Deadline: 24-Feb-22
Applications are now open for the Iowa Great Places Grant Program to cultivate the local character and authentic qualities of Iowa neighborhoods, districts, communities, and regions.
At its core, the program embraces ‘creative placemaking’, or the approach of building upon local creative and cultural assets to build more livable communities and vibrant public places.
The program provides a ten-year designation as an Iowa Great Place, professional development and technical assistance resources, and competitive funding opportunities for new and existing infrastructure projects included in a vision plan and supported by a mix of partners and strategies.
Focus Areas
- Arts and Culture
- Architecture
- Diversity
- Entrepreneurial incentive for business development
- Historic Fabric
- Housing Options
- Natural Environment
- Amenities
Benefits of Designation
Designated communities will have opportunities to:
- Apply for competitive grant funding to support eligible vertical infrastructure projects and expenses.
- Use the Iowa Great Places designation in signage and marketing materials.
- Participate in the Iowa Creative Places network covenings, trainings and webinars
- Receive technical assistance from the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs.
- Receive additional state agency consideration for a limited number of projects through the endorsement process. Designated places will receive additional information.
Eligibility Criteria
- Designated Iowa Great Places have the opportunity to compete for grant funding to support eligible types of vertical infrastructure projects and expenses. Projects that seek to develop cultural assets will receive priority.
- Eligible projects must be integrated with a shared community vision and set of strategies, involve significant public/private partnerships and collaboration, and focus on the development of local and regional cultural assets.
- Designated Iowa Great Places are currently limited to funding for one project, per ten-year designation period, regardless of whether the project is fully or partially funded. Funding eligibility may change with additional program funding.
- Funding for the Iowa Great Places Program is made possible by an appropriation from the Iowa Legislature through the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund. The Iowa Great Places Citizens Advisory Board reserves the right to recommend funding projects, in whole or in part, and to recommend withholding awarding available funds.
- Federally tax exempt 501(c)3 nonprofit organization incorporated and physically located in Iowa.
- Physical location is defined as maintaining a current home office and registered agent address in Iowa as well as maintaining a primary staff presence physically located and working in Iowa.
- Unit of local, county or federally-recognized tribal government physically located in Iowa.
- Municipal agencies with 28E agreements physically located in Iowa.
Ineligible Applicants
The following types of entities are not eligible to apply.
- Unit of state or federal government
- For-profit or commercial entity
- Entities geographically located within a currently designated Iowa Great Place
- Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs grantees who have an outstanding final report or who have been placed on a department funding moratorium
For more information, visit Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs.
For more information, visit https://iowaculture.gov/about-us/about/grants/iowa-great-places