Iowa Infrastructure Grants

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and government entities that improve the quality of life for residents in Tama County, Iowa, through various community-focused initiatives.

This funding opportunity is designed to strengthen research capabilities in eligible jurisdictions by supporting collaborations among academic institutions, government agencies, and private industry to develop sustainable research infrastructure.

This program provides matching grants to nonprofit organizations and local governments for renovating youth baseball and softball fields in six Midwestern states, enhancing safety and playability for young athletes.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to state transportation departments in rural U.S. states for the replacement and rehabilitation of multiple highway bridges to improve safety and efficiency.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is offering a 50/50% federal matching Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant of $1000 to $10,000 for Iowa Fire Departments serving small communities, prioritizing those who have not received funds previously, have submitted Iowa Wildland Fire Reports, and demonstrate a strong need for wildland fire suppression resources.

This program provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Linn County for projects that preserve historic artifacts, structures, and educational programs related to local history.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Linn County, Iowa, for projects that directly benefit local residents, focusing on long-term impact and collaboration.

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.

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

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (Iowa DNR) is seeking applications for its Community Forestry Grant Program. Donor Name: Iowa Department of Natural Resources (Iowa DNR) State: Iowa County: Selected Counties Type of Grant: Grant | Reimbursement Deadline: 08/26/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Iowa Legislature appropriated state infrastructure funds to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (Iowa DNR) to be used for a community-based tree planting program for derecho recovery tree planting. This Community Forestry Grant is available to state and local governments entities, schools and volunteer organizations and service organizations involved with local urban and community forest services, for planting trees on publicly owned lands owned by state, county or local governments and located within the State of Iowa (DNR lands are not eligible). Qualifying public planting lands include, but are not limited to, street right-of-ways, parks, school grounds, courthouse lawns, public buildings, fairgrounds, cemeteries, libraries and trails. Grant Priorities Priority will be given to: demonstrated need from the impact cost-effectiveness of the $1 for $1 cash match community involvement, meeting Tree City/Campus/Line USA designation, and (5) species/genera diversity and environmental impact. Funding Information The Community Forestry Grant Program provides reimbursable grants ranging from $500 to $10,000 to be used for the purchase and planting of trees suitable to Iowa. Uses of funds Allocated funds may only be used for tree or landscape plantings on public areas in Iowa identified in the application form. Special requests may be made (buildings and vehicles are not eligible) but will require a more detailed description of the request and need. Eligibility Criteria   Applicants must be regional or local units of Iowa state, county or city government, local governmental departments, school districts, volunteer organizations, and service clubs involved with local urban and community forestry resources. Eligible projects must occur on public lands within the state of Iowa (DNR land is not eligible). Examples of planting areas include street landscaping/right of ways, public schools, city and county parks, community sports complexes, public lands arboretums, courthouses, law enforcement facilities, public libraries, cemeteries, fairgrounds, and trails. Eligible areas include the 27 Iowa counties in the 2020 Governor’s disaster proclamation. EAB Reforestation eligible counties include: Adair, Adams, Allamakee, Appanoose, Audubon, Benton, Black Hawk, Boone, Bremer, Buchanan, Buena Vista, Butler, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Cedar, Cerro Gordo, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Clarke, Clay, Clayton, Clinton, Crawford, Dallas, Davis, Decatur, Delaware, Des Moines, Dickinson, Dubuque, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Fremont, Greene, Grundy, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Henry, Howard, Humboldt, Ida, Iowa, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Keokuk, Kossuth, Lee, Linn, Louisa, Lucas, Lyon, Madison, Mahaska, Marion, Marshall, Mills, Mitchell, Monona, Monroe, Montgomery, Muscatine, O’Brien, Osceola, Page, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Polk, Pottawattamie, Poweshiek, Ringgold, Sac, Scott, Shelby, Sioux, Story, Tama, Taylor, Union, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Winnebago, Winneshiek, Woodbury, Worth, and Wright. For more information, visit Iowa DNR.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is seeking proposals for the 2024 Monarch Butterfly and Pollinators Conservation Fund to advance pollinator conservation. Donor Name: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/24/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 3 Years Details: The goal of the Monarch Butterfly and Pollinators Conservation Fund (Pollinator Fund) is to protect, conserve, and increase habitat for the monarch butterfly and other native insect pollinators.  The most competitive projects will demonstrate clear benefits to both monarch butterfly and additional at-risk native insect pollinator species (i.e., federally listed, candidate, or proposed native insect pollinator species). Special consideration will be given to projects benefiting rusty patched bumble bee, Franklin’s bumble bee, Karner blue butterfly, Dakota skipper, Poweshiek skipperling, and Mitchell’s satyr. Categories Grants will be awarded in two categories:  Technical Assistance for Private Working Lands Funding in this category will support implementation of technical assistance to increase the number of private landowners voluntarily engaged in monarch butterfly and pollinator conservation practices on private working lands. Up to $2 million is expected to be available for grants ranging from $150,000 to $500,000. Funding will be awarded for projects up to three years in length following finalization of the grant agreement. This category aims to support conservation planning and practice design with private landowners to advance voluntary conservation efforts on working lands that align with NRCS Working Lands for Wildlife frameworks or initiatives, and especially increase Working Lands for Wildlife participation among farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners in the Historically Underserved and Special Emphasis categories. The 2024 Pollinator Fund RFP will support projects that: Direct staff resources to help agricultural producers design and implement conservation practices. Increase Farm Bill program participation and conservation practice implementation among agricultural producers, especially farmers and ranchers in the Historically Underserved and Special Emphasis categories. Funding in this category will support the following two strategies: Hiring additional staff or contractors, based on demonstrated need, including staff to assist private landowners and NRCS with developing pollinator habitat management plans and implementation of new and existing NRCS financial assistance contracts. Targeting outreach to landowners and other partners to prioritize, plan, and deliver financial assistance available through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and other Farm Bill programs to improve pollinator habitat and support at-risk pollinator species. Habitat Improvement Funding in this category will support on-the-ground work to increase the quality, quantity, and connectivity of habitat for the monarch butterfly and other native insect pollinators. Up to $3.1 million is expected to be available for grants ranging from $200,000 to $300,000. Funding will be awarded for projects up to two years in length following finalization of the grant agreement. Applicants in this category should define a step-by-step restoration plan including site preparation, equipment used, planting techniques, size of the project area, description of target native plant community, and maintenance plan (e.g., prescribed burning, mowing, grazing schedules). Projects proposed to benefit other at-risk native insect pollinators should specify habitat needs for those species and how the proposed work will support their breeding, nectaring, nesting, or other habitat needs. Funding in this category will support the following two strategies: Restore and enhance pollinator habitat, with an emphasis on regionally appropriate milkweed and a diversity of native nectar plants. Increase native seed and seedling supply, with an emphasis on improving the sustainability and affordability of regionally appropriate, local ecotypes. Program Priorities  All proposals must specifically address how the proposed project will directly and measurably contribute to the accomplishment of the Pollinator Fund’s goals as outlined in NFWF’s Monarch Butterfly Business Plan. As such, all proposals must provide the number of acres restored or enhanced as a result of the project. Proposals must include plans to restore or enhance a minimum of 100 acres in California or 500 acres in all other eligible states. Acres may be counted from multiple sites; the sites do not need to be contiguous. Since 2015, successful proposals have included a median of 960 acres and an average of 2,120 acres restored or enhanced.  Funding Information The Pollinator Fund will award up to $5.1 million in grants in 2024: up to $2 million for Technical Assistance for Private Working Lands and up to $3.1 million for Habitat Improvement. Funding is provided by Bayer Crop Science, Danone North America, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and U.S. Forest Service (USFS).  Geographical Areas  Technical Assistance for Private Working Lands  Grant funding will be awarded in the following eligible states: Arkansas, Arizona, California, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. Within eligible states, priority will be given to projects located in the North Core, South Core, West Core, and Overwintering Monarch Conservation Units. Projects are restricted to private working lands. Habitat Improvement Grant funding will be awarded in the following eligible states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Within eligible states, priority will be given to projects located in the North Core, South Core, West Core, and Overwintering Monarch Conservation Units. West of the Rocky Mountains, priority will be given to projects on or adjacent to the following: monarch butterfly overwintering sites, BLM lands, and USFS lands. Eligibility Criteria  Eligible and Ineligible Entities: Eligible applicants include nonprofit 501(c) organizations, U.S. federal government agencies, state government agencies, local governments, municipal governments, tribal governments and organizations, and educational institutions. Ineligible applicants include businesses, unincorporated individuals, and international organizations. For more information, visit NFWF.

