Each year, through the budgeting process, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors allocates funds to promote economic development in Johnson County and enhance the quality of life of its residents. The grants are local taxpayer-funded and the Board of Supervisors is committed to careful allocation and oversight of these funds.
For Fiscal Year 2024 (July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024), the Board allocated $300,000. Applications will open on February 27, 2023. Grant applications must be submitted on Johnson County's online grant portal by 4 p.m. on Friday, March 31, 2023 in order to be considered. Applicants will receive notification of the Board's decisions in May of 2023.
Apply Here for an Economic Development Grant
Apply Here for a Quality of Life Grant
Once you have started an application, you can resume a saved application or view a submitted application here.
Eligible organizations must operate primarily in Johnson County, Iowa and have a 501(c)3 or 501(c)6 status. Organizations must choose if they are applying for an Economic Development or Quality of Life Grant. See the difference between the grant programs below.
Johnson County offered an informational webinar on Thursday, March 16 at 9 a.m. The recording of that webinar is below:
Grant recipients are required to submit two reports on the impact of the grant funds, a mid-year report by January 31 and en end-of-year report by July 31 of their award year. A site visit may also be requested. Reports will be available using Johnson County's online Grant Portal.
Economic Development Grant
In making these grants, the Board will consider the following objectives:
- To maintain a fiscally responsible County budget;
- To support general economic development goals as identified in the Land Use Plan and to promote rural economic development in particular;
- To create/encourage public/private partnerships;
- To increase and diversify the County tax base;
- To maintain, or improve the County's standard of living; and/or
- To improve workforce opportunities for Johnson County residents
Quality of Life Grant
In making these grants, the Board will consider the following objectives:
- To improve the quality of life for County residents;
- To become a more livable community;
- To maintain a fiscally responsible County budget; and/or
- To create/encourage public/private partnerships.
For more information about Johnson County grants, contact Board Office staff at [email protected] or call 319-356-6000.
County staff is currently developing several ARPA-funded grant programs. Due to staffing shortages, we cannot give an estimated date that they will be open. For more information on the County's ARPA process, see https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/arpa.
Fiscal Year 2024 Timeline
February 27, 2023: Application period opens at 9 a.m.
March 31, 2023: Application period closes at 4 p.m.
April and May 2023: Board of Supervisors review applications during a work session and all applicants will be notified.
June 2023 - July 2023: Grant contracts are approved by the Board during a formal meeting. Applicants will receive their contracts via the Grant Portal
August 1, 2023: First quarter invoices due
November 1, 2023: Second quarter invoices due
January 31, 2024: Mid-year report* is due - Report will be available on the Grant Portal here
February 1, 2024: Third quarter invoices due
May 1, 2024: Fourth quarter invoices due
July 31, 2024: End-of-year report* is due - Report will be available on the Grant Portal here
Fiscal Year 2023 Timeline
October 1, 2021: Application period opens
November 15, 2021: Applications due
December 2021 - January 2022: Board of Supervisors review applications during budget meeting
Late March 2022 - April 2022: Fiscal Year 2023 County Budget is approved and applications are notified
June 2022 - July 2022: Grant contracts are approved by the Board during a Formal Meeting and mailed to recipients
August 1, 2022: First quarter invoices due
November 1, 2022: Second quarter invoices due
January 31, 2023: Mid-year report* is due - Report will be available on the Grant Portal here
February 1, 2023: Third quarter invoices due
May 1, 2023: Fourth quarter invoices due
July 31, 2023: End-of-year report* is due - Report will be available on the Grant Portal here
*Failure to submit required reports will affect eligibility in subsequent years.
Although the awards are distributed from one pool of funds set aside for these grants, these are separate applications for Economic Development grants & Quality of Life grants, done for classification purposes only. Please read each set of objectives to choose the grant application that best matches your intent for requested funds. Then, fill out the corresponding online application form.
