Iowa Tourism Grants
The Iowa Tourism Marketing Grant program provides funding for tourism partners around the state to market Iowa's places, attractions and events to out-of-state audiences. The grant may not be used for infrastructure and is not intended to pay expenses associated with the implementation of an event.
Successful applicants are executing marketing campaigns and initiatives that benefit both the state and local economies. Preference is given to applications that support the overall marketing plan of the Iowa Economic Development Authority, especially in terms of target audience and messaging. The Administrative Rules that govern the program and provide further guidance are in Iowa Administrative Code 261.42.
In September 2024, the Iowa Tourism Office received 109 FY25 Iowa Tourism Marketing Grant applications seeking $971,509 in funding. Thirty-five applicants were awarded a total of $307,000 in funding. These impactful awards will help partners implement $465,000 of marketing projects in 2025, elevate Iowa on the world stage, increase Iowa’s ability to recruit visitors, strengthen Iowa’s economy and make Iowa a destination. They will also help Iowa recruit a workforce that is exploring new employment opportunities and relocation options while traveling.
FY26 Iowa Tourism Grant Cycle
August 2025 – FY26 Applications open
September 2025 – Applications close
December 2025 – All applicants notified of status
Eligibility
Applicants must be a tourism-related entity based in Iowa. This includes nonprofits, for-profits, cities, counties, and regional government and planning entities.
Applicants may submit one application per funding cycle. The same project cannot receive funding from the Iowa Tourism Marketing Grant program two years in a row.
Funding
$300,000 is available
Awards may not be less than $2,500 or more than $10,000
Awards will be made in increments of $100 (i.e. $2,500, $2,600, $2,700)
Applicants are required to pay for a minimum of 20% of their total project. Cash match must be in the form of cash only. In-kind dollars or discounts do not count towards a cash match.
Eligible Expenses
All project expenses (grant request plus cash match) must directly relate to the implementation of a tourism-related marketing initiative or the marketing of an event and be incurred within the calendar year* (January 2026 - December 2026 for FY26 recipients).
Additional Information
- FY25 Iowa Tourism Grantees
- FY24 Iowa Tourism Grantees
- FY25 Guidelines
- FY25 Marketing Plan Overview
- FY25 FAQs
- Rubric
- Evaluation Report
Logo Usage
Recipients of Iowa Tourism Grants must use the Travel Iowa language and logos to credit the Iowa Tourism Office for their cooperative efforts.