The Iowa Energy Center (IEC) Board and the Iowa Economic Development Authority are opening the second round of the IEC Grant program, the organizations announced. The program is designed to facilitate energy-related economic development in Iowa, and will be accepting pre-applications on Feb. 20. Submissions must support projects that align with the Iowa Energy Plan; applications will be accepted until March 19. The IEC Grant Program is funded by gas and electric utilities across Iowa and is open to Iowa businesses, colleges, universities and private nonprofit agencies and foundations. Projects must aid implementation of at least one of seven key focus areas in the Iowa Energy Plan: technology-based research and development, workforce development, support for rural and underserved areas, biomass, natural gas expansion in underserved areas, electric grid modernization and alternative fuel vehicles. More information is available online.