About this archived opportunity

Approximately $620,865 in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds are available to cities and counties through the State of Iowa’s Pocket Parks Program. All incorporated cities and all counties in the State, except those designated as HUD entitlement areas, are eligible to apply for and receive funds under this program. The Pocket Parks Program exists to assist communities in creating new recreational/green space in areas that do not have any via the construction of “pocket parks.” Described as “pocket” parks due to their small size, the proposed site may be located anywhere in the community, but the city-owned lot should be no bigger than a quarter acre. Note that upgrades or expansions to preexisting city/county parks are not allowed under this program. Pocket parks must be designed by professional engineers and/or architects, and at least some component(s) of the park features must be ADA-accessible. All components of the pocket park must be permanently installed features. Communities may apply for $150,000 maximum. A minimum of 25% matching funds is required. In order to qualify, communities must delineate a residential “service area” that will benefit from the pocket park and must provide documentation that at least 51% of the households in the service area are considered low-to-moderate income (LMI). For purposes of CDBG programs, “low and moderate income” is defined as persons with incomes at or below 80% of the area median income as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Current income levels can be found on the IEDA website: https://www.iowaeda.com/cdbg/program-guidance/ Applications for funding will open on 3/18/26 and close on 5/22/26. Awards are typically announced within 60 days of the close of application rounds. 2 CFR 200 Audit Requirements CDBG contracts may be subject to audit. Federal Code (2 CFR 200) requires that recipients that expend $750,000 or more in federal funds within a fiscal year must have a single or program specific audit. When budgeting for CDBG funds, applicants should be aware of these audit requirements: For recipients of $750,000 or more in federal funds received from more than one source of federal funding, an -wide audit must be conducted in accordance with federal requirements outlined in 2 CFR 200.514 For recipients of $750,000 or more in federal funds received from a single source, a project audit, targeting only transactions dealing specifically with the project, may be performed in lieu of an -wide audit. Communities should consult with their accountants regarding the applicability of an audit and audit requirements. Audit costs are a CDBG-eligible expense. -wide audits can be paid with CDBG funds proportional to the amount of all other funds included in the audit. The total cost of a project audit can be paid with CDBG funds. Davis Bacon and Related Acts Projects that include construction may be subject to the requirements of the Davis-Bacon Act and related laws and regulations. The Davis-Bacon Act applies to all contracts for construction, alteration and/or repairs in excess of $2,000 that involve CDBG funds. Cost estimates for the proposed project should reflect compliance with these requirements. Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act For projects that include acquisition and relocation, all recipients given the authority to acquire property are required to follow the guidel

Related opportunities

• CDBG | Community Facilities: Small GrantsKansas Department of Commerce·Closes Oct 2026·Up to $210K
• CDBG | Community Facilities: Large GrantsKansas Department of Commerce·Closes Oct 2026·Up to $1.5M