RESOURCES
OUTSIDE FUNDING SOURCES
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
Community Development Block Grants can be used to reconstruct water main, sanitary sewer main, or storm water improvements in existing low-to-moderate (LMI) neighborhoods. The funding requires that the project be in an area where over 51% of the neighborhood is considered low-to-moderate income. If a city isn’t considered low-to-moderate income, then income surveys need to be completed by the residents. Maximum funding requests are based on community population:
- Less than 300 and unincorporated areas request up to $1,000 per capita
- Less than 1,000 request up to $300,000
- Between 1,000 and 2,500 request up to $500,000
- Between 2,500 and 15,000 request up to $600,000
Greater than 15,000 request up to $800,000
Applications are accepted and reviewed quarterly. Application deadlines are January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 with award announcements in March, June, September, and December. Visit iowagrants.gov for application instructions and to apply for funds.
State Revolving Fund (SRF)
This is a low interest loan that can be utilized for wastewater treatment, sewer rehabilitation, stormwater quality improvements, water treatment plants, water line extensions to existing unserved properties, water storage facilities, wells, and source water protection efforts. This is administered jointly between the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA). The interest rate can be as low as 1.75% with a 0.5% origination fee and a 0.25% annual servicing fee. A forgivable loan for up to 10% of the amount of the SRF loan can be applied for to go towards clean water/low impact development projects.
Applications are accepted year-round and Intended Use Plans (IUP) are updated each quarter. IUP applications are due March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1. The project must be on the IUP prior to applying for a SRF loan. Approvals are at the June, September, December, and March Commission Meetings.
Planning and Design Loan
This is a 0% interest loan for up to 3 years for proposed wastewater, storm water, or drinking water projects for engineering and/or other planning costs. There are no servicing fees or initiation fees.
Planning and Design Loan applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. IUP applications are due April 3, July 3, October 2, and January 2. Approvals are at the June, September, December, and March Commission Meetings.
Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP)
This funding is for the enhancement and protection of the state’s natural and cultural resources. This is funded from Iowa gaming receipts and from the sale of the natural resource license plate with total annual funding typically between $12,000,000 and $20,000,000. The funds can be used for roadside vegetation (3%), historical resources (5%), state land management (9%), city parks and open space (15%), soil and water enhancement (20%), county conservation (20%), and state open space (28%).
Application Deadlines are as follows:
- Conservation Education Program (CEP): May 15, 2023
- County Conservation: August 15, 2023
- Small (<2,000 pop.) City Parks & Open Spaces: August 15, 2023
- Medium (2,000-25,000 pop.) City Parks & Open Spaces: August 15, 2023
- Large (>25,000 pop.) City Parks & Open Spaces: August 15, 2023
- Public/Private Cost Share: May 17, 2023 & August 15, 2023
- Wildlife Habitat Stamp Fund Land Acquisition: May 31, 2023
- Wildlife Habitat Stamp Fund Development Grant: May 31, 2023
Iowa State Recreational Trail Funding
This program funds state recreational trails with state tax dollars and is administered by the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT). This is a very competitive program with only $2.5 million allocated per year for the entire state.
Application deadlines are January 2 and July 1.
Federal Recreational Trail Funding
This program funds recreational trails with federal tax dollars and is administered by the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT). This is a very competitive program with only $1.3 million allocated per year for the entire state.
Application deadline is October 1.
Revitalize Iowa's Sound Economy (RISE)
This program is administered by the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) and promotes economic development in Iowa through the establishment, construction, and improvement of roads and streets. There are different funding amounts for Immediate Opportunity (a business is ready to relocate=up to 80% funding) and Local Development (do not have an immediate commitment from a business to move, so it is based upon speculation=50% funding). There are requirements for the number of jobs that must be created for this funding. The RISE Fund currently receives approximately $41,000,000 annually.
Applications for Immediate Opportunity Projects are ongoing and are presented to the IDOT Commission for decision as quickly as possible after review and evaluation. Local Development Projects have application deadlines of February 1 and September 1.
Safe Routes to School (SRTS)
This program is administered by the Iowa Department of Transportation and is aimed at increasing the number of children bicycling and walking to school. The projects are within 2 miles of a school typically.
Application deadlines vary by year and by region.