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.

The Endowment Challenge Grants supports nonprofit organizations with a matching grant to help start and build endowment funds for sustainability. Donor Name: Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation State: Iowa County: Linn County (IA) Type of Grant: Grant | Matching Grants Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/13/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 5 Years Details: The matching endowment fund is opened and held at the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. Nonprofit endowment funds invest in the mission and the future of the organization by providing general operating support, stability during cyclical income variances, and income for areas of high importance to the organization. Funding Information $25,000 and five years to meet the match. Eligibility Criteria Nonprofit organizations that are at least seven years old (based on the date of the IRS letter of determination) and hold 501(c)(3) status may apply if they meet two or more of the following criteria: The organization is based in Linn County, Iowa The organization serves residents of Linn County, Iowa An awarded Endowment Challenge Grant will only serve residents of Linn County, Iowa The organization currently holds one or more nonprofit endowed funds at the Community Foundation. The fund(s) must have been opened AND have a balance at or above the $10,000 fund minimum at least one year prior to the date of application. For more information, visit GRCF.

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 funding opportunity provides financial support to dairy farms and processing facilities in select Midwestern states to promote product development, diversification, and value-added dairy innovations.

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

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations, local government units, and public educational institutions that serve Monona County, focusing on projects that enhance community well-being in areas such as arts, education, health, and the environment.

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 supports cities, counties, and organizations in Iowa to implement urban conservation projects that reduce nutrient pollution and improve water quality through stormwater management and community education.

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