Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has announced the Choose Iowa Value-Added Grants to expand the availability of Iowa grown, Iowa raised, and Iowa made foods, beverages, and other agricultural products.
Donor Name: Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
State: Iowa
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant | Reimbursement
Deadline: 01/31/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
Choose Iowa Value-Added Grants increase sales of Iowa agricultural products by increasing production capacity or expanding market access for value-added projects.
Funding Information
- Maximum awarded up to $25,000 per grant awardee.
- Grant funds are paid out as a reimbursement after grant project(s) are completed.
Grant Terms
- FY25: April 1, 2025 through March 2026.
Eligible Projects
Projects must:
- Increase sales of Iowa agricultural products by increasing production or processing capacity or expanding market access for value-added projects.
- Not be in progress until a grant is awarded.
- Be completed in 12 months or less.
- Be conducted in Iowa.
Examples of eligible projects include but are not limited to:
- Purchase and installation of equipment used in the production of value-added agricultural products.
- On-farm store or commercial kitchen.
- Food hub development or expansion.
- Direct to consumer technology.
- Cooler walls and refrigeration units.
- Grading, packing, labeling, packaging or sorting equipment.
- Refrigerated trucks to access new markets.
- Food processing short courses and workshops.
Eligible Applicants
Applicants must satisfy the following criteria to be deemed eligible for funding under the Value-Added Grant program:
- Be an individual, business, agricultural cooperative, non-profit organization or local government.
- Be in good standing with the State of Iowa.
- The business must not be currently in bankruptcy.
- The business must not have been subject to any regulatory enforcement action related to federal, state, or local environmental, worker safety, food processing, or food safety laws, rules, or regulations within the last five years.
- Currently reside or conduct business in Iowa.
- Not be an IDALS employee or immediate family member of an IDALS employee.
- Applicant must be able to provide a one-to-one (1:1) financial match for the grant. In-kind contributions are not accepted.
- Membership in Choose Iowa brand program NOT required but encouraged.
- Preference will be given to small and medium-sized businesses. The Iowa Economic Development Authority defines small-sized businesses as having less than 50 full-time employees, medium-sized businesses with 51-250 employees, and large businesses as more than 250 employees.
For more information, visit Choose Iowa.
