Five rural Iowa development projects will receive grant funding to help develop project-ready industrial sites. The Iowa Economic Development Authority announced Thursday that $133,528 in matching funds will be doled out through the Iowa Rural Certified Site Initiative, a competitive grant program.

Funding will help due diligence activities required for site certification, an important factor when attracting new business investment and high-paying jobs. The funding reimburses costs for required reports and studies such as environmental assessments, geotechnical investigations and cultural resources surveys.

The five projects are:

• Clarinda Economic Development Corp., $29,875, Hugh and Maxine Loudon Business Park (approximately 70 acres), Clarinda
• Jackson County Economic Alliance, $27,050, Highway 61 Industrial Park (approximately 59 acres), Maquoketa
• Iowa Interstate Railroad, $37,500, Newton Rail Park (approximately 478 acres), Newton
• City of Webster City, $37,500, Webster City Southeast Industrial Park (approximately 773 acres), Webster City
• Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance (on behalf of Webster County), $1,603.75, Iowa’s Crossroads of Global Innovation (approximately 765 acres), west of Fort Dodge

The Rural Certified Site Initiative provides matching grants of up to $37,500 to eligible applicants, including local governments, economic development organizations and utility providers in counties with populations less than 50,000. Certified sites attract prospects by meeting nationally recognized due diligence standards and demonstrating that essential infrastructure and land availability requirements have been met.

“Rural communities are thinking strategically about long-term growth,” Debi Durham, director of the IEDA and Iowa Finance Authority, stated in a press release. “This support helps them take important strides toward welcoming new employers and creating opportunities close to home.”