan to complete a design consultation prior to application. To do so, contact Jeff Geerts at (515) 348-6211 or Jeff.Geerts@IowaEDA.com.
Deadline: November 22, 2023 - CDBG Comprehensive Neighborhood Revitalization Planning Grant
This annual competitive program offers grants to assist communities for engaging a qualified professional consultant to prepare an action plan for targeted neighborhood revitalization /redevelopment. Such consultants must be procured in accordance with federal procurement standards. The maximum award for this program is $25,000, with local match of at least 25% of the requested amount is required. Cities/counties that receive these funds and subsequently prepare and submit completed plans to IEDA will be eligible to apply for a Comprehensive Neighborhood Development Activities grant during the next available funding cycle.
Deadline: November 22, 2023
Public Facilities
Public Safety
Transportation Opportunities
- Federal-Aid Surface Transportation Block Grant Program
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), allow many types of eligible projects for the use of federal funds to preserve and improve the condition and performance of any Federal-aid highway, bridge or tunnel project on any public road. (A Federal-aid Highway includes routes classified as a rural major collector or a collector street or any higher classification.) Surface Transportation Block Grant funds may also be used on pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and transit capital projects including intercity bus terminals. However, an RPA or MPO may have a more restrictive list of eligible projects, and they may approve only specific uses on an individual project basis. If interest in the grant contact your regional COG, and to find your COG click on the following link: https://www.iowacog.com/find-your-cog
Deadline: Ongoing - Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy (RISE) Program
Projects funded by the RISE program promote economic development in Iowa through the establishment, construction, and improvement of roads and streets. The RISE program is targeted toward value-adding activities that feed new dollars into the economy and provide maximum economic impact to the state on primary or secondary roads, and city streets open for public use. While all counties and incorporated cities in Iowa are eligible to apply, funding is generally limited to industrial, manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, and professional office developments, with few exceptions.
Deadline: Ongoing - Highway Bridge Programs for Cities and Counties
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) added the Bridge Formula Program (BFP), which sets aside funding for bridge replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, protection, and construction projects. Additionally, Congress has occasionally apportioned bridge funding through the Highway Infrastructure Program for Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation. The purpose of these programs is to reduce the number of “Poor” bridges (formerly known as Structurally Deficient (SD) and Functionally Obsolete (FO) bridges) on the local jurisdiction roadway systems.
Cities may request to add a bridge to the City Bridge Candidate List at any time, but the deadline for the next Federal Fiscal Year’s funding is October 1. Such requests shall be submitted in writing on city letterhead, or via email with a city official’s signature block, to the Iowa DOT Local Systems Bureau. Any highway bridge within the corporate limits, whether in whole or in part, may be submitted for consideration. This includes bridges on Farm-to-Market extensions within the city limits of cities less than 500 population.
Deadline: October 1 Annually - DOT/DNR Fund
The intent of the DOT/DNR program is to enhance roadside beautification of primary system corridors with plant materials. To be eligible for funding, the site must be on a primary highway right-of-way, including primary highway extensions. The maximum award amount for the program is $100,000. Letters of request for funding are accepted year-round, and if the project is select, the project is funded in the order in which it was received.
Water, Sewer, Storm Sewer and Electrical Infrastructure
- Energy Infrastructure Revolving Loan Program (Loan Program Only)
Examples of eligible costs include, but are not limited to: - Real and personal property comprising a project
- Materials and equipment required for necessary site preparation, construction, and installation of a project
- Labor for site preparation, construction, and installation of a project.
- Costs associated with maintenance, operation, or repair of a project during the term of the loan.
- The minimum loan amount is $50,000 and the maximum is $2.5 million. An applicant may apply for a loan for up to 75% of the total costs of the project.
Deadline: Ongoing - CDBG Water & Sewer Fund
Funds awarded through this annual competitive program assist cities and counties with projects such as sanitary sewer system improvements, water system improvements, water and wastewater treatment facility projects, storm sewer projects related to sanitary sewer system improvements and rural water connections.
Deadline: Ongoing / Quarterly - SRF Planning and Design Loan
Planning & Design Loans cover costs incurred in the planning and design phase of a water infrastructure project. These loans have 0 percent interest for up to three years and require no initiation or servicing fees. In addition, there is no minimum or maximum loan amount. Eligible costs include engineering fees, archaeological surveys, environmental or geological studies, and costs related to project plan preparation. The loans may be rolled into a State Revolving Fund (SRF) construction loan or can be repaid when permanent financing is committed. The project planning and design costs must be directly related to the proposed wastewater, storm water or drinking water projects.
Deadline: Ongoing - State Revolving Fund Loan and Principal Forgiveness
Low Interest loans and potential principal low forgiveness to disadvantaged communities. Factors that determine if a community is eligible for principal forgiveness include how many project priority points are awarded, socioeconomic assessment score, and household burden indicators.
Deadline: Ongoing - CDBG Water / Sewer Fund
Approximately $7 million in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds are available on an annual basis to cities and counties through the state of Iowa’s Water/Sewer Fund. This competitive program offers grants to assist cities and counties with water and sewer infrastructure improvements including sanitary sewer system improvements, water system improvements, water and wastewater treatment facilities, storm sewer projects related to sanitary sewer system improvements and rural water connections.
The amount of assistance communities may apply for is based on the population:
-Communities with populations less than 1,000 can receive up to $300,000
-Communities with populations between 1,000 and 2,500 can receive up to $500,000
-Communities with populations between 2,500 and 15,000 can receive up to $600,000
-Communities with populations greater than 15,000 can receive up to $800,000
-Communities with populations less than 300 are limited to $1,000 per capita, as are unincorporated areas of a county proposing direct service projects.
To be eligible for funding, at least 51% of project beneficiaries (residents served by the project) must be low to moderate income. For purposes of the CDBG program, “low and moderate income” is defined at persons with incomes at or below 80% of the area median income as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Current income levels can be found on the IEDA website: https://www.iowaeda.com/cdbg/management-guide/.
Deadline: October 1, 2023
Other Opportunities
