Selected communities will receive at least $30,000 to support eligible project activities. No match is required; however, applicants are encouraged to leverage additional funding and resources when appropriate.

Projects must address at least one of the following priority areas:

• Capital – Increase access to capital.
• Knowledge – Strengthen business skills and/or expand capacity.
• Networks – Expand entrepreneurial networks.
• Growth – Preserve or create jobs or generate revenue growth in small businesses.

Eligible applicants include rural Iowa city and county governments and nonprofit organizations. Projects must serve a rural Iowa community, defined for this program as a community with a population of 20,000 or fewer that is not immediately adjacent to a metropolitan area. Priority consideration will be given to applicants serving communities within 50 miles of a Wells Fargo branch. IRDC.RBI Guidelines 3.0

Applications are due October 30, 2026.

Please review the complete Rural Business Initiative Grant Guidelines before applying. For questions, contact Bill Menner at director@iowardc.org.