Small and Large Project Program Awards

Projects must be physically located in at least one of the 37 designated Iowa counties within the Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA): Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Boone, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Cedar, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw, Clayton, Clinton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Grundy, Hamilton, Hardin, Howard, Iowa, Jackson, Jasper, Johnson, Jones, Linn, Marshall, Mitchell, Polk, Poweshiek, Scott, Story, Tama, Winneshiek, Worth and Wright.

The SSNHA was designated by Congress in 1996 in recognition of northeast Iowa’s nationally significance resources and heritage related to American agriculture. Much of the heritage of America's agricultural revolution still exists within this area and is in need of preservation and interpretation. Iowans and visitors desire opportunities to learn about the farms, the industries, and the people who strive to maintain a safe and wholesome food supply.

Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA) established the Small and Large Projects Program Awards to support sites, attractions and events of educational value that focus on America's agricultural stories as it relates to the 37 counties of northeastern Iowa. The following are the goals of the program awards:

• Preserve and interpret America's agricultural and agricultural industrial stories and its significance to the nation and the world consistent with the SSNHA Interpretive Plan.
• Enhance the site's agricultural connection.
• Elevate the quality of the heritage area sites and attractions.
• Elevate the quality of the heritage area individually and collectively.
• Develop positive visitor experiences consistent with the SSNHA Interpretive Plan.
• Build the capacity of the Heritage Area region to further develop and sustain agricultural and agricultural industrial heritage tourism through new and existing heritage area sites, attractions and events.

Projects may fall in one of two categories:

• Small Project - Provide SSNHA Sites with financial support including planning assistance, educational programs, interpretation, marketing, exhibit displays, interpretive signage and other special projects.
• Large Project - To leverage larger and varied local support for planning assistance, educational programs, interpretation, marketing, exhibit displays, interpretive signage and other special projects.

Projects must demonstrate how they help preserve and interpret America's agricultural and agricultural industrial stories and its significance to the nation and the world. Applicants must demonstrate how their project will develop, enhance or expand an agricultural story. Awards will be more weighted towards heritage area sites (new or existing) although selected events may be supported.

Additional consideration will be given to projects:

• Involving active partnerships between sites and organizations.
• Supporting meaningful efforts toward diversity, equity, and inclusion especially as it relates to interpretation and visitor experiences. 

Additional Geographic Information:

Estimated Total Program Funding: