Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority recently announced the allocation of $190,000 in grant money that will go to ten rural communities throughout Iowa. The allocated amounts are intended to support rural initiatives revolving around housing and childcare. The grants will also spur the growth of small businesses to benefit the whole of the selected communities.
The grants arrive through three Empower Rural Iowa Grant programs, which are funded through an appropriation from the Iowa Legislature for Empower Rural Iowa. Those who applied were scored based on criteria centered on economic need and strategic goals, among other factors.
Five communities will now receive $20,000 Rural Housing Readiness Assessment Grants to further the study of housing needs through a partnership with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. The Rural Child Care Planning Grant was awarded to four communities to support the use of specific data and analysis to determine particular needs and solutions for their respective areas.
The Building Ownership & Organization by Strengthening Teams, or BOOST, program awarded one $10,000 grant aimed at assisting community and business leaders with developing plans for future growth.
Only communities with total populations of 20,000 or less were put into consideration to possibly be awarded the funds. Holy Cross, Iowa, in Dubuque County and Durant, Iowa, in Cedar County in our listening area were among the ten chosen communities for these grants.
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