The Iowa Economic Development Authority Board on Dec. 19 approved grants to three organizations through the Entrepreneurial Investment Award program, which provides financial assistance to Iowa-based organizations that directly help entrepreneurs and early-stage startups create, locate or expand a business in Iowa.
Those grants were awarded to:
- New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative, Cedar Rapids: The New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative, commonly known as NewBoCo, delivers entrepreneurial education, assistance and programming to help Iowans start and grow companies. The organization plans to lead the development of the Iowa Aviation Technology Center, aligning with a statewide effort to strengthen Iowa’s aviation sector. Through a two-phase approach of program and stakeholder coordination and the launch of training and startup programming, NewBoCo will work to establish Iowa as a competitive hub for aviation technology and talent. The project was awarded a $200,000 grant for two years to support program staff, events and administration.
- Iowa Center for Economic Success, Des Moines: The nonprofit, which provides coaching lending and tax services, plans to strategically locate business coaches in rural and micropolitan regions around the state to help people who face barriers to services needed to start and grow businesses. It was awarded a $150,000 grant for two years to support the expansion of direct learning with professional advisers.
- Pathfinders RC&D Inc., Fairfield: The group helps rural entrepreneurs turn ideas into businesses with technical assistance and assists local governments, chambers and partners with capacity building. The organization plans to create scalable systems to strengthen capital readiness, streamline referrals and deliver business planning support. Pathfinders was awarded a $200,000 grant for two years to support personnel, services and outreach to reach rural entrepreneurs and establish long-lasting capacity in smaller communities.
Award recommendations for these funds are made by the EIA Review Committee to the IEDA board for approval.