Greater Dubuque Development, in partnership with Community Solutions of Eastern Iowa, has been selected as one of three finalists in the 2026 Iowa Innovation in Homelessness Pitch Competition.
Administered by the Iowa Finance Authority, the Iowa Innovation in Homelessness Incubator invites forward-thinking proposals focused on homelessness prevention and response. The initiative encourages Iowa housing and community leaders to develop new resources, tools, services, partnerships, and streamlined processes that go beyond traditional funding models. Up to $200,000 in state funding is available through the competition, with individual proposals eligible for awards of up to $100,000 to launch pilot initiatives with the potential for long-term impact and expansion.
Greater Dubuque Development’s proposed project, Preventing Homelessness by Reducing Barriers to Participation in Job Training Programs, is designed to sustainably prevent and alleviate homelessness by reducing barriers to job training for living-wage, high-demand careers. By providing rental assistance to individuals earning a career pathway certificate through Northeast Iowa Community College, the pilot would give households living paycheck to paycheck the support necessary to upskill or reskill toward self-sufficiency.
The project would build upon the nationally recognized Opportunity Dubuque program, Greater Dubuque Development’s collaborative job-training initiative developed in partnership with Northeast Iowa Community College in response to local employers’ need for a skilled workforce. Through the program, individuals complete industry-driven certifications that can launch careers while helping local employers meet their demand for talent in high-wage, high-demand fields. Opportunity Dubuque currently covers tuition and various associated costs, such as transportation and class supplies, for eligible participants. These supports significantly reduce barriers for households seeking to improve their skills and incomes.
For many households, however, housing is the largest monthly expense—and therefore one of the greatest barriers to entering a training program. People at risk of homelessness due to low wages or underemployment may not have the financial capacity to participate. When a household is already living paycheck to paycheck, any interruption in wages could lead to eviction or a transition from sheltered to unsheltered homelessness. Adding rental assistance to Opportunity Dubuque’s suite of participant supports could provide the stability needed to complete training and move into a higher-paying career.
Beyond preventing and alleviating homelessness, the proposed pilot is uniquely positioned to strengthen workforce participation and support population growth in the Greater Dubuque region. Iowa Workforce Development identifies Health Care and Social Assistance, Educational Services, and Construction as the state’s three industries with the greatest projected long-term growth from 2024 through 2034. Each is currently or has historically been represented among Northeast Iowa Community College’s Career Pathway Certificate programs supported by Opportunity Dubuque.
Greater Dubuque Development and its fellow finalists will pitch their projects from 2:00 to 4:45 p.m. on September 9 at the 2026 HousingIowa Conference in Des Moines, Iowa. A panel of expert judges will select the winning project or projects.
For questions about Greater Dubuque Development’s proposal, contact Hannah Lyons, Project Manager, at hannahl@greaterdubuque.org or 563-557-9049.