Iowa Business and Commerce Grants

This funding opportunity supports tax-exempt organizations, educational institutions, and local governments in Woodbury County, Iowa, to implement impactful economic development projects that create jobs, enhance community services, and improve quality of life.

This program provides financial support to small- and medium-sized manufacturers in Iowa to help them adopt advanced technologies that improve their operations and competitiveness.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations, schools, and government units in Muscatine County, Iowa, to support projects that improve community quality of life through measurable outcomes and collaboration.

This grant provides funding for local video creators and organizations in Dubuque to acquire equipment for producing non-commercial content for the community's public, educational, and governmental access channels.

This program provides financial support to small businesses in Johnson County, Iowa, that have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic or are located in underserved areas, helping them cover operating costs and improve their physical spaces.

This grant provides financial support to Iowa businesses and farmers for projects that increase the use of local agricultural products, create jobs, and promote long-term economic growth in the farming sector.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Iowa businesses with at least 75 employees to develop or expand child care facilities, particularly in high-demand areas, to help address local child care shortages.

This funding opportunity is designed for small dairy producers in Iowa to enhance their processing capabilities through modernization and efficiency improvements.

This funding opportunity is designed to support local nonprofits, government entities, and public school agencies in Buena Vista County with various project needs.

This program provides $1,000 grants to local businesses in Carroll County to improve their storefronts and attract more customers through various facade enhancements.

This grant provides financial assistance to businesses and building owners in downtown Ames for improving their building façades, with a focus on historically significant features.

This program provides financial support to women, minorities, service-connected disabled veterans, and individuals with disabilities in Iowa to help them start or grow their small businesses through targeted coaching and assistance.

This program provides up to $5,000 in funding and business support to small business owners in Iowa City who are certified or eligible as Targeted Small Businesses, focusing on those owned by women, minorities, service-disabled veterans, or individuals with disabilities.

This grant provides financial assistance to small businesses in Dubuque, Iowa, to help cover operating costs and support long-term success for income-qualified owners.

This grant provides funding to independently owned grocery stores in rural Iowa to enhance food security and community vitality through technology upgrades and innovative service delivery methods.

This grant provides financial assistance to established growth companies in Iowa's advanced manufacturing, value-added agriculture, and information technology sectors to help them expand into new markets and create jobs in rural communities.

This grant provides financial support to small food processors and value-added agriculture businesses in rural Iowa to help them grow through equipment upgrades and expert consultations.

Applications are now being accepted for the City of Dubuque’s Small Business Support Grant, a program that provides up to $5,000 for small business owners to assist with operating costs. Donor Name: City of Dubuque State: Iowa County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant | Reimbursement Deadline: 09/27/2024 Size of the Grant: Up to $5000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The goal of the Small Business Support Grant program is to cover business expenses while helping the business owner develop strategies for continued success. The City partners with the Fountain of Youth Program to administer the grant. Recipients will be matched with a business mentor and be required to participate in an eight-week personal and professional development program facilitated by Fountain of Youth. These requirements are meant to provide ongoing support to the business owner as they look to improve business practices and increase income. Funds are provided as a reimbursement grant for eligible expenses, based on the recipient’s participation in both personal and professional development activities. The program aims to provide short-term assistance to keep the business operating well, and to position the business owner to improve the business over the long term. Eligible Expenses  Rent/utilities of commercial space (home office not eligible) Salaries for employees (not the owner) Permanent supplies (such as paper clips, scissors, hangers, etc.) Permanent signage Permanent equipment Marketing / ads QuickBooks Training/technical assistance Event space rental Website design Eligibility Criteria The applicant must live inside the city limits of the City of Dubuque. The business must have fewer than five (5) employees. The business must have been operational for at least 12 months before application. The applicant must have filed their 2022 and/or 2023 personal and business income taxes. The applicant must be an individual from a low- to moderate-income household For more information, visit City of Dubuque. Related Posts:Request for Applications for Equitable Energy Future…Business Innovation Grant Program in MinnesotaCity of Laurel Thrive Small Business Grant Program…Town of Trophy Club Thrive Business Grant Program (Texas)Call for applications for Artist Support Grants…2024-25 Artist Support Grants (North Carolina)Female Founder World Grant for Small BusinessesDare Arts Artist Support Grants – North CarolinaScience & Technology Business Startup Grant Program…Science & Technology Business Startup Grant Program…StartHER Grant Program - Texas2025 Food Waste Reduction Grant (North Carolina)Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) – IllinoisApply now for Activate Fellowship 2025Minnesota: AGRI Meat, Poultry, Egg, and Milk…2025 AGRI Value-Added Grant Program (Minnesota)Apply now for Activate Fellowship 2025Minnesota: AGRI Meat, Poultry, Egg, and Milk…2025 AGRI Value-Added Grant Program (Minnesota)Pennsylvania: Fresh Food Financing InitiativePennsylvania: Fresh Food Financing Initiative

