Grant Opportunities

Some grants are commonly sought by SICOG members and other community development organizations in the region. This page provides a brief summary of some of the reoccurring grants. Please contact SICOG staff to determine the current status of all grants and to learn if the project being proposed will fit grant eligibility and priorities.

Source/ProgramFunding UsesSICOG Due Date
USDA Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance ProgramHelps a Microenterprise Development Organization to establish RLFs with capital funds so they can lend money to small businesses of fewer than 10 employees (Eligible: non-profit organizations and higher education)Ongoing
CDBG Community Facilities and
Services
This annual competitive program offers grants to assist communities for a variety of projects including day care facilities, senior centers, vocational workshops and other community services such as storm water projects. (Eligible: local governments)Ongoing
Iowa Historic Preservation Tax Credits – small projectsUp to 25% of project cost in the form of a State tax credit to offset the costs of the building rehabilitation or restoration. Project must affect a designated historic building on the National Register of Historic Places.  Projects can have eligible costs up to $750,000 (Eligible: property owners – governments can partner to mobilize the project).Ongoing
ITC/ IRDC “Power of Connection” Community Grant ProgramGrants up to $5,000 for capacity building, strategic planning, studies or assessments for a variety of community programs and issues (Eligibility: rural communities)Ongoing
Highway Safety ImprovementProvides grants for low-cost, systematic safety improvements in the $10,000/mile range, focusing on lane departure crashes. (Eligible: local governments)Ongoing
Traffic Engineering Assistance
Program (TEAP)
Provides 100 hours of engineering assistance for operations and traffic safety issues. (Eligible: local governments)Ongoing
Alliant Energy Foundation Community Grants ProgramGrants for playgrounds, health and wellness projects, public safety, education, culture and arts, and other local needs. (Eligible: Local governments an non-profits in communities served by Alliant Energy)Ongoing, reviewed monthly
EDA Public Works ProgramThis is a large grant program for major economic development projects. EDA provides catalytic investments to help distressed communities build, design, or engineer critical infrastructure and facilities that will help implement regional development strategies and advance bottom-up economic development goals to promote regional prosperity. It provides resources to meet the construction and/or infrastructure design needs of communities to enable them to become more economically competitive. (Eligible: SICOG, local governments, high education, quasi-government agencies and districts)Ongoing
US DOT Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot ProgramThe BIL created the Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program, which makes $10 million available over five years to provide states, local governments, and tribal governments with grants to support project development leading to future applications to DOT credit or grant programs. The grants can support legal, technical, and financial advisors to help advance infrastructure projects.  (Eligible: local governments).Until funds are expended
IDNR Food Storage Capacity GrantGrants up to $8,000 to purchase food storage facilities (shelving, refrigerators, freezers, etc.) for food handling facilities (Eligible: food pantries, food banks, and other entitles that provide food to food-insecure Iowans).Until funds are expended
IEDA Iowa Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant ProgramFunds to implement community-driven strategies to reduce energy use and fossil fuel emissions through innovative energy efficiency measures or renewable energy deployment. The Iowa EECBG Program is a competitive grant program to fund eligible local energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. (Eligible: Local governments)March 18
FY2023 Historic Preservation Fund – Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Subgrant ProgramThis Department of the Interior program provides funding for historic preservation projects involving historic buildings.  This grant can be as large as $750,000.  A limited number of high-impact projects will be funded (Eligible: Local governments, special district governments, and nonprofits).March 19
USDOT Bridge Investment Program, Planning and Bridge Project GrantsTwo funding categories: (1) Planning and (2) Bridge Project grants (a project with total eligible costs not greater than $100 million) for awards under the Bridge Investment Program (BIP). This program provides grant to high-impact bridge projects (Eligible; A unit of local government or a group of local governments).March 19
Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration EMS Training Grants

