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/Program | Funding Uses | SICOG Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| USDA Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program | Helps 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 projects | Up 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 Program | Grants 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 Improvement | Provides 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 Program | Grants for playgrounds, health and wellness projects, public safety, education, culture and arts, and other local needs. (Eligible: Local governments and non-profits in communities served by Alliant Energy) | Ongoing, reviewed monthly |
| EDA Public Works Program | This 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 Program | The 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 Grant | Grants 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 |
| USDOT Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Program | SS4A 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: August 29 |
| Rural Housing Readiness Assessment Grant | In partnership with Iowa State University Extension & 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 that are attractive to potential developers. (Eligible: Local Government) | August 30 |
| Rural Child Care Planning Grant | The Rural Child Care Planning Grant Program provides funding for planning initiatives addressing childcare through a professional third-party partner. (Eligible: local governments, nonprofit 501c3 and c6 organizations, school districts, and higher education). | August 30 |
| BOOST Pilot Program | The BOOST program aims to provide teams of experts to assist passionate community and business leaders in developing intentional plans for next step growth. This pilot program is designed for rural communities, nonprofits, or employers to receive personalized technical assistance for identifying and implementing action steps to launch into the next stage of success. (Eligible: local governments, nonprofit 501c3 and c6 organizations.) | August 30 |
| IDOT RISE Grant | RISE funds roadway improvements to facilitate for economic development projects, such as expanding businesses, industrial/commerce parks, etc. (eligible: local governments) | September 1 & February 1 |
| Federal Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program | Funding for planning, design, and construction of projects that reduce the risk of vehicle-wildlife crashes on highways. (Eligible: local governments, regional transportation agencies.) | September 4 |
| Main Street Challenge Grant | Grant funding for projects that enhance the downtown area, such as brick-and-mortar building projects in designated Main Street districts. (Eligible: Corning, Greenfield and Osceola.) | September 6 |
| IDNR Water Recreation Access Cost-Share Program | The Water Recreation Access Cost-Share Program is available for constructing or improving boat access facilities to Iowa’s lakes and streams. Projects can include boat ramps, loading/off-loading docks and other structures to enhance use by the public (Eligible: local governments) | September 30 |
| IEDA Enhance Iowa Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) | Funds for capital projects, such as trails, libraries, community centers, pavilions, entertainment venues, museums, recreational facilities, and more. (Eligible: local governments and certain nonprofits). | Projected fall 2024 |
| Certified Local Government Program | Program that funds projects related to historic preservation, such as National Register nominations, education projects, surveys, planning for preservation, and other planning projects (Eligible: recognized Certified Local Governments, which are registered local governments with active historic preservation commissions.) | Early Fall (not yet announced) |
| Iowa DOT Federal Recreational Trails Grant | Establish recreational trails throughout Iowa. The program is restricted to the acquisition, construction or improvement of recreational trails open for public use or trails which will be dedicated public used upon completion. This grant is very competitive, so SICOG is interested in major projects, especially those that connect one trail to another or connect two communities or destinations. (Eligible: local governments and certain nonprofits). | October 1 |
| CDBG Water & Sewer Program | Water and wastewater capital improvements: plants, mains, lagoons, pumps, towers, etc. (Eligible: Local Governments) | October 31 |
| 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.) | October 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.) | October 31 |
| USDA Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants | Grants 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 REC’s, who can subgrant funds to other entities). | October 31 |
| IDNR Solid Waste Alternatives Program | Funds 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 products, Salaries directly related to implementation and operation of the project (Eligible: local governments, non-profits, private organizations, individuals) | October 31 |
| Choose Iowa Grants | Funding for value-added agriculture and daily innovation and to provide improvements to the local food supply chain (Eligible: individuals, businesses, non-profits, private organizations, individuals) | December 2024 |
| Iowa Community Catalyst Building Remediation Program | The Catalyst Program provides up to $100,000 for rehabilitation of underused and deteriorated commercial buildings, usually in a downtown area. This program funds up to one building per city of any size with a set-aside for small towns (Eligible: Municipalities) | Pre-Application January 29, 2025 |