INRCOG can partner with your community to identify funding opportunities that help bring your projects to life. When appropriate, we offer grant writing services and can administer successful applications on your behalf.
The Grant Opportunities provided is not an exhaustive list. Our staff can help identify other funding sources based on your community’s goals.
INRCOG Grantwriting/Administration Policy
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Name |
Due Date |
Description |
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9/1/2026 |
Helps Iowa communities strengthen essential public spaces and expand access to high‑quality community amenities. |
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CDBG Downtown Revitalization Fund – Commercial Facades and Streetscapes
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9/1/2026 |
Helps Iowa communities reinvest in core commercial areas through coordinated improvements to both private building fronts and the public realm |
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CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Fund – Upper Story Housing Conversion and Roofing Replacement
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9/1/2026 |
Support communities in expanding and preserving quality housing options within their downtowns and established neighborhoods. |
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CDBG Opportunities and Threats Fund
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Ongoing as funds are available |
A portion of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds that are reserved for communities facing an imminent threat to the public requiring immediate assistance. These funds may also be used by communities seeking an opportunity to demonstrate sustainable community activities. |
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5/22/2026 |
The Planning Grant program provides targeted funding to help communities engage qualified consultants to complete planning efforts that position future Community Development Block Grant investments, specifically Historic District Surveys, Asset Management Plans, and Capital Improvement Plans. |
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5/22/2026 |
This program supports essential public services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Funding is available for new or expanded eligible operating activities, including staffing, utilities and necessary program supplies. |
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5/22/2026 |
This program supports new or expanded food pantry operations serving low- and moderate-income communities. |
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CDBG Water, Sewer, and Stormwater Fund
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5/22/2026
9/1/2026
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This competitive program assists cities and counties with projects such as sanitary sewer system improvements, water system improvements, water and wastewater treatment facility projects, storm sewer projects related to sanitary sewer system improvements, and rural water connections and stormwater conveyances to mitigate flood risks. |
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Ongoing |
The CAT program provides grant funds to assist projects that provide recreational, cultural, entertainment and educational attractions. The funds help communities create transformational projects that enhance the vitality of a region and the state overall. |
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7/15/2026 |
Funding is available for cities, counties, and non-profit organizations proposing to invest in vertical infrastructure to create or expand existing Primary Destinations to increase tourism to the state. |
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7/1/2026 |
Funding supports projects that divert materials from Iowa landfills and promote sustainable practices. |
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Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Program
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Provides funding opportunities for pre- and post-disaster mitigation to reduce or eliminate potential losses to state, tribal, and local assets through hazard mitigation planning and project grant funding. |
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FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant
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Funds are designed to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations. |
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8/15/2026 |
Funds are invested in the enhancement and protection of the state of Iowa’s natural and cultural resources. |
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Ongoing |
Provides funding to expand cold storage capacity of perishable items to reduce food waste and reduce food insecurity across Iowa. |
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Close the Loop Iowa Grant Program
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Ongoing |
Funding is to remove practical barriers to waste reduction, reuse, and recycling; supports small-scale, targeted improvements such as source reduction supplies, recycling signage and collection tools, staging equipment for reuse, and materials needed to meet recycler specifications. |
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Land and Water Conservation Fund
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March 2027 |
Provides 50% cost share for outdoor recreation area development and land acquisition including projects like skate parks, playgrounds, new and renovated swimming pools, campgrounds and multipurpose trails development. |
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Funding opportunities are offered to nonprofits and government entities across their 20-county region to address local and regional needs. |
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8/16/2026 |
Otto Schoitz Foundation funds local organizations working to make the Cedar Valley the best place to live for people of all ages. |
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6/22/2026 10/20/2026
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Awards grants that strengthen the Cedar Valley, making it a better place to live, work, and play; prioritizes funding requests that focus on Capital Improvements, Capacity-Building Initiatives, and Collaborative Efforts. |
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6/8/2026 9/30/2026 11/18/2026 |
Supports programs, projects or endeavors that help young people. |
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Name |
Due Date |
Description |
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Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy (RISE) Program – Immediate Opportunity |
Ongoing |
Funded projects promote economic development in Iowa through the establishment, construction, and improvement of roads and streets for immediate, nonspeculative opportunity for permanent job creation or retention. |
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Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy (RISE) Program – Local Development |
Ongoing |
Funded projects promote economic development in Iowa through the establishment, construction, and improvement of roads and streets that do not meet immediate opportunity criteria. |
