Iowa Disaster Agriculture Resource Guide
This document is a collection of potential grant, loan, and technical assistance programs that
may be able to assist with your community’s needs.
Please also visit: DisasterRecovery.Iowa.gov
Business and Farm Structures
• Private Activity Bond Cap - Iowa Finance Authority - Each year, the state of Iowa
receives an allocation of volume cap (state ceiling) for allocation to certain private
activity bonds including manufacturing and agricultural processing.
• Beginning Farmer Loan Programs – Iowa Finance Authority – Beginning Farmer
Programs are for agricultural asset purchases. The Beginning Farmer Loan Program
will provide a reduced interest rate on the beginning farmer’s bank loan through a tax-
exempt bond, or the Loan Participation Program can be used to supplement a down
payment.
Economic
• Iowa Workforce Development’s Unemployment Benefits Online Application System
(workforce.iowa.gov) – Specific unemployment assistance is available for business
owners and employees who were impacted by presidentially declared disasters.
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) | Health & Human Services
(iowa.gov) - The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides nutrition
benefits to supplement the food budget of needy families so they can purchase healthy
food and move towards self-sufficiency.
• Emergency Food Assistance Program | Health & Human Services (iowa.gov) – The
Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) provides food and meals at no cost
through participating food pantries and meal sites.
• USDA offers a variety of programs to help farmers, ranchers, communities, and
businesses that have been hard hit by natural disaster events. Visit
https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/disaster-assistance-program/index
for additional USDA programs that can help agricultural producers recover or visit your
local county USDA Service Center for in-person service.
Housing
• Repair:
o Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants | Rural Development (usda.gov) -
This provides loans to very-low-income homeowners to repair, improve or
modernize their homes or grants to elderly very-low-income homeowners to
remove health and safety hazards.
Iowa Disaster Agriculture Resource Guide
o Home Improvements | HUD.gov / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) – Resources for home repairs.
o The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides loans and grants to very low-income
homeowners to repair disaster related damage caused to their homes. This
applies even in areas eligible for Public Assistance only. Single Family Housing
Repair Loans & Grants in Presidentially Declared Disasters Pilot | Rural
Development (usda.gov)
• Replace:
o Whether you’re a first-time or repeat home buyer, IFA offers affordable mortgage
financing that may assist you in finding a new home. - Home - Iowa Finance
Authority
o IowaHousingSearch.org | Iowa Apartments | Iowa Rental Homes - is a
comprehensive, up-to-date listing of rental units in Iowa. This website allows
users to search for advanced search features, including short-term leases. The
service also offers a toll-free call center, staffed with housing specialists who are
happy to help you find a housing solution: 877-428-8844.
o Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program | Rural Development
(usda.gov) - Assists approved lenders in providing low- and moderate-income
households the opportunity to own adequate, modest, decent, safe and sanitary
dwellings as their primary residence in eligible rural areas. Eligible applicants
may purchase, build, rehabilitate, improve, or relocate a dwelling in an eligible
rural area with 100% financing.
• Payment Assistance:
o Iowa Mortgage Help - Iowa Mortgage Help can assist you in creating the best
plan of action to keep your home. Trained mortgage counselors will provide free,
confidential services and Iowa Mortgage Help clients may also receive free legal
assistance. Regardless of who services your home loan, you can take advantage
of Iowa Mortgage Help, also available via phone at 877-622-4866.
If you are in crisis, there are options available to help you cope. You can call Lifeline at
988 anywhere in the United States 24/7 for confidential support.
This document is designed to provide a starting point for communities and eligible applicants who
may have needs outside of those covered by Iowa Department of Homeland Security and
Emergency Management or the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It is not a guarantee or
promise of any grant acceptance, program, technical assistance, etc. from any federal agency,
private organization, or non-profit. All programs may not apply to all eligible applicants. Descriptions
provided are quoted directly from the lead agency’s information at the time and date listed in the
footer of this document. Many additional resources may exist.
