The Iowa Rural Development Council (IRDC) has selected four pilot communities to participate in its new Rural Business Initiative, which was created with a $200,000 grant from Wells Fargo. The rural communities are located within 30 miles of a Wells Fargo branch. Each proposed a plan to support existing small business, enhance entrepreneurship and expand the […]

The Iowa Rural Development Council (IRDC) has received a $200,000 grant from Wells Fargo to establish a new program to support small-business development in rural Iowa communities. According to a news release, the IRDC Rural Business Initiative will provide grants of at least $30,000 to community organizations that work with small businesses. The community organizations […]

The Iowa Rural Development Council, a public-private statewide nonprofit supporting small towns, has opened registration for the 2024 Iowa Rural Summit. The event is scheduled for April 11-12 at the Gateway Hotel & Conference Center in Ames. Rural communities are invited to bring three-person teams, which has helped generate momentum after previous events, according to a […]