Posted 3 December, 2025
IDALS announced that it is accepting applications for the next round of Choose Iowa Value-Added Grants. The highly competitive cost-share grant expands access to Iowa-grown, Iowa-made, and Iowa-raised food, beverages, and other agricultural products. It offers matching awards of up to $25,000 per project to help farmers, small businesses, and non-profit organizations add value to the agricultural goods they produce.
Choose Iowa Value-Added Grants can support a wide range of projects that increase or diversify a business’s agricultural offerings, including investments in processing, packaging, sales, equipment, facilities, workflow improvements, and food safety or quality enhancements. Funding can also be used for workforce training and continuing education. Meat and dairy processing projects are not eligible for this program but may qualify for separate Choose Iowa Butchery Innovation or Choose Iowa Dairy Innovation grants.
Since the Choose Iowa Value-Added Grant Program launched in 2022, the Department has awarded nearly $1.64 million in state-funded cost-share to local farmers and agribusinesses to support 100 projects, generating a total investment of $5.6 million to expand local production and processing.
Individuals, businesses, and non-profits located and operating in Iowa are eligible to apply, with preference given to small and medium-sized businesses. Complete details, including eligibility guidelines, matching requirements, and project examples, are available on the Choose Iowa website.