Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque Awarded $152,000 USDA Rural Development Grant

Dollars will fund efforts to strengthen low-income rural communities

Washington, D.C. --The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque (CFGD) received a $152,492 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Community Development Initiative Program (RCDI) Program. As announced by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on June 12, USDA awarded 48 grants totaling $6.7 million to organizations in 26 states, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, including four organizations in Iowa.
“These grants will bring increased economic opportunities to rural residents and communities by strengthening the capacity of regional organizations to help small and emerging businesses,” Vilsack said. “They also will help organizations experienced in economic development create more job opportunities for rural residents across the country.”

RCDI helps community-based development organizations, federally recognized Indian tribes and other groups promote economic growth in low-income, rural communities.

CFGD’s proposal seeks to build greater prosperity and sustainability in Allamakee, Jackson, Jones, Clayton and Delaware Counties in Iowa and Jo Daviess County in Illinois. The grant will fund a five-point plan focused on building community engagement; increasing awareness of the power of giving back to raise community wealth; developing case statements to increase donor engagement; identifying and developing donors; and making strategic grants.

“We look forward to partnering with community leaders in our affiliate communities to strengthen rural philanthropy,” said Nancy Van Milligen, CFGD president/CEO. “The USDA will be a strong ally in this work and we are grateful for its support.”

RCDI has a proven history of bringing economic benefits to rural communities. In 2012, the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) used a $200,000 RCDI grant to provide funds to help more than 50 nonprofit recipients develop marketing and branding strategies for community assets. Local groups learned how to collect and review demographic data, and to identify business retention, expansion and recruitment strategies. This process, dubbed “Re-Energizing Main Street’s Economic Performance,” helped implement a revitalization and growth plan for downtown businesses.

The full USDA news release can be viewed here.