Downtown Iowa City is a prime location for businesses seeking a vibrant, dynamic environment with strong community support. As the living room of the University of Iowa, the business mix, diverse customer base, and walkable layout create the perfect setting for economic vitality in retail, dining, and service-oriented ventures. Celebrating a collaborative business culture, easy-to-access local resources, and year-round events that drive foot traffic and engagement. The Iowa City Downtown District is the ideal place to start, grow, and succeed in business; learn more about locating your business in Downtown Iowa City.
There are multiple grants and incentives strategically designed to assist potential businesses to find immediate assistance once they have decided to locate in downtown Iowa City, as well as help retain existing businesses and property owners to find assistance in further growing their offerings.
All grant programs are available on an annual FY basis (July-June) until the budgeted funds are no longer available.
To provide extra incentive and support for new retail tenants, this grant is specifically tailored to new leases signed in downtown for soft goods or other merchandise concepts that meet the ICDD Retail Strategy needs. The goal is to help preserve downtown spaces that don’t already have commercial kitchens for other commercial uses by offering a $15,000 build-out grant to support costing of creating a dynamic store environment. For more information and current funding available, contact betsy@downtownwiowacity.com.
These grants provide matching funds with the intent to provide meaningful design for signage and storefront enhancements for new and existing ICDD businesses. Approved applications will receive a 50% match for signage to a $3,500 grant and storefront enhancement approved applications will receive a 50% grant match up to $2,500. The program prioritizes projecting signage, awnings/canopies, window transparency, and lighting. See full grant details.
Designed to encourage the evaluation of older properties in the ICDD to develop creative utilization of buildings. This program provides owners with critical cursory information needed to help inform decision-makers of possible opportunities and high-level costs of building improvements. The goal is to help incentivize private investments in targeted areas to bring underutilized space back on the market for the overall health and vibrancy of Downtown Iowa City. See full program details.
ICDD offers a variety of business services aimed at supporting and promoting businesses in downtown Iowa City. These services are designed and customized to meet the district’s unique merchandise mix needs.
Direct-to-customer programs include the full-service Downtown Delivers, which provides free delivery for soft-goods retailers to nearby communities, and the Downtown Gift Card Program, which is exclusively accepted by downtown Iowa City businesses. Additional services include Local Rewards, a custom-built rewards program that helps shops gather customer information and foster loyalty.
The ICDD is proud to provide marketing services that help Downtown businesses reach their full potential. Downtowniowacity.com has evolved into more than just a site about ICDD—it’s the go-to resource for everything happening in the commercial core. The ICDD Job Board, a key feature of the website, lists all available downtown job opportunities. Businesses can take advantage of these tools and services to enhance their online presence and community engagement.
ICDD hosts over 24 annual events designed to boost activation, increase foot traffic in the downtown core, and drive business during slower seasons. Businesses are encouraged to explore ICDD’s signature events and get involved!
The ICDD has produced or gathered the following reports and resources intended to better inform those interested in learning about the ICDD as an organization, the area’s market economy, planned public investments, and the organization’s intention with strategic planning and business recruitment.
