Agricultural Resources

Landscape of Iowa farm with red barn, blue silos and windmills.

Topics:

Assistance Programs
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Disaster Recovery Farm Interest Program (DRFIP)

The Disaster Recovery Farm Interest Program (DRFIP)  (Iowa Finance Authority) provides financial assistance to agricultural asset owners and producers who are recovering from property damage and losses caused by recent severe weather events. DRFIP will reimburse one year of interest paid on eligible loans executed or amended after the date of the Presidential disaster declaration for the county where the damage occurred.

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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.
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Economic

  • Unemployment Benefits Online Application System  (Iowa Workforce Development)
    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)
    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)
    The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) provides food and meals at no cost through participating food pantries and meal sites.
  • Disaster Assistance Programs (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture)
    USDA offers a variety of programs to help farmers, ranchers, communities, and businesses that have been hard hit by natural disaster events. Visit your local county USDA Service Center for in-person service.
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Housing

Repair:

  • Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants (Rural Development - USDA) 
    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.
  • Home Improvements (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development -HUD) – HUD has a variety of resources for home improvements.
  • Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
    The USDA provides loans and grants to very low-income homeowners in Presidentially Declared Disasters to repair disaster-related damage caused to their homes. This applies in areas eligible for Public Assistance only. 

Replace:

  •  Iowa Finance Authority  Whether you’re a first-time or repeat home buyer, IFA offers affordable mortgage financing that may assist you in finding a new home. 
  • IowaHousingSearch.org (Iowa Apartments, Iowa Rental Homes) 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.
  • Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program (Rural Development -USDA)  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:

  • 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.
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