Water Quality Initiative Funding
This program is administered through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and is built around the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. The funds have been used for rural practices such as cover crops/buffer strips/bioreactors and also for urban stormwater conservation practices such as wetlands/permeable pavers/bioretention cells.
Watershed Improvement Review Board (WIRB)
This funding is administered by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and accepts applications for Comprehensive Water Quality Management Planning from registered Watershed Management Authorities.
Lake Restoration Funding
This funding is administered by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and is used for practices that improve the water quality of lakes in Iowa. Historical funding has been approximately $8.6 million per year. Watershed Low Impact Development Improvements.
Vision Iowa Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) Grants
This program is administered by the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and is used primarily on vertical infrastructure that is available to the general public for public use. We used this funding on the Historic Arnolds Park (HAPI) renovations and on Millstone Park in Milford.
Application deadlines are January 15 and July 15.
Iowa's Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Funding
Iowa’s Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funding is a program to fund highway improvements. This program is administered by the Iowa Department of Transportation for state highway and state funds go to the Local Public Agencies (LPAs) for their projects. The smaller, local projects are administered by the local Regional Planning Affiliations (RPA), Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO), or Transportation Management Areas (TMA).
Application deadlines vary by region (see map later in this document). NWIPDC’s application deadline is typically around 3/31 with notice going out around 2/1. SIMPCO typically has a deadline about a month earlier than NWIPDC’s.
Dickinson County Water Quality Commission Funding
This funding is generated through local cities and Dickinson County. Yearly applications are accepted for clean water projects within Dickinson County. We have used this funding for the Spirit Lake 23rd Street LID Improvements, the Dickinson County Francis Sites Wetland Improvements, the Jones Pasture Wetland Improvements, the East Center Lake Watershed Low Impact Development Improvements, and others.
Applications are typically accepted between August 1 and October 1.
Iowa Department of Transportation Aviation State Funding Programs
This funding is administered by the Iowa Department of Transportation and provides funds for airports within the state of Iowa. Funding amounts are typically approximately $8,000,000/year with approximately $4,000,000/year allocated to Airport Development Projects.
Application are typically due by approximately May 25.
Resources to Assist Identifying and Procuring Funding
- Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Corporation (NWIPDC): This is the council of governments for Dickinson, Clay, Osceola, O’brien, Sioux, Lyon, Emmet, Buena Vista, and Palo Alto Counties. Mailing address is: 217 West 5th Street, PO Box 1493, Spencer, IA 51301. Phone: 712-262-7225 nwipdc.org
- Siouxland Interstate Metropolitan Planning Council (SIMPCO): This is the council of governments serving the tri-state area of Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota. This serves Cherokee, Plymouth, Woodbury, Ida, and Monona counties in Iowa. Mailing address is: 1122, Pierce St., Sioux City, IA 51105. Phone: 712-279-6286 simpco.org
- Region XII Council of Governments: This is the council of governments that serves Audubon, Carroll, Crawford, Greene, Guthrie, and Sac Counties. Address: 1009 East Anthony Street, PO Box 768, Carroll, IA 51401. Phone: 712-792-9914 www.region12cog.org
- North Iowa Area Council of Governments: This is the council of governments that serves Kossuth, Winnebago, Hancock, Worth, Cerro Gordo, Mitchell, Floyd, and Franklin Counties. Address: 525 6th Street SW, Mason City, IA 50401. Phone: 641-423-0491 www.niacog.org
- Mid-Iowa Development Association (MIDAS): This is the council of governments that serves Calhoun, Hamilton, Humboldt, Pocahontas, Webster, and Wright Counties. Address: 602 1st Avenue South, Fort Dodge, IA 50501. Phone: 515-576-7183 midascogia.net
- John Wills, Dickinson County Clean Water Alliance Coordinator. www.cleanwateralliance.net
Address: 3302 18th Street, Spirit Lake, IA 51360.
Phone: 712-336-3782, Ext. 3. Email: [email protected] - Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) District Urban Conservationists. https://iowaagriculture.gov/field-services-bureau/urban-conservation
Contact: Paul Miller (515) 281-5833
Urban conservationists: Amy Bouska, Ann Seda, Kaitlyn Wagner (Northwest Iowa: Storm Lake, 712-732-3096, x309), Jennifer Welch
- Simmering-Cory. sc-ic.net
Contact: Justin Yarosevich Email: [email protected]
Address: PO Box 244, Storm Lake, IA 50588
Phone: 641-355-4072