FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CITY OF AVOCA - The Governor’s Office, in collaboration with the Center for Rural Revitalization at Iowa Economic Development Authority, released an official announcement via a news release October 13, 2026 (DES MOINES, IA) — Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) today announced $385,000 in Empower Rural Iowa grants supporting 15 rural communities across the state.

The funding will help expand housing, strengthen child care and encourage business and community growth.

The City of Avoca was awarded a $20,000 Rural Housing Readiness Assessment Grant, along with the cities of Alta, Bellevue, Washington and Winterset. These five communities will partner with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach to assess housing needs and guide local development strategies.

The City of Avoca submitted a thorough application titled Avoca HOMEward: A Housing Roadmap for Growth including four strong letters of support from key partners for future housing initiatives. The City Council approved the application, agreed to contributing a $10,000 match and appointed a 15Member Elevate Avoca Housing Committee.

Shawnna Silvius, City Administrator for the City of Avoca since January 2026 shared, “Avoca is ready to undertake a housing assessment because the community has moved beyond simply identifying housing as a need-it is actively investing in growth and is now at a critical point where a comprehensive strategy is needed to guide what comes next. Most significantly, Avoca is nearing completion of Phase I of a planned 3-phase housing development, providing tangible evidence of both housing demand and development momentum.” She goes on to add,

“This investment is expanding the community's housing inventory, but it has also raised important questions about the types, price points, locations, and quantities of housing Avoca will need to support future residents, its workforce, families, seniors, transitional, and changing household needs. This momentum extends beyond housing. The City continues to invest in infrastructure, public facilities, parks and recreation, downtown vitality, and quality-of-life amenities while strengthening its development processes, ordinances, planning, and code enforcement.”

Avoca's Interstate 80 location and proximity to employment opportunities east to Des Moines, west to Council Bluffs, and throughout southwest Iowa position the community to capture residential and downtown growth. A vibrant downtown further supports this potential, opening the door to expanded upper-story housing options.

The City also recognizes that successful housing development requires more than available land or an individual project. It requires reliable market data, community input, appropriate infrastructure, supportive policies, development partners, and a clear understanding of barriers to investment. Interest and participation from local and regional stakeholders in this initiative further demonstrate that housing is a shared community and economic development priority. Avoca HOMEward: A Housing Roadmap for Growth comes at the right time to connect these efforts.

Silvius says, “The assessment will allow Avoca to build upon current development momentum, validate and quantify housing demand, identify gaps within the existing housing stock, evaluate development and redevelopment opportunities, and prioritize future public and private investment. Rather than reacting to housing opportunities as they arise, Avoca is ready to establish a deliberate, data-driven roadmap that positions the community to pursue funding, attract developers, leverage partnerships, and make informed decisions about its next phase and developable areas for housing and community growth.”

To learn more about additional Empower Rural Iowa Grants and Award Announcements, visit: https://opportunityiowa.gov/press-release/2026-10-13/state-awards-385000-grants-15-ruraliowa-communities