Past Grant Recipients
- Fiscal Year 2023- $374,114 Awarded
-
Economic Development
$125,000 Field to Family Website
$85,000 Iowa City Area Development Group Website
$50,000 Multicultural Development Center of Iowa Website
$15,114 Workplace Learning Connection at Kirkwood Website
Quality of Life
$9,000 Bur Oak Land Trust Website
$40,000 Iowa City Bike Library Website
$20,000 Johnson County Historical Society Website
$10,000 Lower Cedar Watershed Management Authority Website
Quality of Life Libraries
$9,000 Antelope Lending Library Website
$11,000 Oxford Public Library Website
- Fiscal Year 2022- $412,020 Awarded
-
Economic Development$82,520 Field to Family Website$71,530 Iowa City Area Development Group Website$89,400 Johnson County Agricultural Association WebsiteQuality of Life$21,000 Iowa City Bike Library Website$62,430 Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center Website$8,650 Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature Website$20,000 Johnson County Historical Society Website$1,000 Lower Cedar Watershed Management Authority WebsiteQuality of Life Libraries$7,060 Antelope Lending Library Website$2,000 Lone Tree Community School Library Website$11,000 Oxford Public Library Website$7,000 Springmier Community Library Website
- Fiscal Year 2021- $391,795 Awarded
-
Economic Development$81,367 Field to Family Website$65,000 Iowa City Area Development Group Website$93,000 Johnson County Agricultural Association WebsiteQuality of Life$8,628 Iowa City Bike Library Website$60,300 Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center Website$8,075 Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature Website$20,000 Johnson County Historical Society WebsiteQuality of Life Libraries$7,000 Antelope Lending Library Website$2,000 Lone Tree Community School Library Website$11,000 Oxford Public Library Website$7,000 Springmier Community Library Website
- Fiscal Year 2020- $1,013,090 Awarded
-
Economic Development$73,665 Field to Family Website$65,000 Iowa City Area Development Group Website$103,000 Johnson County Agricultural Association WebsiteQuality of Life$630,000 Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County Website$8,500 Iowa City Bike Library Website$60,000 Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center Website$7,500 Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature Website$20,000 Johnson County Historical Society WebsiteQuality of Life Libraries$2,000 Lone Tree Community School Library Website$7,000 Oxford Public Library Website$7,000 Springmier Community Library Website
- Fiscal Year 2019- $501,141 Awarded
-
Economic Development
$83,107: Field to Family Food Hub - Website
$14,136: Field to Family Food Label - Website
$100,000: Good will of the Heartland - Website
$56,000: Iowa City Area Development Group - Website
$103,000: Johnson County Agricultural Association - Website
$10,098: Workplace Learning Connection at Kirkwood Community College - Website
Quality of Life$4,700: Antelope Lending Library - Website
$17,000: Iowa City Bike Library - Website
$60,000: Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center - Website
$6,600: Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature - Website
$15,500: Johnson County Historical Society - Website
$15,000: Rural Health and Safety of Greater Johnson County- Website
Quality of Life Libraries$2,000 Lone Tree Community School Library Website$7,000 Oxford Public Library Website$7,000 Springmier Community Library Website - Fiscal Year 2018- $310,205 Awarded
Economic Development
$103,000: Johnson County Agricultural Association - Website
$20,000: Grow Johnson County - Website
$56,000: Iowa City Area Development (ICAD) Group - Website
$7,213: Workplace Learning Connection at Kirkwood Community College - Website
Quality of Life
$18,000: Johnson County Historical Society - Website
$15,000: Rural Health and Safety Clinic of Greater Johnson County- Website
$60,000: Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center - Website
$5,000: Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature - Website
Quality of Life Libraries
$7,000: Oxford Public Library - Website
$12,992: Swisher Community Library - Website
$2,000: Lone Tree Community Library - Website
$4,000: Springmier Community Library Website
- Fiscal Year 2017- $342,721 Awarded
-
Economic Development
$52,500: Iowa City Area Development (ICAD) Group - Website
$3,000: Iowa Valley Resource Conservation & Development - Website
$145,000: Johnson County Agricultural Association - Website
$6,500: Workplace Learning Connection at Kirkwood Community College- Website
Quality of Life$16,000: Grow Johnson County - Website
$59,244: Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center - Website
$3,500: Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature - Website
$21,000: Johnson County Historical Society - Website
$4,000: KICI Radio at Uptown Bills - Website
$10,000: Rural Health and Safety Clinic of Greater Johnson County- Website
Quality of Life Libraries
$2,000: Springmier Community Library Website
$2,000: Lone Tree Community Library - Website
$7,000: Oxford Public Library - Website
$11,000: Swisher Community Library - Website - Fiscal Year 2016- $299,265 Awarded
-
Economic Development
$95,000: Johnson County Agricultural Association - Website
$3,000: Johnson County Food Policy Council- Website
$50,000: Iowa City Area Development (ICAD) Group - Website
$6,544: Workplace Learning Connection at Kirkwood Community College- Website
Quality of Life$3,000: Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature - Website
$25,000: Johnson County Historical Society - Website
$17,000: Rural Health and Safety Clinic of Greater Johnson County- Website
$59,244: Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center - Website
$2,500: Solon Senior Advocates, Inc - Website
$20,000: Grow Johnson County - Website
Quality of Life Libraries
$2,000: Springmier Community Library Website
$2,000: Lone Tree Community Library - Website
$7,000: Oxford Public Library - Website
$7,000: Swisher Community Library - Website - Fiscal Year 2015- $311,524 Awarded
Economic Development
$95,000: Johnson County Agricultural Association - Website
$6,500: Workplace Learning Connection at Kirkwood Community College- Website
$5,000: Johnson County Food Policy Council- Website
$50,000: Iowa City Area Development (ICAD) Group- Website
Quality of Life
$59,224: Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center- Website
$15,000: Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development (IVRCD)- Website
$500: Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature- Website
$38,300: Johnson County Historical Society- Website
$17,000: Rural Health and Safety Clinic of Greater Johnson County- Website
$7,000: Community Corrections Improvement Association (CCIA)- Website
$2,000: Springmier Community Library Website
$2,000: Lone Tree Community Library- Website
$7,000: Oxford Public Library- Website
$7,000: Swisher Community Library- Website
Other Johnson County Grant Opportunities
Please explore our Social Services Grants