State funding opportunities on broadband, community and economic development, housing, transportation, public facilities, water and storm sewer, and other infrastructure.
Before applying for grants, ensure the following are up to date and are working:
- Active SAM.gov registration
- Know your Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number
- Active iowagrants.gov account: some state grants require it
Click on the section below to find current grant opportunities:
Broadband | Community, Economic Development and Housing | Transportation | Public Facilities | Water, Sewer, Storm Sewer and Electrical Infrastructure | Public Safety | Other Opportunities
Rural BOOST
Recognizing that rural challenges do not exist in a silo, this program helps a community utilize its unique assets and challenges its leaders to set realistic goals to advance their economic and business development vision. A community that participates in Rural BOOST is committed to the creation of innovative strategies that promote partnerships, community design, and a strong business economy. Experts will look holistically at the strengths and weaknesses of a community and partner in the development of solutions. Leveraging the expertise of Empower Rural Iowa task force members, IEDA staff, and Iowa Rural Development Council partners, each community will work with a team to mentor and develop next steps. Participants in Rural BOOST receive the following:
- In-person meeting with the individualized Rural BOOST Team and local committee
- Follow-up in person or virtual meetings as needed
- Recommendations resource document from the Center for Rural Revitalization
Rural BOOST is administered by the Center for Rural Revitalization, a division of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), in consultation with the Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Initiative Task Forces.
Deadline: February Each Year
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: Applications Accepted Year-Round
Enhance Iowa
Enhance Iowa provides grant funds to assist projects that provide recreational, cultural, entertainment and educational attractions, as well as sports tourism. The funds help communities create transformational projects that enhance the vitality of a region and the state overall. Funds must be primarily used for vertical infrastructure (land acquisition and construction, major renovation and major repair of buildings, all appurtenant structures, utilities, site development and recreational trails.)
- Project must be available to the general public for use
- At least 65% of the project funds must be raised
Deadline: Applications Accepted on a Quarterly Basis
Opportunities and Threats Fund
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds are reserved for communities facing an imminent threat to the public requiring immediate assistance. These funds may also be used by communities seeing an opportunity to demonstrate sustainable community activities.
The program is funded through the federal CDBG program. The goal of this program is to provide economic opportunities for people, especially those of low- and moderate income.
Applications are accepted at any time during the year, as funds are available. Contact the CDBG team at community@iowaeda.com, or by phone at 515.348.6200 for information regarding the availability of funds and project eligibility.
Deadline: None, based on funds availability
Empower Rural Iowa
Empower Rural Iowa’s application cycle for FY27 grant programs will open July 1. The following grants are accepting applications: BOOST, Innovation-Housing 2.0, Child Care Planning Grant, and Rural Housing Readiness Assessment Grant. Program details, grant guidelines, and informational webinar registrations are posted on the Center for Rural Revitalization’s website. The deadline to apply for funding via IowaGrants is 4 p.m. on August 26.
Contact Sacha Wise, Empower Rural Iowa Director, with questions (Sacha.Wise@IowaEDA.com).
Eligibility
- Projects must exist in and benefit a community in Iowa with a population of 20,000 or fewer and not contiguous to a city with a population of 40,000 or greater.
- Review the grant guidelines for eligibility requirements, funding and match levels, reporting requirements, and the scoring rubric.
Important Dates
July 1, 2026 | Application Opens
July 9, 2026 | Informational Webinar
August 26, 2026 | Application Deadline
Fall 2026 | Funding Decision Notification
Fall 2026 – June 30, 2028 | Funding Period
Program Descriptions
BOOST: The Building Ownership and Organization by Strengthening Teams (BOOST) program provides a team of experts to assist passionate community leaders in developing intentional plans for next step growth. This strategic planning grant is designed for rural communities and nonprofits that are ready to take bold steps toward long‑term economic vitality. BOOST will dispatch 3-5 experts to meet with a local committee and discuss the existing conditions, assets, and anticipated needs. The team will create an action plan and provide targeted financial support to launch next steps.
Innovation-Housing 2.0: The Innovation-Housing 2.0 program aims to increase available housing stock in rural Iowa by leveraging funding programs, driving private investment, and rewarding creative solutions. The goal is to provide funds to communities that have demonstrated significant progress on housing initiatives and that propose to bring innovation into implementation with a definitive outcome.
Child Care Planning: Through greater understanding of the geographic market, demographics, competition, financials, and other factors, the Child Care Planning Grant provides communities with the information needed to take proactive steps towards addressing child care challenges. Funding will empower communities to assess their current child care environment and develop strategies through a professional third-party partner.
Rural Housing Readiness Assessment: The Rural Housing Readiness Assessment Grant program supports the use of publicly available, online information and rural community efforts to interpret hard data to implement changes through development codes, local ordinances, and housing incentives specific to individual community needs. In partnership with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Rural Housing Readiness Assessment workshops, funding from the program will empower communities to assess their current development environment and enact changes resulting in the creation of policies and procedures attractive to potential developers.
Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) City Parks and Open Spaces
Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) is a State of Iowa program that invests in, as its name implies, the enhancement and protection of the state’s natural and cultural resources. Iowa is blessed with a diverse array of natural and cultural resources and REAP is likewise diverse and far reaching.
City Parks and Open Space
This money is available to cities through competitive grants. Parkland expansion and multi-purpose recreation developments are typical projects funded under this REAP program. The DNR administers the city grant program.
Deadline: August Annually
Community Facilities
This annual competitive program assists communities with infrastructure projects such as day care facilities, senior centers, vocational workshops, food pantries and homeless centers.
The program is funded through the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The goal of this program is to provide infrastructure support for vulnerable populations in communities, especially those of low- and moderate-income.
Deadline: September 1, 2026
Downtown Revitalization Fund: Commercial Facades
The Commercial Facades Program assists communities with impactful downtown exterior improvement projects that eliminate slum and blight conditions.
Projects include primarily front and highly visible side facades of commercial or mixed-use buildings in a traditional downtown setting. All non-entitlement cities, (under 50,000 population) are eligible to apply.
The maximum grant amount is $650,000. Applicants must address blighted items on a minimum of eight buildings (addresses) to request a grant of $650,000 and a minimum of six buildings (addresses) to request anything less than the maximum.
Applications for single buildings are also accepted, but only if they meet the criteria of being an iconic building. Projects that include a single building must demonstrate that the building is central to the development of a downtown area.
Deadline: September 1, 2026
Housing Rehabilitation Fund: Upper Story Rehabilitation Program
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: September 1, 2026
Water Trail Planning and Mini Grants
Provides money to water trail developers (county conservation boards, cities, non-profits) to support projects to establish water trails. Water trails enhance recreational experiences for all water recreation enthusiasts. Efforts often involve canoeists and kayakers.
Deadline: December 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.
Deadline: Applications Accepted Year-Round
Pedestrian Curb Ramp Program
The program assists cities in complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on primary roads. To qualify for funding:
- The city must engineer and administer the project
- Improvements must involve a municipal extension of a primary road
- Curb ramps must meet ADA standards
Deadline: Applications Accepted Year Round
Urban-State Traffic Engineering Program (U-STEP)
The intent of the program is to solve traffic operation and safety problems on primary roads. To be eligible for the program, improvements must involve an extension of a primary municipal road.
Two types of projects eligible for funding:
- Spot Improvements: limited to a single location
- Linear Improvements: span two or more intersections
City match is 45% of the construction cost with a maximum of $200,000 for spot improvements and $400,000 for linear Improvements.
Deadline: Applications Accept Year-Round
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
Deadline: Varies, Check with your regional COG / MPO
Sign Replacement Program
The purpose of the program is to replace damaged, worn out, obsolete or substandard signs and signposts for cities and counties in Iowa. The grant program is not for ordering new signs that do not exist at the location specified in the application.
- Application period begins January 1 of each year.
- Only one grant application may be submitted per applicant year.
- Applications will be reviewed on a first-come-first-served basis
- An assessment of need and proper location and installation of posts will be the responsibility of the communities.
- The Iowa Department of Transportation Sign Shop, or another source, may supply the signs/posts.
Annual grant maximum:
- Cities: $5,000
Deadline: January Annually
Living Roadway Trust Fund
Working through many partners in Iowa, the Living Roadway Trust Fund (LRTF) supports integrated roadside vegetation management (IRVM) programs; and educates the public on the benefits, use and care of roadside vegetation, including native plants.
As examples, grants can be awarded for specialized equipment to accomplish IRVM operations; roadside plantings that demonstrate the best management practices of IRVM; inventories of roadside vegetation; and research, education, and public awareness concerning IRVM issues. The LRTF’s funding guidelines are updated for each Fiscal Year’s grant round and detail what grants can be written for and the specific match requirements.
Deadline: June Annually
Traffic Safety Improvement Program (TSIP)
The intent of the Traffic Safety Improvement Program is to distribute funds for roadway safety improvements, traffic control devices, studies, and outreach. TSIP provides safety funds to cities in three separate categories:
- Site-specific – construction or improvement of traffic safety and operations at a specific site or corridor with a crash history
- Traffic control devices – purchase of materials for installation of new traffic control devices, such as signs, signals or pavement markings; or replacement of obsolete signs or signals
- Studies and Outreach – transportation safety studies and outreach, such as signing or pavement marking research, driver education/information, work zone safety, and crash data analysis improvements.
Deadline: August Annually
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
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: Applications Accepted Year-Round
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: May 1 and September 1 Annually
