Power of Connection Community Grants Support Economic Development
December 18, 2025 | Midwest
In 2025, a record number of Power of Connection grants were awarded to 14 communities across the state of Iowa. More than $58,000 was dispersed to stimulate economic growth in rural areas. The map below shows the receiving communities and initiatives these grants helped to support.
In 2019, ITC Midwest and the Iowa Rural Development Council (IRDC) launched the Power of Connection Community Grant Program to facilitate economic development in rural communities across Iowa. This innovative economic development program is designed to pair rural communities seeking assistance with resource teams from IRDC member organizations, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Small Business Administration, and the Iowa Finance Authority. Those teams drive both community conversations and solution development for problems or projects. As part of the program, rural communities can receive Power of Connection grants for up to $5,000 to support economic development projects. In this case, the support provided by ITC Midwest has translated into economic growth in our service territory – a winning proposition.
