Grants drive growth in rural Iowa
The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) has announced $40,000 in grants to drive growth in the rural Iowa towns of Imogene and Sibley, as well as Calhoun and Jackson counties, according to a news release.
The funding comes from the Governor's Empower Rural Iowa Initiative's Building Ownership & Organization by Strengthening Teams (BOOST) program.
'For struggling rural areas, this support can be transformative — helping local leaders to bring their vision to life, create and fill jobs and fuel economic progress where it's needed most,' said Debi Durham, director of the IEDA and Iowa Finance Authority. 'These grants encourage innovative ideas that enable small Iowa towns to stay vibrant and competitive.'
The Rural BOOST program connects community and business leaders with expert guidance to develop actionable growth plans. Grant funding supports the implementation of those plans. Projects must serve communities with 20,000 or fewer residents and not be adjacent to a city of more than 40,000. Countywide projects must be located in one of the state's 88 least-populous counties.
Each of the following awarded projects will receive $10,000:
Calhoun County — Calhoun County Economic Development will develop a marketing strategy to attract businesses, manufacturers or service providers to locate in the Calhoun County Business Park, particularly on a 13.2-acre shovel-ready site, at the intersection of U.S. Highway 20 and Iowa Highway 4.
Imogene (Fremont County) — With a population of 39, the city wants to invest in professional design and engineering services to prioritize community needs — such as street repairs, a campground expansion, a bridge replacement and downtown building renovations — in an effort to curb population decline.
Jackson County — The Jackson County Economic Alliance (JCEA) reports that 72% of the county's workforce is older than 55, and most are expected to retire within 15 years. To prepare, JCEA plans to survey the workforce needs of local businesses and industries and assist with creating succession plans for a smooth transition.
Sibley (Osceola County) — Sibley Housing and Development Corp. is eyeing a new residential development to address a significant housing shortage, which is hindering the city's economic growth. The grant will pay for a site plan proposal and public awareness campaign.
IEDA received six applications for this round of BOOST grants, which opened in January. Applicants, who are required to provide a financial match, were scored based on criteria that included economic need, partnerships, readiness and strategic goals.
Rural BOOST is administered by the Center for Rural Revitalization, a division of the IEDA, in consultation with the Governor's Empower Rural Iowa Initiative Task Force.
For more information on the Empower Rural Iowa program, contact Robin Bostrom at 515-348-6176 or rural@iowaeda.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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