The Rural Innovation Grant program supports creative, non-traditional ideas that focus on current issues and challenges faced by rural communities associated with the themes of community investment, growth and connection.
Projects should align with one of three focus areas:
- Growing Rural Iowa - Supports community leaders as they think holistically and act collaboratively to inform and connect leaders to rural issues, grow vibrant community gathering places, and develop tools to train and educate the next generation of leaders
- Investing in Rural Iowa - Projects that develop creative, scalable development solutions, including but not limited to projects addressing rural housing solutions, infill and reuse strategies, and affordable, sustainable designs
- Connecting Rural Iowa - Projects that improve and expand opportunities for diverse members of Iowa's rural communities to utilize high-speed broadband service.
Iowa businesses, colleges and universities, city or county government, and private 501(c)3 nonprofit agencies and foundations are eligible to apply.
Deadline for applications is April 16, 2021. Learn more and apply here.