September 11, 2025 (DES MOINES, IA) — The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) today (Thursday) announced $35.9 million in workforce housing tax credits to support development in 36 counties across the state. The awards will fund 63 projects expected to create nearly 2,000 new residential units — 1,217 in large communities and 752 in smaller towns.

Among the recipients (in the “Small” project category) is local non-profit organization Vision Atlantic, which will add 10 duplex-style homes in the Camblin Hills Workforce Housing Project in Atlantic. Located near school facilities, a planned child care center and other services, the properties are expected to appeal to workers at large employers like Cass Health, where nearly half of employees currently commute into town. The project received total tax credits amounting to $381,675.

Other projects in the “Small” category include:

• McCarthy Construction, Inc.: Avoca Workforce Patton Street Project (Tax credit of $216,000)
• Janbur, LLC: $142,500 Tax Credit for Manning duplexes (In Manning) – 4 units.
• Origin Homes 2025, LLC: $199,999 tax Credit for the Panora-Dream Acres Housing Project in Panora (5 units)
• MK Purple Martin, LLC: Purple Martin, in Shelby ($1-million Tax Credit) – 36 units.

In the “Large” housing project category:

• WE Roost, LLC: $1-million Tax Credit for the West End Roost Project in Council Bluffs (89 Units)
• First Avenue Freeze Out, LLC: $1-million Tax Credit for the 145 unit, 30th & 1st Avenue Project in Council Bluffs.

Debi Durham, director of IEDA and the Iowa Finance Authority, said in a new release, “When families can find quality, affordable homes, they put down roots — and that gives businesses the steady workforce they need, It’s that kind of stability that keeps our communities strong and our economy moving forward.”

IEDA received 137 applications requesting about $83 million in tax credits. Of the $35 million available for fiscal 2026, $17.5 million was specifically reserved for projects in Iowa’s 88 least-populated counties. Applications were evaluated on readiness, financing, community impact, developer experience and innovation.

Other examples of funded projects include:

• Charles City (Floyd County) — Urbandale-based Kading Properties will construct Union Place, a 74-unit rental townhome community on land donated by the city and the Charles City Area Development Corp. The site is within a half mile of major employers including Cambrex, Floyd County Medical Center and Zoetis.
• Cumming (Warren County) — Diligent Development of West Des Moines will create a mixed-use building with 32 apartments, 16 garages and ground-floor retail in Middlebrook, Iowa’s first agrihood and an extension of the city’s historic downtown. The investment will help address workforce housing needs near Hy-Vee’s new distribution center and other growing employers.
• Oskaloosa (Mahaska County) — West Des Moines-based Hubbell Realty Co. will develop about 50 two-bedroom, two-story townhomes off Coal Mine Road on the west side of town. The effort responds to strong rental demand driven by expansions at Clow Valve Co., Mahaska Health and Musco Lighting.

The Workforce Housing Tax Credit program supports projects that redevelop abandoned, vacant or deteriorated properties. For more information about the program, visit iowaeda.com/workforce-housing-tax-credit.

Download a complete list of awards.