Recruit and train EMS personnel in rural areas with a particular focus on addressing substance use disorders (SUD) and co-occurring disorders (COD) substance use and mental disorders. Recipients will be expected to train EMS personnel on SUD and COD, trauma-informed, recovery-based care for people with such disorders in emergency situations and, as appropriate, to maintain licenses and certifications relevant to serve in an EMS agency. Focus is on rural communities. (Eligible: rural emergency medical service agencies operated by a local or tribal government (fire-based and non-fire based) and rural non-profit emergency medical service agencies.)
March 20
Build with Bags GrantMicro-grant up to $2,000 to purchase recycled plastic outdoor furniture items, such as trash cans, benches, etc., for public use (Eligible: local governments, civic organizations, and non-profits)March 29
Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP)A USDA program that helps gas stations, convenience stores, and other fuel dispensing stations to add infrastructure for higher blends of renewable fuels, such as ethanol (Eligible: Owners of transportation fueling facilities and fuel distribution
facilities).
Quarterly – Next March 31
USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)Grants for investment in private businesses and agricultural producers to make their enterprises more energy efficient or to install renewable systems. With the so-called Inflation Reduction Act, this program has been improved and better funded, so now is the time to apply. (Eligible: private for-profit entities).Quarterly – Next March 31
USDA Rural Economic Development Loans and GrantsGrants and loans to local and regional entities for economic development projects of all types, with a focus or bonus points for projects that have a climate benefit (Eligible: certain utility providers, such as RECs, who can sub-grant funds to other entities).Quarterly – Next March 31
IDNR Solid Waste Alternatives ProgramFunds can be used for such items as: Waste reduction equipment and installation, Recycling, collection, processing, or hauling equipment (including installation), Development, printing and distribution of educational materials, Planning and implementation of educational forums, workshops, etc., Purchase and installation of recycled content products, Salaries directly related to implementation and operation of the project (Eligible: local governments, non-profits, private organizations, individuals)Quarterly – Next March 31
2025 GTSB LE Highway Safety GrantsThe Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau Law Enforcement Highway Safety Grant funds costs related to law enforcement of traffic safety, such as overtime costs, outreach, speed trailers, etc. (Eligible: local government law enforcement agencies).March 29
Special Round of CDBG COVID-19 fundingIEDA issued a supplemental round of CDBG CV funds for public Wi-Fi and food bank projects. This grant up to $100,000 is for purchase of equipment and minor infrastructure investments to provide access to Wi-Fi in public places, such as libraries, open space plazas, pocket parks, etc., and improvements to food banks to serve more people. (Eligible: nonprofits as subrecipients with the City serving as a applicant).April 1
USDOT Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) ProgramSS4A funds help communities in the development of road safety action plans and improve unsafe roadway corridors by implementing effective interventions. Additionally, these funds can be utilized to test out safety features such as separated bicycle lanes or curb extensions at intersections. Grants include planning and implementation grants. (Eligible: local governments)Planning: April 4, May 16, Aug. 29
Implementation: May 16
FEMA SAFER and FP&S programsThe FY 2023 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) and FY 2023 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) programs fund firefighting assistance program. SAFER grants can help fund paid positions and recruiting and retention programs for volunteer firefighters.  The FP&S program funds innovative fire prevention programs. (Eligible: local fire departments)April 16
IEDA Butchery Innovation and Revitalization ProgramThe fund provides financial assistance in the form of grants to businesses for projects relating to small-scale meat processing, licensed custom lockers and mobile slaughter units to renovate, expand, and build facilities.  An assessment provided by the Center for Industrial Research & Service (CIRAS) must be submitted before applying for this grant program. This is due by March 7 (Eligible: private businesses registered in Iowa with 75 or fewer employees).April 18
Low and No Emission Grant Program and Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities ProgramFederal transit grant for low-emission vehicles and bus facilities, including charging facilities (Eligible: States, local governments, and subrecipients that operate transit systems).April 25
Open 4 Business GrantGrants to help support the development of small businesses in Main Street Iowa Communities (Eligible: communities that are current with the Main Street Iowa program).May 1
Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) Affordable Housing Program (AHP)The Affordable Housing Program provides grants (subsidies) for affordable housing of all types that benefits low- and moderate-persons and mixed-income projects. Work includes ownership and rental, single- and multi-family, and new and rehab (Eligible: local governments, non-profits, and private developers).May 1
Iowa Arts Project GrantProjects that positively impact the vitality of the arts in the state and demonstrate public value. Eligible art projects must include exceptional arts activities, involve collaboration, and provide access to Iowans (Eligible: local governments, schools, individual artists, and non-profits)May 15
Iowa Cultural Capacity Building ProgramCultural Capacity Building Grants provide support over a two-year period to small nonprofit organizations that demonstrate a commitment to enhancing their cultural and managerial excellence and community service (Eligible: local governments, schools, individual artists, and non-profits).May 15
Iowa Thriving CommunitiesProgram that awards a community bonus points for housing projects that apply for Iowa Workforce Housing Tax Credits in the 2025 Program Year.May 15
Iowa Workforce Housing Tax Incentive ProgramProvides tax credits/incentives from the State of Iowa for housing projects of all kinds.  Up to 20% of eligible project costs can be rebated in the form of a tax incentive (Eligible: local governments and private or nonprofit developers and landowners)June 10
IDNR Land and Water Conservation FundFunds recreation and conservation development programs, such as trails, water access facilities, playgrounds, pools and aquatic facilities, and other projects that get people out in nature.  Funding this year is for projects to be built or renovated in 2024 (Eligible; Local governments and conservation boards).June 15
IEDA Enhance Iowa Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) GrantFunds for capital projects, such as trails, libraries, community centers, pavilions, entertainment venues, museums, recreational facilities, and more. (Eligible: local governments and certain nonprofits).July 15
IDOT RISE GrantRISE funds roadway improvements to facilitate economic development projects, such as expanding businesses, industrial/commerce parks, etc. (Eligible: local governments)September 1and February 1