Economic Development Match Grant
Purpose:
The Economic Development Match Grant supports collaborative economic development projects within Woodbury County that require significant funding and partnership. Grants are awarded annually based on merit, as determined by the Grant Review Committee and approved by the MRHD Board of Directors.
The project submitted must align with at least one of MRHD’s economic development focus areas:
To be considered, proposals must:
Demonstrate Long-Term Sustainability
Show the project can be sustained beyond the grant period without reliance on future MRHD funding. Outcomes should be clearly defined, measurable, and supported by an evaluation plan when applicable.
Demonstrate Measurable Community Impact
Provide evidence of community support and need. Supporting documentation may include surveys, studies, reports, letters of support, or endorsements from stakeholders, government officials, and community leaders.
Demonstrate Community Need
Demonstrate how the project will benefit Woodbury County residents and contribute to long-term economic development and community impact.
Provide Lasting Local Benefit
Leverage public, private, and community resources while maximizing collaboration with local partners and stakeholders.
Demonstrate Financial Readiness
Include a detailed project budget outlining all expenditure and revenue sources. Budgets must be supported by quotes, bids, or similar documentation and must include evidence of the required match or the ability to secure it within the project timeline.
Include a Clear Project Proposal
Submit a complete and concise proposal with a detailed project description and, when available, conceptual renderings, images, or marketing materials related to the completed project.
Match: A dollar-for-dollar match is required. Grant Recipients must match every dollar awarded by MRHD. No more than fifty percent (50%) of the required match may consist of in-kind contributions.
Maximum Award: $250,000 up to $1,000,000. This is a reimbursable grant. Grant Recipients are required to pay all project expenses upfront, including the total award amount and required match. Reimbursement payments from MRHD will be made in accordance with the grant agreement and are typically tied to documented project completion benchmarks.
Available Funding: $1,000,000 is available for this grant cycle.
Geographic Funding Area: Woodbury County, IA
Time to Complete: Projects must commence construction within two (2) years of the Award Date and be fully completed within four (4) years of the Award Date. Grant Recipients must execute and comply with all terms of the grant agreement throughout the grant period to maintain eligibility for funding.
Recognition & Acknowledgement: Organizations awarded funding through the MRHD Economic Development Match Grant Program are expected to publicly recognize MRHD’s support in a manner commensurate with the size and impact of the award. Recognition may include logo placement, signage, media announcements, social media acknowledgements, printed materials, naming opportunities, event recognition, or other mutually agreed-upon promotional efforts. Specific recognition requirements will be outlined in the grant agreement.
Eligibility for Other Grants: Grant Recipients may maintain have other active MRHD grants and may apply for additional MRHD funding opportunities if they meet the eligibility requirements of those programs.
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June 1st, 2026 - Application Period Opens
June 30th, 2026 - Application Period Closes
Week of July 13th, 2026 - Finalists Identified and Receive Follow-Up Questions
July 17th, 2026 - Finalist Follow-Up Questions Due
Week of July 20th, 2026 - Finalist Interviews
July 31, 2026 - Grantee Agreements Due
August 7th, 2026 - Funding Decisions Announced
August 27th, 2026 - Grants Awarded
*Grant cycle budgets and dates are subject to change*
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Applications will only be accepted from Educational Entities, Local Governments, and Tax-Exempt Organizations whose principal place of business and project are in Woodbury County, IA.
Tax-Exempt Organizations may only submit one (1) application per funding opportunity, whereas Local Governments and Educational Entities may submit more than one (1) application per funding opportunity as “individual units” within these organizations are considered separate and may each submit one (1) application per funding opportunity. Each funding request must be for a distinctly different project or a distinctly different phase of a larger, multi-phase project.
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Projects must improve quality of life for Woodbury County residents and align with at least one of MRHD’s Economic Development grant focus areas.
Only eligible applicants whose principal place of business and project are in the Geographic Funding Area may apply.
Applications for the Economic Development Match Grant will only be accepted via an online application process using MRHD’s Online Grant Portal.
During the application period, applicants will submit information to validate their eligibility to apply and their request for funding. The grant application must be deemed complete before it can be advanced for evaluation by a grant review committee.
Applicants who fail to submit a complete grant application and receive confirmation from MRHD of it being complete approval during the Application Period will be denied.
Following the application period, MRHD will review the economic development project submissions and ask finalists to present additional information to evaluate proposals for award.
Public Educational Entities must must provide a W9 and IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN) Verification Letter as proof of their federal EIN.
Private Educational Entities must provide an IRS Determination Letter as proof of their federal EIN and tax-exempt status.
All Educational Entities must provide a Signed Letter of Intent from the head of the organization (Board of Directors President, Chief Executive Officer, Superintendent, etc.) that approves the unit’s grant request and agrees to accept MRHD funds.
Local Governments must provide a W9 or IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN) Verification Letter as proof of their federal EIN, and a signed Letter of Intent from the head of the organization (County Board of Supervisors Chairperson, City Mayor, or City Manager/Administrator) that approves the unit’s grant request and agrees to accept MRHD funds.
Tax-Exempt Organizations must provide a copy of their IRS Determination Letter as proof of their tax-exempt status and Employer Identification Number (EIN), and a signed Letter of Intent from the head of the organization (Board of Directors President, Chief Executive Officer, or Executive Director) that approves the organization’s grant request and agrees to accept MRHD funds.
Projects that involve a partnership or collaboration with another entity must provide a signed Letter of Agreement from each respective partner that acknowledges their agreement with the applicant’s proposal, describes their level of involvement, and if applicable, includes a statement of financial commitment detailing any cash or in-kind contribution the organization is providing and shall also describe any plans to continue the project after the grant funding ends, or a transfer of ownership of any project deliverable occurs.
Applicants partnering with another entity that will be the beneficiary of the grant proposal must include a statement in their Letter of Intent that the applicant will not receive or accept any direct benefit from the project beneficiary, such as a reduction in rent, fees, or charges, in a situation in which the applicant uses the beneficiary’s facilities.
Applicants must fully disclose in their Letter of Intent all relationships with any individual or entity, such as bidders, vendors, suppliers, or contractors that will, or may benefit directly or indirectly from the funds for which the grant is requested.
Grant recipients are required to provide a Grant Completion Form upon completion of the grant project.
Grant recipients must submit any request to amend or extend a Grant in writing to MRHD specifying the reason(s) for the request and the specific amendment or extension requested. Grant recipients must receive writing approval from MRHD prior to any change is made.
Failure to comply with the grant requirements will prohibit the organization from receiving a grant from MRHD in the future.
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Geographic Funding Area - is the specific county or counties in which MRHD grant funds will be issued provided that: the Grant Recipient maintains a primary place of business in the Geographic Funding Area, and the Grant Project will have a substantial impact on the residents of Woodbury County, Iowa.
Educational Entities - includes public and private tax-exempt schools (preschools, elementary schools, secondary schools), public and private tax-exempt institutions of higher education (colleges, universities, technical/trade schools), education agencies (state, regional, local), and “individual units” within these entities, such as operating departments, academic departments, and school-sponsored extracurricular groups.
Local Governments - includes counties, cities, federally recognized tribal governments, and “individual units” within these entities, such as departments, divisions, boards and commissions, and publicly owned venues, such as libraries and museums.
Tax-Exempt Organizations - includes charitable, religious and other nonprofit organizations that have received an IRS Determination Letter granting the organization tax-exempt status and such status has not been revoked.
