Governor Kim Reynolds today announced a second round of grant awards targeted at supporting child care slots through meaningful business incentives. A total of $443,234 will be awarded through Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support five projects involving 11 participating businesses that will help create 77 new child care slots. The grant will help increase flexibility in how child care slots can be supported or expanded through employer-sponsored child care. Employers will partner with local and regional child care centers to increase... Read More

The Bettendorf Public Library was awarded $5,000 in a grant from the State Library of Iowa from American Rescue Plan Act funds. The grant went towards expanding the Library’s digital collection of books and audiobooks that were specifically designed to support psychology, professional development, personal finance, wellness, and more. These electronic offerings are accessible for Bettendorf Public Library cardholders at https://rivershare.overdrive.com/rivershare-Bettendorf/content/collection/1263776 and fall in line with the Library’s vision to support the community’s pursuit of knowledge... Read More

Governor Kim Reynolds today announced the opening of another round of funding opportunities for employers, nonprofits, educational and community groups seeking to provide high school youth with internship opportunities. Now available for the fourth consecutive year, Future Ready Iowa’s Summer Youth Internship Project grants are designed to help youth explore and prepare for high-demand careers while gaining work experience and developing the personal attributes necessary to succeed in the workplace. A total of $250,000 will be available for programs this summer. Applications must be submitted... Read More

Eleven cultural organizations and three artists in the Quad-Cities were among those to receive a share of $7 million in new grants announced Tuesday by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. A total of 267 cultural organizations and 152 artists serving 118 Iowa communities will get funding, made possible by the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, on Dec. 2. The department launched the Iowa Arts & Culture Recovery Program the same day and received more than 550 requests totaling more than $36 million by the Dec. 11 deadline. The list of recipients includes some of Iowa’s... Read More