Iowa Workforce Development Grants

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska that focus on improving financial literacy and employment readiness to help individuals achieve financial stability.

The Rural Housing Assessment Grant program supports the use of publicly available, online information and rural community efforts to interpret publicly available hard data to implement changes through development codes, local ordinances, and housing incentives specific to individual community needs. 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: In partnership with Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach’s Rural Housing Readiness Assessment workshops, program funding will empower communities to assess the current development environment and enact changes resulting in the creation of policies and procedures attractive to potential developers. The program is administered by the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s (IEDA) Center for Rural Revitalization in consultation with the Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Initiative Task Forces and ISU Extension and Outreach. The Rural Housing Assessment Grant Program provides funding for housing assessment data collection and ISU Extension and Outreach Rural Housing Assessment Readiness Workshop. Funds may be used to fulfill that process at the discretion of the grant recipient but must contribute to the completion of the housing assessment report, workshop or implementation of the workshop outcomes within the contract period. Funding Information Grant Recipients will be awarded up to $20,000. Funding Period All project activities and incurred expenses must occur within the eligible contracted funding period of October 1, 2024 – June 30, 2026. Eligible Project Requirements Requirements for Rural Housing Assessment Interpretation and Implementation grant awards include, but are not limited to the following: Applicants must demonstrate the capacity for grants administration. Applications must demonstrate the feasibility of completing the proposed activities with the funds requested and contract period. Applications must identify and describe any other sources of funding for the proposed activities. Applications must provide $5,000 cash match for each city or full county partnering on the application. Applications must agree to utilize information available on the Iowa Profile tool. Applications must agree to contract with ISU Extension and Outreach for the facilitated Rural Housing Assessment Readiness Workshop. Applications must identify any additional partner organizations that will be utilized in additional data collection or implementation processes. Eligibility Criteria Local city and county governments, or federally recognized tribal governments physically located in Iowa. 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 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 grant provides financial assistance to small businesses in Dubuque, Iowa, to help cover operating costs and support long-term success for income-qualified owners.

Through the Iowa Screenwriters Grant, the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) provides support to Iowa’s screenwriters to undertake activities that advance their artistic practices and elevate the creative screenwriting industry in Iowa. Donor Name: Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) State: Iowa County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/03/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: It is a career advancement grant for Iowa screenwriters and focuses on providing professional development tied to an active screenplay that the applicant is working on. The Iowa Screenwriters Grant is administered by the Iowa Arts Council, which exists within the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Funding is made possible by a sponsorship from the Iowa Scriptwriters Alliance and the Iowa Motion Picture Association. 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: $500. Maximum grant request: $2,500. Funding Period The eligible funding period is July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025. Eligible Activities  Types of eligible activities include: Participating in professional development opportunities for screenwriting (e.g. online or in person conference or workshop registration fees). Expanding capacity for creative screenwriting work (e.g. purchasing or subscribing to screenwriting software, books). Learning new or advanced techniques in screenwriting (e.g. online or in-person classes, courses, apprenticeships). Receiving professional screenwriting mentorship (e.g. one-on-one or group coaching, professional feedback, peer reviews on current screenplay). The following types of screenplays are eligible: Feature, including sequels Short Web series Episodic, including pilot episodes or new seasons Proof-of-concept Adaptations from other works. Who Qualifies? Individual screenwriters 18 years or older who are current, full-time Iowa residents. Applicants must be currently registered in the Produce Iowa Production Directory. For more information, visit IEDA.

This program provides financial support to property owners and long-term leaseholders in downtown Decorah for exterior building renovations and the conversion of upper-story spaces into residential units, promoting economic growth and community vibrancy.

This program provides financial assistance to developers for constructing new housing in Iowa cities affected by recent disasters, focusing on permanent residences for sale or rent.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in Scott County, Iowa, and Rock Island County, Illinois, to implement projects that enhance youth education, promote financial stability, and improve community health.

The City of Davenport is accepting applications for its Dream Project Grants to both current homeowners and new homeowners within the designated Dream area. Donor Name: City of Davenport State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/23/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The City of Davenport’s Community and Economic Development (CED) staff will be administering The Davenport Dream Project and will provide assistance for residents who would like to apply for the program.  The property must be owner-occupied during this period. The grant can be used for any improvements made to the property. City funds will assist with needed exterior improvements first, and then remaining funds can be used towards interior improvements.  Funding Information Participants purchasing a home in a Davenport DREAM Project neighborhood will be eligible for a grant of approximately $20,000. Eligibility Criteria To qualify for a Davenport DREAM Project grant, applicants must provide proof of current homeowners insurance. The property, or any other property owned by the applicant within the City of Davenport, must have no outstanding liens. Contract owners are not eligible to apply.  Developers may be eligible for assistance for the rehabilitation of a property if the property is maintained as owner-occupied after the sale of the property. For more information, visit City of Davenport.

This initiative provides funding and support to nonprofit organizations, local governments, and Tribal governments in coal-impacted communities to develop and scale innovative economic projects that create job opportunities and foster local economic transformation.

Through the program, IEDA provides financial incentives to Iowa artists and individual arts educators to support a wide variety of arts-related activities. Donor Name: Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) State: Iowa County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/03/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: The Art Project Grants for Artists program is administered by the Iowa Arts Council, which exists within the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA). To be eligible, projects must include artistic excellence and service to Iowans. Funding Information Applicants may request funding for eligible one-time project expenses that are incurred and expended during the eligible funding period. Minimum grant request: $1,000. Maximum grant request: $10,000. Funding Period The eligible funding period is July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025. Eligibility Criteria  Eligible applicants must meet the following criteria: Individual artist, including visual or performing artist, filmmaker, musician or creative writer. Current, full-time Iowa resident as defined by Iowa Code 422.4 and Iowa Administrative Code 701.38.17 (422). 18 years of age or older. Applicants who represent an artist collective, artist team or band must apply as an individual on behalf of the group and clearly state their individual role in the project proposal as the individual legally obligated to comply with the terms of the grant agreement. For more information, visit IEDA.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations that offer hands-on STEAM training and paid summer internships for teens aged 16-19 from low-income areas, in partnership with Best Buy Teen Tech Centers.

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

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in communities served by Union Pacific to support projects that enhance community safety, workforce development, and overall community vitality.