Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority recently announced that $190,000 was distributed to 10 rural Iowa communities through three Empower Rural Iowa grant programs. According to a news release, the grants will support rural initiatives including housing, child care and business community growth. Five cities received $20,000 Rural Housing Readiness Assessment Grants to study housing needs through a partnership with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, the release says. The Rural Child Care Planning Grant went to four recipients to support the use of data and analysis — in partnership with the national nonprofit organization First Children’s Finance — to determine the specific needs and solutions for their area. Hardin County Conservation received $20,000 to support a learning center that will use Calkins Nature Area in Iowa Falls to provide learning opportunities for kids ages 2 to 5, according to the release. A $10,000 grant was awarded through the Building Ownership & Organization by Strengthening Teams program, which aims to assist community and business leaders in developing plans for next-step growth. Read the full list of grant award recipients here.