Economic and Community Development Fund

About the Fund

The Linn County Economic and Community Development Fund was established to foster and support economic growth and enhance quality of life in Linn County. Economic and Community Development grants are for organizations that are located in Linn County, Iowa or that have a branch location in Linn County and whose work benefits Linn County residents.

The Linn County Board of Supervisors implemented a new process for organizations seeking economic development funding from the County in fiscal year 2016. The new process creates a more formalized application and reporting process to better measure the impact of funding and enhances the accountability of successful applicants.

For the current FY20 Economic and Community Development Fund, $200,000 is available.

This is a competitive application process.

Fiscal Year 2020 Application

The complete application criteria, evaluation criteria and application packet is available for download here (PDF).

The deadline to submit the Fiscal Year 2020 application is 4 p.m. June 28, 2019. See application packet for submission instructions.

Eligibility Criteria

Economic and Community Development grants will be made to organizations that are located in Linn County, Iowa or that have a branch location in Linn County and whose work benefits Linn County residents.

Applicants who have not completed previously funded projects or submitted the required final report for previous Economic and Community Development grants are not eligible for funding.

Types of Projects Eligible

Grant funds must be used for programs or projects that benefit Linn County residents. Priority is given to requests for programmatic and capital projects over requests for operating support. Grants must be for expenses that have not yet been incurred.

Preferred applications will be for projects/programs that accomplish the following:

• Promote economic and/or community development growth in Linn County
• Demonstrate return on investment dollars
• Do not duplicate current economic development initiatives
• Demonstrate a sustainability plan for project continuation beyond Linn County funding

Timeline for Fiscal Year 2020

These dates are subject to change at the County's discretion:

May 2019 Application becomes available

May - June 2019 Optional presentations to the Board of Supervisors

June 21, 2019 - 4:00 p.m. Deadline to request making a presentation to the Board of Supervisors

June 28, 2019 - 4:00 p.m. Application deadline

July - August 2019 Application review

August 2019 Award notification

April 30, 2020 Final reports due for FY20 grant recipients

The Linn County Board of Supervisors Economic and Community Development Fund receives more funding requests than it can possibly grant. If support of a worthwhile program is declined, this decision does not reflect on the value of the group or service, but rather on the need to be selective because of limited resources. Preference may be given to new applicants.

For Questions Contact:

Email Barbara Schmitz, Executive Assistant to the Board of Supervisors

319-892-5101

Final Reports

Final reports for the FY20 grant cycle are due April 30, 2020.