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.

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.

The Rural Child Care Planning Program seeks to support the use of data and analysis by rural communities to determine the specific needs and solutions for child care in their area. Donor Name: Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) State: Iowa County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/30/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: Child care is a challenge across rural communities in Iowa and across the nation. However, the solutions are often more complicated than the construction of a new facility. Many factors need to be carefully analyzed to determine the feasibility for development of a child care center, expansion of an existing one or support for in-home providers. Through greater understanding of their geographic market, demographics, competition, financials, and other factors, communities can be armed with the information needed to take proactive steps towards addressing child care challenges. Funding from the program will empower communities to assess their current child care environment and develop strategies. The program, defined in Iowa Administrative Code, is administered by the Center for Rural Revitalization, a division of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), in consultation with the Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Initiative Task Forces. Funding Information Grant Recipients will be awarded $20,000. Grant Period All project activities and incurred expenses must occur within the eligible contracted funding period of October 1, 2024 – June 30, 2026. Uses of funds  The program provides funding for planning initiatives addressing child care needs through a professional third party partner. Eligible Project Requirements Requirements for Rural Child Care Planning Grant awards include, but are not limited to the following: Applicants must demonstrate the capacity for grants administration. Applications must provide 1:1/2 cash match. Applications must agree to contract with a professional third-party partner for completion of the market study and strategic goals. Applicant communities must identify the third-party organization in their application that will conduct the planning process.  Eligibility Criteria Iowa businesses, colleges and universities, city or county government, federally tax-exempt nonprofit agencies and foundations Projects/programs must exist in and benefit a community in Iowa with a population of 20,000 or fewer and not contiguous to a city with a population of 40,000 or greater. If a countywide project, must be in one of the 88 least populous counties. For more information, visit IEDA.

The Economic Development Match Grant aims to support economic development projects in Woodbury County, Iowa, by encouraging collaboration and higher funding levels. Eligible projects must align with at least one of MRHD’s four focus areas: job creation and retention, workforce development, impactful new projects or services, and community development for improved quality of life. Proposals must be sustainable without further grants, demonstrate community priority, be available to Woodbury County citizens, and leverage diverse resources. The application period runs from June 1, 2024, to June 30, 2024, with funding decisions announced by August 2, 2024. Awards range from $250,000 to $1,000,000, with a total of $1,000,000 available for the FY24 cycle. Grant recipients must complete projects within four years and match awarded funds dollar-for-dollar. Eligible applicants include educational entities, local governments, and tax-exempt organizations based in Woodbury County, IA. Only one application per funding opportunity is allowed per tax-exempt organization, whereas educational entities and local governments can submit multiple applications from different units. Applications are submitted online via Foundant Grant Lifecycle Manager software and must include detailed budgets, proof of eligibility, and letters of support.

The Economic Development Match Grant is designed to bring other funders together, and to support economic development projects within Woodbury County that need potentially higher levels of funding and collaboration. Donor Name: Missouri River Historical Development State: Iowa County: Woodbury County (IA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 06/30/2024 Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The project submitted must align with at least one of MRHD’s four economic development focus areas: creation and retention of jobs,  development of a critical job force,  new project or service having a substantial impact on the community, and  improved quality of life and community development project.  To be considered, proposals must: be sustainable after the allowable grant period and not require additional grants to maintain over the long term, The project outcomes should be clearly stated, measurable and if applicable, have a sound evaluation process.  be a demonstrated priority by the community (supporting evidence is required), This may be demonstrated in a variety of ways. Examples include survey results, studies or reports, and letters of support from stakeholders, government officials and community leaders.  exhibit an intention to be made available to citizens of Woodbury County. Proposals should demonstrate the lasting impact to the community and how the project will impact economic development in Woodbury County and/or the target population. leverage private, public and/or community resources and maximize collaboration with stakeholders throughout the community. Projects should demonstrate an effort to utilize local resources and community partners. include a project budget with line-item detail for expenditures and income. The project budget should be clearly laid out and supported by quotes, bids, or other documentation. It must also include evidence of the match, or how that support is attainable within required time to complete the project. be complete and concise. Proposals should include available images and marketing materials of the completed project along with their detailed description. Funding Information In total, $1,000,000 is available for the FY24 grant cycle. Maximum Award: $250,000 up to $1,000,000. Eligibility Criteria  Applications will only be accepted from educational entities, local governments, and tax-exempt organizations whose principal place of business and project are in Woodbury County, IA.    Tax-Exempt Organizations may only submit one (1) application per funding opportunity, whereas Local Governments and Educational Entities may submit more than one (1) application per funding opportunity as “individual units” within these organizations are considered separate and may each submit one (1) application per funding opportunity. Each funding request must be for a distinctly different project or a distinctly different phase of a larger, multi-phase project. For more information, visit MRHD.