21—52.21(159) Eligibility.

1. 52.21(1)  Eligible applicants. To be eligible for a grant under the program, an applicant shall meet all of the following requirements:

   1. a. Be an individual, business, agricultural cooperative, nonprofit organization, or local government.
   2. b. Be in good standing with the state of Iowa.
   3. c. Currently reside or conduct business in Iowa.

2. 52.21(2)  Eligible projects. To be eligible for a grant under the program, a project shall:

   1. a. Increase sales of Iowa agricultural products by increasing production capacity or expanding market access for value-added projects.
   2. b. Not be in progress until a grant is awarded.
   3. c. Be completed in 12 months or less.
   4. d. Be conducted in Iowa.

3. 52.21(3)  Ineligible expenses. The following items are not eligible expenses under the program:

   1. a. Equipment and infrastructure for meat processing;
   2. b. Infrastructure for renewable fuels;
   3. c. Expenses incurred prior to the awarding of a grant;
   4. d. Start-up costs including but not limited to inventory, license fees, or working capital;
   5. e. Advertising, public relations, or entertainment costs;
   6. f. Employee benefits and wages;
   7. g. Paying off existing debt, related collection costs, or legal costs;
   8. h. Paying off existing fines, penalties, or settlements from failure to comply with any applicable law or regulations.

4. 52.21(4)  Grant amount and terms.

   1. a. The maximum amount of financial assistance awarded to an eligible applicant under the program shall not exceed $25,000.
   2. b. An applicant must demonstrate the ability to provide matching support for the project on a one-to-one basis. The matching financial support shall be from private sources and does not include in-kind contributions.

[ARC 6552C, IAB 10/5/22, effective 11/9/22; ARC 7037C, IAB 5/31/23, effective 7/5/23]