Child care is a challenge across rural communities in Iowa and across the nation. However, the solutions are often more complicated than the construction of a new facility. Many factors need to be carefully analyzed to determine the feasibility for development of a child care center, expansion of an existing one or support for in-home providers. Through greater understanding of their geographic market, demographics, competition, financials, and other factors, communities can be armed with the information needed to take proactive steps towards addressing child care challenges. Funding from the program will empower communities to assess their current child care environment and develop strategies.
The program, defined in Iowa Administrative Code, 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.
Eligible Use of Funding
Eligible Applicants
City and county governments or federally recognized tribal governments physically located in Iowa;
Federally designated nonprofit agencies and foundations;
Public and private schools that serve grades pre-K through 12 and are physically located in Iowa; and
Higher education institutions located in Iowa.
The study must take place 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 county-wide application, the applicant must be within one of the 88 least-populous counties in Iowa. Any eligible applicant may submit an application that includes one or more partners and may apply on behalf of multiple cities or an entire county if the county is one of the 88 least-populous counties in Iowa.
Grant Request Amount
Match Requirement
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 IEDA, cannot be used to meet the match requirement.
Contact Empower Rural Iowa Director Robin Bostrom at robin.bostrom@IowaEDA.com with questions.
Rural Housing Assessment Grant
Eligible Use of Funding
Eligible Applicants
Grant Request Amount
Match Requirement
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 IEDA, cannot be used to meet the match requirement.
Contact Empower Rural Iowa Director Robin Bostrom at robin.bostrom@IowaEDA.com with questions.