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Rail Revolving Loan and Grant Program
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TBA |
Provides financial assistance to improve rail facilities that will create jobs, spur economic activity and improve the rail transportation system in Iowa. |
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Facilitates economic development in rural communities across Iowa; supports planning-related activities like capacity building, strategic planning, studies or assessments. |
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Name |
Due Date |
Description |
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Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy (RISE) Program – Immediate Opportunity
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Ongoing |
Funded projects promote economic development in Iowa through the establishment, construction, and improvement of roads and streets for immediate, nonspeculative opportunity for permanent job creation or retention. |
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Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy (RISE) Program – Local Development
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Ongoing |
Funded projects promote economic development in Iowa through the establishment, construction, and improvement of roads and streets that do not meet immediate opportunity criteria. |
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TBA |
Provides financial assistance to improve rail facilities that will create jobs, spur economic activity and improve the rail transportation system in Iowa. |
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TBA |
Provides funds to establish recreational trails throughout Iowa for the use, enjoyment, and participation of the public. |
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TBA |
Provides grant funding for trails and trail-related projects. |
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TBA |
Funding for on/off-road pedestrian and bicycle facilities, safe routes to school, recreational trails, community improvements, small planning and design efforts. |
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TBA |
Funding for on/off-road pedestrian and bicycle facilities, safe routes to school, recreational trails, community improvements, small planning and design efforts. |
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10/1/2026 |
Awards funds to highway, transit, bike/pedestrian, or freight projects that support Iowa’s clean air by lowering transportation emissions. |
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4/3/2026 |
Supports transportation projects that reduce carbon emissions, including transit upgrades, bus replacements, emission-reducing facility improvements, and TAP-style bike/pedestrian/trail projects. |
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Funds are available for road, street and bridge projects; transit capital; bicycle and pedestrian facilities; and transportation planning. |
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Funds are available for road, street and bridge projects; transit capital; bicycle and pedestrian facilities; and transportation planning. |
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Ongoing |
Provides up to 150 hours of free traffic engineering expertise to identify cost-effective traffic safety and operational improvements as well as potential funding sources to implement the recommendations. |
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Ongoing |
This program’s intent is to install speed feedback signs to improve the safety and overall livability of Iowa’s local communities. These signs are proven traffic calming devices that will be placed along state highways within a community. |
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12/2026 |
And Iowa DOT funded program that supports smaller cities (less than 10,000 population) to obtain a basic work zone sign package that complies with the 2023 MUTCD and to make their work zones safer for operations personnel and motorists. |
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10/1/2026 |
Provides funding for construction improvements to city-owned bridges that are in poor condition. |
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Ongoing |
Provides funding for construction-related bridge improvements on county road systems. |
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Ongoing |
Assist cities in complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on primary roads in Iowa cities. |
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Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant Program |
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Provides grants for surface transportation infrastructure projects with significant local or regional impact. Allows applicants to pursue multi-modal and multi-jurisdictional projects that are more difficult to fund through other grant programs. |
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Funds can be sued to replace damaged, worn out, obsolete or substandard signs and signposts for cities and counties in Iowa. |
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Provides funds for integrated roadside vegetation management programs; research, education, demonstration and public awareness program on the benefits, use and care of roadside vegetation, including native plants that has statewide impact. |
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Supports transportation planning efforts aimed at reducing roadway fatalities and serious injuries. |
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Provide funding for projects that are located on or adjacent to, or that provide access to, federal lands (public highway, road, bridge, trail, or transit system). |
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Ongoing |
Roadside beautification of primary system corridors with plant materials |
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11/15/2026 |
Provides Federal-aid Swap (State) funds to counties and cities for low-cost to medium-cost systemic safety improvements with the goal of reducing fatalities and serious injury crashes. |
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Ongoing |
Solves traffic operation and safety problems on primary roads in Iowa cities. |
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Ongoing |
Solves traffic operation and safety problems on primary roads outside incorporated cities. |
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8/15/2026 |
Eligible projects include roadway safety improvements, traffic control devices, studies, and outreach. |
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Provides grant money to be used as matching funds or primary funds for trail projects in Black Hawk and contiguous counties. |
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Provides grants for legal, technical, and financial advisors to help develop infrastructure projects. Funds can support early-stage activities like feasibility studies, planning, engineering/design, environmental review, financial analysis, and evaluation of funding or private financing options. |
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5/15/2026
9/15/2026 |
Supports transportation projects including bus pass, ride share, --improving city parks with benches, signs, and trail enhancements. |