659611 - CDBG Planning Grants
Funding Opportunity Details

CDBG

Final Application Deadline: May 22, 2026 11:59 PM

Description

• Approximately $60,522 in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds are available to cities and counties through the state of Iowa’s Planning Grants Program. All incorporated cities and all counties in the State, except those designated as HUD entitlement areas, are eligible to apply for and receive funds under this program.

   

  The Planning Grants Program allows communities to seek funding for three types of planning tools: Capital Improvement Plans, Asset Management Plans, and Historic District Surveys. Each plan can help communities understand their needs and create long-term strategies for protecting public health, strengthening economies, and sustaining critical infrastructure. These plans allow communities to best steward public, cultural, and historical resources and become more resilient and fiscally stable for generations to come.

   

  Communities may apply for $15,000 maximum. Applicants must demonstrate at the time of application that they have, at minimum, a dollar-for-dollar match to the requested award amount.

   

  The Planning Grant Program will not have a HUD National Objective; however, plans developed with CDBG funds must state how they will develop future CDBG projects. 

  
  Applications for funding are competitive and will open on 3/18/26 and close on 5/22/26. Awards are typically announced within 60 days of the close of application rounds.

   

  2 CFR 200 Audit Requirements

  CDBG contracts may be subject to audit. Federal Code (2 CFR 200) requires that recipients that expend $750,000 or more in federal funds within a fiscal year must have a single or program specific audit. When budgeting for CDBG funds, applicants should be aware of these audit requirements:

   

  • For recipients of $750,000 or more in federal funds received from more than one source of federal funding, an organization-wide audit must be conducted in accordance with federal requirements outlined in 2 CFR 200.514
  • For recipients of $750,000 or more in federal funds received from a single source, a project audit, targeting only transactions dealing specifically with the project, may be performed in lieu of an organization-wide audit.

  Communities should consult with their accountants regarding the applicability of an audit and audit requirements.

   

  Audit costs are a CDBG-eligible expense. Organization-wide audits can be paid with CDBG funds proportional to the amount of all other funds included in the audit. The total cost of a project audit can be paid with CDBG funds.

   

  For more information on the Planning Grants Program and applicable requirements, contact CDBG@IowaEDA.com or 515.348.6241.