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 an 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 |
| Iowa GTSB Non-Law Enforcement Project Grants | A grant to help with addressing vulnerable road uses but not involving law enforcement. Projects must address the safety of vulnerable road users, i.e. pedestrians, bicyclists, and other users, such as horse and buggy (if applicable in your area), e-scooters (if applicable in your area), etc., and be based on problems identified in communities and supported with data. These projects should offer a multi-pronged approach to include education, enforcement, and engineering. (Eligible: local governments; transit and RPA agencies). | September 15 |
| IDNR Dam Mitigation Grants | Grants to help dam owners and partners add signage, modify low-head dams and other projects to make safety improvements and enhance waterways for human users and fish habitat (Eligible: dam owners, including local governments). | September 22 |
| DOT Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program | New programs created in the past year or 18 months. The Reconnecting Communities program addresses transportation barriers the divide communities, such as railroads, busy highways, and other barriers. The Neighborhood Access and Equity program provides up to $3.155 billion to reconnect communities by supporting neighborhood equity, safety, and affordable transportation access as well as mitigating negative environmental impacts. It will emphasize assisting economically disadvantaged or underserved communities with planning and capacity building. (Eligible: local governments and regional entities). | September 28 |
| USDA Power Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) | A loan or financing program for rural communities to develop clean energy infrastructure. (Eligible: state and local governments; tribes; for-profits; non-profits; RECs, etc.) | September 29 |
| IDNR Water Recreation Access Cost-share Program | Provides funds for constructing and improving boat access facilities to Iowa’s lakes and streams. Projects can include boat launching ramps, docks, and related infrastructure (Eligible: local governments) | September 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 beginning September 30 |
| 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 beginning September 30 |
| National Trust for Historic Preservation National Preservation Fund | Mini grants up to $5,000 for non-construction projects (capacity development, research, engineering or building reports, exhibit development, etc., are okay) for museums and historic properties who want to make improvements (Eligible: owners of historic properties). | September 30 |
| 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 use 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 |
| 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 content products, Salaries directly related to implementation and operation of the project (Eligible: local governments, non-profits, private organizations, individuals) | October 1 |
| Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation | Offers grants to nonprofit organizations that address the needs of persons living with paralysis (particularly spinal cord injury), their families, and caregivers. Can do infrastructure projects. (Eligible: local governments; nonprofits). | October 11 |
| CDBG Water and Sewer Program | Water and wastewater capital improvements: plants, mains, lagoons, pumps, towers, etc. (Eligible: local governments) | October 30 (next quarterly round) |
| EPA Community Change Grants | Funding for technical assistance and grants to implement various types of projects that help disadvantaged communities reduce greenhouse gas emissions, heat island effects, and other pollution issues. Program invests in infrastructure as well. (Eligible: local governments in collaboration with nonprofit entities). | Fall (date not established) |
| Federal Museums for America and Inspire! Grants for Small Museums | Two grant programs for technical assistance and actual investments in museums of various types. (Eligible: museums, nonprofits, local governments). | November 15 |
| IEDA CDBG Upper Story Conversion Program | Funds to renovate unoccupiable space into housing in upper floors of downtown buildings. Anywhere from one to 7 units can be in an application. (Eligible: Local governments on behalf of a private owner/developer.) | November 22 |
| IEDA CDBG Downtown Revitalization Program | Funds to rehab/restore exterior street-facing facades on buildings in a target area of a downtown. (Eligible: Local governments on behalf of a group of building owners.) | November 22 |
| IEDA CDBG Neighborhood Planning Grant Program | Funds to complete neighborhood plans or study, which will be used to qualify the area for major CDBG project investments (Eligible: Local governments). | November 22 |
| IDNR Water Trail Enhancement Grants | ($500,000) are available competitively for water trail enhancement cost-share grants. Local divisions of Iowa government are encouraged to apply for cost-share assistance for infrastructure or infrastructure improvements along state designated water trails or water trails on track for state designation (Eligible: local governments). | December 5 |
| CDBG Water and Sewer Program | Water and wastewater capital improvements: plants, mains, lagoons, pumps, towers, etc. (Eligible: local governments) | December 31 (next quarterly round) |
| IEDA Enhance Iowa Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) Grant | Funds for capital projects, such as trails, libraries, community centers, pavilions, entertainment venues, museums, recreational facilities, and more. (Eligible: local governments and certain nonprofits). | January 15, 2024 |
| IDOT RISE Grant | RISE funds roadway improvements to facilitate economic development projects, such as expanding businesses, industrial/commerce parks, etc. (Eligible: local governments) | February 1, 2024 |