Greater Des Moines offers general operating support to all eligible arts, culture, heritage and interpretive sciences organizations in the Greater Des Moines region. Donor Name: Bravo Greater Des Moines State: Iowa County: Polk County (IA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 09/13/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year Details: The mission is to leverage community resources to maximize impact of arts, culture and heritage to advance regional priorities.  Funding Information Awards will generally fall within the following target ranges:  First  Annual Operating Expenses: $2 million and above  Maximum Annual Award: $500,000 Second Project Period The 2025 grant period (GC25) runs January 1 – December 31, 2025. Eligibility Criteria Be a 501(c) organization exempt from tax under the Internal Revenue Code with at least 6 months of active programming history or be an agency, division or department of the State of Iowa which operates a facility open to the public. Have headquarters in and conduct most of its activities within one of Bravo’s partner local governments. Demonstrate a primary organizational purpose of arts, culture, interpretative science, and/or heritage that focuses on the collection, preservation, production, presentation and/or promotion of artistic expression, traditions, customs, or stories within creative, educational, or historic contexts. Mission language, programming, public access, support materials, partnerships, and budget must all clearly illustrate arts, culture, interpretative science or heritage as the organization’s primary purpose (at least 60%) in Greater Des Moines. Ineligible applicants for operating support include, but are not limited to: Individual artists Fiscally sponsored organizations Private organizations, clubs or groups that do not offer public programming Political, religious, or academic organizations Public libraries Those formed with the express purpose of fundraising on behalf of, supporting and/or promoting applicants that are not otherwise eligible for funding (e.g. friends societies, etc. for libraries, political, religious or academic organizations) Nonprofit organizations whose primary mission and work advances other sectors such as social services (food, housing, childcare, schools, mental health and wellness, etc.), economic development, business and entrepreneurship, financial services, sports and recreation, technology, etc., even if arts and culture programming is used to deliver some of the organization’s mission. For more information, visit Bravo Greater Des Moines.

Humanities Project Grants offer support for public humanities projects that encourage contemplation, spark conversation and engage the community. Donor Name: State Historical Society of Iowa State: Iowa County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/15/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: Eligible projects will use the humanities as the central resource to involve and benefit diverse groups of Iowans through educational programming that explore the human experience. Funding for the Humanities Project Grant is made possible by an appropriation from the National Endowment for the Humanities, a federal agency, to the Iowa Department of Administrative Services. The program is administered by the State Historical Society of Iowa on behalf of the department.  Funding Information Applicants may request funding for eligible one-time project expenses that are incurred and expended within the eligible funding period.  Minimum Grant Request: $2,500 Maximum Grant Request: $30,000 Funding Period All project activities and incurred expenses must occur within the eligible funding period of November 1, 2024–October 31, 2025. Eligible Projects Eligible projects should focus on the humanities and must demonstrate public value to Iowans through deliberate public engagement and access to project activities. Types of eligible projects could include community discussions, lecture series, workshops, films, interpretive exhibits, podcasts, etc. Projects that involve the creative or performing arts could be eligible as long as they are a catalyst in a project in which humanities are central, and include interpretation and/or discussion of performances, concerts, literary and art works. Humanities must be central to the project. Subject areas include archaeology, comparative religion, cultural anthropology, ethics, folklore, gender studies, history, jurisprudence, languages, law, linguistics, literature (including novels, poetry, drama, and other forms of written expression, both modern and classical), philosophy, and the interpretation (not the creation) of the arts. Aspects of the social sciences, such as political science and sociology, that can help to explore the humanity and discover meaning in the lives and community are also included.  Eligibility Criteria Eligible applicants must be one of the following types of entities. Entities who do not meet these requirements are not eligible to apply. Organizations Federally tax exempt 501(c)3 nonprofit organization incorporated and physically located in Iowa Physical location of the organization is defined as maintaining a current home office and registered agent address in Iowa defined by Iowa Code 490.501 as well as maintaining a primary staff presence physically located and working in Iowa Federally tax exempt 501(c)3 nonprofit organization physically located in a border state community immediately adjacent to Iowa. The organization must be registered to do business in Iowa with the Secretary of State’s office. An eligible border state organization must demonstrate that the funding request significantly impacts the cultural vitality of Iowa and predominantly serves Iowans. Unit of local, county or federally-recognized tribal government physically located in Iowa Units within institutions of higher education that are physically located in Iowa that have the humanities as their core mission and offer public programs are eligible. However, institutions of higher education are limited to one application, from one unit, and may neither apply for nor receive grant funds for multiple units. Individuals Individual filmmaker or humanities expert A humanities expert is defined as someone with an advanced degree in a humanities discipline or someone who is otherwise well-qualified to bring a humanities perspective, such as a historian, library or museum professional, culture bearer, or individual who is an acknowledged cultural expert within their community. Current, legal Iowa resident who is 21 years of age or older and physically located in Iowa Residence is defined by Iowa Code 422.4 and Iowa Administrative Code 701.38.17 (422) An application from an individual must support a project that is initiated and managed by the individual, not an organization. The project must be designed to benefit the individual and may not benefit an organization with which the individual applicant has a formal affiliation such as employment or volunteer service. Applicants who represent a group must apply as an individual and clearly state their individual role in the project proposal  For more information, visit State Historical Society of Iowa.