Rural Housing Readiness Assessment Grant Program

The Rural Housing Readiness Assessment Grant is a targeted initiative administered by the Center for Rural Revitalization, a division of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), in collaboration with Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach and the Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Initiative task force. The grant is designed to support Iowa’s rural communities in enhancing local housing policies by leveraging publicly available data, customized planning support, and structured assessment tools to improve their readiness for housing development. The primary vehicle for this effort is the ISU Extension and Outreach Rural Housing Readiness Assessment workshop. The program’s primary objective is to empower rural communities to evaluate and improve their local development environments. By utilizing the Rural Housing Readiness Assessment workshops, grantees can identify and implement policy changes, revise development codes, adjust housing incentives, and adopt ordinances that attract housing developers. Communities are expected to use the funds to collect relevant housing data, participate in a facilitated workshop with ISU Extension, and either complete the assessment or implement workshop outcomes. The grant is firmly process-oriented and aims to build capacity for long-term planning and action in local housing systems. Eligibility is limited to city and county governments and federally recognized tribal governments physically located in Iowa. These entities must serve a population of 20,000 or fewer and not be adjacent to cities with populations exceeding 40,000. Countywide projects must be located in one of Iowa’s 88 least populous counties. Applicants must demonstrate administrative capacity, feasible use of funds within the contract period, and identify additional funding sources. A cash match of $10,000 is required, and applicants must agree to contract with ISU Extension and Outreach for the facilitated workshop. Applicants are encouraged to establish a housing committee of 7–10 individuals from diverse backgrounds, such as elected officials, city staff, nonprofit leaders, major employers, and residents. Applications will be evaluated using a 57-point rubric that assesses applicant profile, timing and need, committee composition, existing documentation, implementation feasibility, budget justification, local support for matching funds, quality of supporting materials, and overall grantsmanship. Projects located in communities of 10,000 or fewer may receive bonus points. Funding is capped at $20,000 per grantee, with funds disbursed on a reimbursement basis only after eligible expenses are incurred. Claims must be at least $1,000 and submitted via IowaGrants.gov with proper documentation, including invoices and proof of payment. The eligible funding period begins in Fall 2025 and ends on June 30, 2027. Expenses outside this timeframe will not be reimbursed. The application window opens on July 1, 2025, and closes on August 29, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. CDT. All applications must be submitted electronically via IowaGrants.gov, and applicants must create an account to access the portal. Late, incomplete, or ineligible submissions will be disqualified. For questions, applicants are advised to contact Sacha Wise, Director of Empower Rural Iowa, at 515.348.6156 or via email at sacha.wise@iowaeda.com well before the application deadline.

Establish a 7–10 person housing committee and contact the grant officer early.