Transportation Funding Opportunities for Smaller Communities in East Central Iowa

After a thorough reading of this report, communities should have a basic understanding of Iowa's transportation funding process. The report is divided into four sections which go step by step through the process. The first section explains where money for transportation projects come from and how the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) prioritizes projects. The second section explains allocative funding programs, or programs where funding is determined according to some set formula. Section Three details Iowa's competitive grant and loan programs. Funding for these programs is based on a competitive application procedure. Competitive programs, such as RISE (Revitalize Iowa's Sound Economy), are smaller communities' most likely way to increase local transportation funding. The final section provides strategies for communities to maximize their funding from the available programs. Finally, the Appendix is a useful list of pertinent information on all the transportation programs available, and what is necessary to obtain funding from these programs.