Iowa Transportation Grants

This grant provides financial support and mentorship to early-stage cleantech entrepreneurs in the Midwest who are developing innovative solutions to promote economic growth and environmental sustainability.

This funding opportunity supports Muscatine-based nonprofits, schools, and government entities in developing projects that promote walking, biking, and public transportation to improve community health and reduce environmental impact.

This program provides funding to cities, counties, and the Iowa DOT for improving roadway safety through targeted projects, traffic control devices, and educational outreach.

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 Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy (RISE) Program offers immediate funding opportunities to promote economic development in Iowa by supporting the establishment, construction, and improvement of roads and streets. The grant aims to assist in creating and retaining jobs through immediate, non-speculative opportunities. Applicants should be in the process of negotiating a location or retention decision with a developer or firm and must demonstrate that immediate funding is essential to influence job creation or retention decisions. Jobs created should be value-adding in nature, such as manufacturing or industrial, with a minimum local match of 20 percent required. Any proposed roadway or development impacting state right of way will need consultation with Iowa DOT district staff, and a transportation impact study may be required prior to approval by the Iowa Transportation Commission.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (Iowa DNR) is offering its Community Forestry Grant Program, a state-funded initiative designed to support community-based tree planting for derecho recovery. This program is rooted in the Iowa Legislature's appropriation of state infrastructure funds, specifically earmarked for urban and community forestry services. The core mission of this grant program aligns with enhancing Iowa's natural environment and aiding in the recovery of communities affected by derecho events through strategic tree planting on public lands. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are state and local government entities, schools, volunteer organizations, and service organizations actively involved with local urban and community forest services. The overarching impact goal is to facilitate the purchase and planting of trees on publicly owned lands across Iowa, contributing to environmental restoration and community resilience following natural disasters. Eligible planting areas include, but are not limited to, street right-of-ways, parks, school grounds, courthouse lawns, public buildings, fairgrounds, cemeteries, libraries, and trails, ensuring broad community access to the benefits of reforestation. Grant priorities emphasize several key areas to maximize impact and ensure effective resource allocation. Priority will be given to projects demonstrating clear need stemming from derecho impact, cost-effectiveness through a $1 for $1 cash match, robust community involvement, alignment with Tree City/Campus/Line USA designation, and a focus on species/genera diversity and environmental impact. These priorities reflect a strategic approach to fostering sustainable urban and community forests, promoting ecological health, and encouraging local engagement in environmental stewardship. The expected outcomes of the Community Forestry Grant Program include the successful planting of a diverse range of suitable trees across publicly owned lands in Iowa. Measurable results will be tied to the number of trees planted, the extent of community involvement, and the degree to which projects address the specified priorities, particularly in derecho-affected and EAB Reforestation eligible counties. The program's strategic priorities are centered on recovery, environmental enhancement, and community engagement, working towards a theory of change where targeted tree planting leads to stronger, more resilient communities and improved ecological well-being throughout the state. The grants, ranging from $500 to $10,000, are specifically for the purchase and planting of trees, with special requests for other landscape plantings requiring detailed justification.

This program provides funding to local governments and agencies for safety improvements at public highway-railroad crossings, helping to install and upgrade signal devices and enhance crossing safety features.

This program provides funding to Iowa's local governments for the construction and improvement of public boat access facilities at lakes and streams.

This program provides financial assistance to cities, counties, railroads, and spur track owners for repairing and maintaining safe highway-railroad grade crossings.

The 501vc® Investment Fund is seeking to invest $200,000 to $300,000 in early-stage climate tech startups in the Greater Midwest region, focusing on sectors like advanced materials, renewable energy, and agriculture technologies.

This program provides funding to local governments and private organizations in Iowa for the development and maintenance of trails and parks for all-terrain and off-road vehicles.

This program provides funding to local governments and transportation agencies for improving roads, bridges, and transit infrastructure, including projects for pedestrians and cyclists.

This program provides funding to Iowa cities for improving traffic operations and safety on primary roads through targeted spot or linear enhancements.

This program provides funding to Iowa counties for traffic safety and operation improvements on primary roads outside of cities, covering a portion of construction costs for both single-location and multi-location projects.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and government units in Dallas County, Iowa, to support projects that improve community health, human services, arts and culture, historic preservation, and environmental initiatives.

This program provides funding to local governments for implementing cost-effective safety improvements on roads to help reduce serious accidents and fatalities.

This program recognizes and supports Iowa communities that implement innovative housing strategies to meet local housing demands, enhancing their competitiveness for federal housing tax credits.

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 grant provides financial support to organizations in the greater Siouxland area for community projects that engage volunteers and address local needs.

This program provides funding to Iowa cities for the construction of compliant curb ramps on primary roads, ensuring accessibility for individuals with disabilities.