Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has announced a new round of Destination Iowa funding after the Legislature appropriated $6.5 million to the tourism and quality-of-life program during the 2023 session. That follows approval of guidelines on Oct. 20 by the Iowa Economic Development Authority board. The grant initiative launched in 2022 with federal funding, which has advanced 46 projects across Iowa with more than $480 million in total investment, according to a news release. The IEDA guidelines show eligible projects – including vertical infrastructure, existing project expansion, land acquisition and construction, recreational trails and water trails – can receive grant funds up to 25% of eligible project costs. At least 65% of the project financing or fundraising must be secure when the applicant reaches the pre-application stage, the release says. City, county and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for the Invision Iowa funding, according to the guidelines. Eligible projects will have minimum total project costs: $5 million or greater for urban and $1.5 million or greater for rural. The two-step application process will be on a rolling basis from Oct. 23 through Jan. 31, 2024, via a form on IEDA’s website. Applicants invited to apply for the full application will have a March 1, 2024, deadline. In March, the state awarded $26.88 million in federal dollars to projects statewide through Destination Iowa and an additional $15 million to rural projects.