2026 Jones County REAP Grant Review Session

Have You Heard of REAP? Even if you haven't heard of REAP, you've likely benefited from the many outstanding projects it has supported across Iowa.

For more than three decades, Iowa's Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program has invested in protecting and enhancing the state's natural and cultural resources. Since its creation on May 27, 1989, REAP has provided funding for projects that improve parks, conserve natural areas, preserve historic resources, and educate Iowans about the environment.

Each year, REAP provides funding through distributions and competitive grants in several program areas, including:

• City Park and Open Spaces: Competitive grants available to cities for parkland expansion and multi-purpose recreational developments, including trails.
• County Conservation: Competitive grants available to counties that dedicate at least 22¢ per $1,000 of assessed taxable property value for county conservation purposes. Funds may be used for land acquisition and easements, capital improvements, resource protection, environmental education, and more.
• Private/Public Open Space Acquisition: Cost-share funding for land acquisitions in partnership with private organizations. REAP provides up to 75% of acquisition costs, while private partners contribute the remaining 25%. The Iowa DNR owns and manages the jointly acquired property.
• Conservation Education Program (CEP): Grants supporting educational programs that help people of all ages better understand the environment and make informed decisions about its stewardship.
• Historical Resource Development Program: Grants available to private individuals, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and Certified Local Government agencies. Funding supports projects in historic preservation, libraries and archives, and museums.
• Roadside Vegetation: Funding for state, county, and city roadside vegetation management, including attractive community gateways, demonstration projects, and research into innovative vegetation management practices.
• Soil and Water Enhancement: Financial assistance for landowners implementing soil and water conservation practices. Projects help protect Iowa's surface and groundwater while supporting reforestation, woodland enhancement, wildlife habitat, erosion control, and water quality.

Grant applications for the City Park/Open Space and County Conservation programs are reviewed by local county REAP committees, which provide comments and recommendations as part of the application process.  Each county has its own REAP Committee. To find your REAP Committee visit https://www.iowadnr.gov/programs-services/resource-enhancement-protection-reap

The 2026 Jones County REAP Committee Grant Review Meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 12, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Interested individuals are encouraged to attend. The committee will meet in the Lower-Level Meeting Room of the Central Park Nature Center to review and comment on proposed 2026 Jones County REAP grant applications. The agenda includes:

• Election of Jones County REAP Committee officers
• Review of Jones County grant applications and committee recommendations
• Updates on recently awarded Jones County REAP grants

      To date, more than $4 million in REAP funding has benefited Jones County through historic preservation, native roadside vegetation management, soil and water conservation, community trails, land management, city parks, and county conservation area acquisition and management.

      For more information about REAP and a downloadable summary of REAP projects in Jones County, visit the Iowa Department of Natural Resources REAP webpages.  https://www.iowadnr.gov/programs-services/resource-enhancement-protection-reap/reap-county-expenditures-data