Summary : The BOOST program aims to provide teams of experts to assist passionate community and business leaders in developing intentional plans for next step growth. This pilot program is designed for rural communities, nonprofits, or employers to receive personalized technical assistance for identifying and implementing action steps to launch into the next stage of success. BOOST has two tracts which target either communities or businesses. The BOOST Program is designed to assist businesses or communities which have plateaued or hit an unexpected challenge to gain momentum for new growth. Warning: BOOST is not for the faint of heart. Applicants must be committed to leading a transformation in rural Iowa if only in their own community, organization, or business.
BOOST, managed by the Center for Rural Revitalization, will dispatch 3-5 experts to meet with a local committee and discuss the existing conditions, assets, and anticipated needs. The Center for Rural Revitalization and supporting partners will then create an action plan and provide targeted financial support to launch next steps.
The Center for Rural Revitalization within the Iowa Economic Development Authority understands that not all community and business needs are the same and each journey will be different. For this reason, the BOOST Program will assist to develop a flexible plan to meets local needs and allow for new opportunities that present themselves along the way.
BOOST 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.
Program Details : Recognizing that rural challenges do not exist in a silo, this program helps a community utilize its unique assets and challenges its leaders to set realistic goals to advance their economic and business development vision. A community that participates in BOOST is committed to the creation of innovative strategies that promote partnerships, community design, and a strong business economy. Experts will look holistically at the strengths and weaknesses of a community and partner in the development of solutions. Leveraging the expertise of Empower Rural Iowa task force members, IEDA/IFA staff, and Iowa Rural Development Council partners, each community will work with a team to mentor and develop next steps.
Participants in BOOST receive the following:
In-person meeting with the individualized BOOST Team and local committee
Follow-up in person or virtual meetings as needed
Recommendations resource document from the Center for Rural Revitalization
Grant Award: $10,000
BOOST Steering Committee : Applicants are asked to establish a BOOST steering committee to guide the process. It is recommended that the committee be comprised of seven to 10 individuals, including elected officials, city staff, major employers, nonprofits, and local doers. Additional guidance can be provided by the BOOST Team.
Funding : Grantees will receive $10,000 for eligible one-time project expenses incurred and expended within the eligible funding period.
Match Requirement : Applicants are required to demonstrate investment in projects by providing a minimum of $5,000 cash match. The cash match must be secured, dedicated to eligible expenses, a legitimate part of the proposed project and must be expended within the eligible funding period. The $5,000 match requirement may be raised through a combination of public and private sources but may not include in-kind donations of goods or services, unsecured funding or loans. While the minimum match requirement is $5,000, competitive proposals will demonstrate broad-based financial support for the project and public funding sources adequately leveraged to seek and obtain private dollars.
Cash match constitutes actual cash contributed to direct project expenses by the applicant or other funding sources.
Funding from state government already being used as match from another program, including other funds from the IEDA, cannot be used to meet the match requirement.
Disbursement of Funds : Disbursements will be made on a reimbursement basis. Disbursement claims must be for an amount equal to or greater than $500 per request. All claims must be made through Iowagrants.gov.
Eligible Applicants : Eligible applicants must be one of the following types of entities and must meet all of the related requirements. Entities who do not meet these requirements are not eligible to apply.
Nonprofits:
Federally tax-exempt nonprofit organization incorporated and physically located in Iowa.
Physical location of the organization is defined as maintaining a current home office and registered agent address in Iowa defined by Iowa Code 490.501 as well as maintaining a primary staff presence physically located and working in Iowa.
Communities
Unit of local, county or federally-recognized tribal government physically located in Iowa
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 OR if a county-wide program, must be one of the 88 least populous counties in Iowa.
Scoring Rubric : Available online in the program guidelines. (link coming soon)
