State Awards $40,000 to Support Growth in Rural Iowa Communities, Including Clear Lake

DES MOINES, Iowa — Four rural Iowa communities, including Clear Lake, will share $40,000 in state grant funding aimed at supporting local growth and revitalization efforts, state officials announced Monday.

Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) awarded the funds through the Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Initiative. Each community — Clarion, Clear Lake, Redfield and Stanton — received $10,000 through the Rural Building Ownership and Organization by Strengthening Teams (BOOST) program.

The BOOST program is designed to help community and business leaders plan for long-term development by pairing them with expert teams that provide tailored recommendations and implementation strategies.

“Rural communities know where they want to go — they just need the right tools and guidance to get there,” said Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Finance Authority. “BOOST brings local leaders together with experienced partners to turn ideas into action and build strong, thriving communities.”

In Clear Lake, officials will use the funding to explore ways to expand affordable and attainable housing options. The city faces unique housing challenges as a regional tourism destination, where roughly 20% of homes are used as seasonal or short-term rentals. Home values in Clear Lake also exceed averages across Cerro Gordo County and the state.

Other grant recipients will focus on a range of community development efforts:

• Clarion (Wright County): Plans to improve pedestrian and bicycle connections between downtown, the local high school and Lake Cornelia, building on a 2018 countywide trails plan.
• Redfield (Dallas County): Efforts to strengthen community identity and attract new residents and investment in a rapidly growing region west of Des Moines.
• Stanton (Montgomery County): Development of a wayfinding strategy, including signage and digital marketing, to draw more visitors downtown and boost local spending.

IEDA received seven applications from communities across the state for this round of funding.

Empower Rural Iowa grants are funded through an appropriation from the Iowa Legislature and administered by IEDA’s Center for Rural Revitalization in partnership with the Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Initiative task force. Applicants must provide matching funds and are evaluated based on economic need, partnerships, project readiness and alignment with strategic goals.

The program is open to Iowa communities with populations of 20,000 or fewer that are not located near larger metropolitan areas.

The next round of Empower Rural Iowa funding will open July 1 and run through Aug. 26. In addition to BOOST grants, the initiative supports projects focused on child care, housing and community development.

More information about the program is available at iowaeda.com/center-for-rural-revitalization.