The Rural Innovation Grant program seeks to support creative ideas that address current issues and challenges faced by rural communities.
Donor Name: Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA)
State: Iowa
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 08/29/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
This grant opportunity aims to increase available housing stock in rural Iowa by leveraging funding programs, driving private investment, and rewarding creative solutions. The goal is to provide funds to communities that have demonstrated significant progress on housing initiatives and that propose to bring innovation into implementation with a definitive outcome.
This program 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
Each applicant may request up to $50,000 to support eligible one-time project expenses.
Grant Period
Fall 2025 – June 30, 2027.
Uses of Fund
The Rural Innovation Grant supports innovative solutions to housing stock challenges in rural areas and seeks models that can be replicated elsewhere in Iowa. Eligible uses of funds include, but are not limited to:
- Construction and land acquisition
- Major renovations and repairs of buildings or appurtenant structures
- Site development, including demolition or property preparation
- Professional services such as engineering, planning, technical assistance, architectural design, consulting and grant writing
- Personnel time dedicated to the project (Personnel benefits are not eligible. Applicants must demonstrate how time is specifically dedicated to the project.)
Eligibility Criteria
The following entities are eligible to apply:
- City and county governments or federally recognized tribal governments physically located in Iowa.
- Federally designated nonprofit agencies and foundations.
For more information, visit IEDA.
