If you've ever applied for anything, waiting for an answer can make you nuts.  At one time, to get a credit card you had to fill out a piece of paper, send it in, and wait for the card or a rejection letter.

Now, you get an answer almost instantly if you apply for a credit card.  If it was only that easy for all funding types.  If you're trying to secure money for something that requires major funding, it's still a lengthy process.

Why Does it Matter What Goes Into a Grant?

The Government Accountability Office says billions of dollars are awarded yearly to state and local governments. Those governments then make the funds available to non-profits, schools, and faith-based groups.  

Programs funded through these grants authorized by Congress are social services, education, health care, infrastructure, public safety, research and development, housing, student support, and vocational training

The process, according to Learn Grant Writing, can be lengthy, and you're not guaranteed anything.  Here are the simplified steps for writing a successful grant:

  • Find a Grant
  • Apply for it - You write a plan and explain what you'll do with the funds.
  • The Government Make a Decision - The government looks at your plan and gives it a thumbs up or down
  • Funds are Dispersed  - You get the money and use it within the guidelines of your grant
  • Time to Do a Report - Let the government know how everything worked out.

How Will Iowa Be Impacted by the President's Executive Order Concerning Grants?

Iowa is a major recipient of federal grant money, and the recent executive orders signed by the president could adversely affect the state.

Iowa has been a recipient of healthcare funding, infrastructure grants, and education grants.  Specifically, Iowa has benefitted recently from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

According to C and K Inc., the Inflation Reduction Act provided Iowa with clean energy tax credits and rebates for clean energy tech and products.

  • A 30% investment tax credit for solar, wind geothermal, and more
  • Tax credits for replacing older appliances with high-efficiency equipment
  • Home energy rebates (HER) for home performance upgrades (as of today, the link for information no longer exists for this program.  It shows an error and redirects to the homepage. This could be the direct result of the new executive order)

I also mentioned healthcare. The IRA lowered healthcare and prescription drug costs.

As well as manufacturing, Iowa Starting Line says the IRA created tax incentives for manufacturers to invest in Iowa and create more clean energy jobs.

Iowa also has community policing grants, like the Byrne JAG program, or other justice-related funding that could now be in jeopardy.

Canva/TSM
Canva/TSM
loading...

What Does This Mean for You?

If you're part of a community or organization that relies on these types of grants, the recent executive orders could impact funding.  If funds are already secured, they're probably safe.  If grants have been applied for, but not yet approved, or if new funding is expected, the executive orders could affect whether or not that money is available.

94.1 KRNA logo
Get our free mobile app

Let's think about you specifically.  This could mean less funding for community programs, schools, or even services that you rely on.

If you decided to pay out money, for example, by buying a new appliance expecting to receive a rebate or refund, there’s a chance that it could be delayed due to current shifts in funding.

Now that we know about the grant process, let's decompress and have some pasta... or at least learn where we can get some delicious pasta:

Where to Go for Delicious Pasta in Eastern Iowa

There are awesome Italian restaurants all over Eastern Iowa! Here are the ones with a 4.5-star rating or higher on Google Reviews (chains like Olive Garden and Biaggi's are not included):

Gallery Credit: Courtlin

Palisades-Kepler State Park December 30, 2024

Early Morning hours just after sunrise at Palisades-Kepler State Park, I saw a few friendly faces.

Gallery Credit: Sloppy Joe