Iowa Rural Innovation Grant

Robin Bostrom
515.348.6176
rural@iowaeda.com

The Iowa Economic Development Authority provides grants to support innovative projects that address current issues and challenges faced by rural communities in Iowa. Project themes include community investment, growth, and connection.

The Rural Innovation Grant Program includes 3 distinct funding options:

• Rural grocery: Grant funds may be used for technology upgrades and the adoption of new approaches to service delivery
• Rural food processors: Grant funds may be used for equipment or technology upgrades
• Economic gardening: Grant funds will be used to contract with the National Center for Economic Gardening for eligible one-time project expenses

A list of past projects is provided on the program website.

Eligible applicants must exist in and benefit a community in Iowa that either:

• Has 20,000 residents or fewer and not share a border with a city with a population of 40,000 or greater
• Is in an Iowa county that is one of the 88 least populous in the state

Additional eligibility requirements for each funding option include:

• Rural Grocery: Be in operation for at least 3 years and have 10 or fewer locations
• Rural Food Processors: Be in business for at least 1 year, have annual sales of less than $1 million, and employ 50 or fewer individuals
• Economic Gardening: Be in business for at least 3 years, currently have or plan to have sales outside of Iowa, between 10 and 100 employees, and sales over $1 million

• Rural Grocery: up to $25,000
• Rural Food Processors: up to $5,000
• Economic Gardening: up to $5,000

The project period is December 1, 2024 through June 30, 2026. Applicants must provide a cash match for 50% of the award request.

Links to additional guidance and the application instructions for the Rural Grocery Grant, Rural Food Processors Grant, and Economic Gardening Grant are available on the program website.

Submit applications online through the Iowa grants portal.