Rural BOOST Program
Experts to help assist community and business leaders
The Rural BOOST program aims to provide teams of experts to assist passionate community and business leaders in developing intentional plans for next step growth. This pilot program is designed for rural communities, nonprofits, or employers to receive personalized technical assistance for identifying and implementing action steps to launch into the next stage of success. Rural BOOST has two tracts which target either communities or businesses. The Rural BOOST Program is designed to assist businesses or communities which have plateaued or hit an unexpected challenge to gain momentum for new growth. Warning: Rural BOOST is not for the faint of heart. Applicants must be committed to leading a transformation in rural Iowa if only in their own community, organization, or business.
Rural BOOST, managed by the Center for Rural Revitalization, will dispatch 3-5 experts to meet with a local committee and discuss the existing conditions, assets, and anticipated needs. The Center for Rural Revitalization and supporting partners will then create an action plan and provide targeted financial support to launch next steps.
The Center for Rural Revitalization within the Iowa Economic Development Authority understands that not all community and business needs are the same and each journey will be different. For this reason, the Rural BOOST Program will assist to develop a flexible plan to meets local needs and allow for new opportunities that present themselves along the way.
View the BOOST Application Informational Webinar from July 16, 2024.
BOOST is administered by the Center for Rural Revitalization, a division of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), in consultation with the Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Initiative Task Forces.
Who Qualifies?
- City or county government, federally tax-exempt nonprofit agencies and foundations
- Projects/programs must exist in and benefit a community in Iowa with a population of 20,000 or fewer and not contiguous to a city with a population of 40,000 or greater. If a countywide project, must be in one of the 88 least populous counties.
How Do I Apply?
- Application window opens July 1, 2024 on IowaGrants.gov
- Please review the Grant Guidelines found in the Resources area below for additional information on eligibility requirements, use of funding, reporting requirements and the review process. A copy of the scoring rubric is included.
- The deadline to apply for funding is 4:00pm CST, August 30, 2024. Applicants must apply via IowaGrants.gov, the online application portal. Applications will not be accepted in any other format. Late, incomplete, or ineligible applications will not be considered. Applicants must create an IowaGrants.gov login to view the full application for the program.