Invest DSM is a City of Des Moines program that gives real grant money to homeowners, block teams, and business owners in designated Special Investment Districts — no lottery, no waitlist, rolling applications.
Invest DSM programs are only available to properties inside the seven Special Investment Districts. Check your address first — it takes 30 seconds.
District boundaries are precise — don't assume. Use the official checker below to confirm your property qualifies before investing time in an application.
The official property eligibility map lets you search any Des Moines address and see which programs it qualifies for.
Check My Property Visit investdsm.orgFrom organizing your block to renovating a commercial building — there's a program designed for your situation. All are reimbursement-based and require a signed grant agreement before any work begins.
Bring 5 to 19 households together on the same block and unlock matching grants for everyone. The more income-qualified neighbors participate, the higher the match rate.
For business and property owners renovating commercial spaces. Higher match rates available for exterior work done in collaboration with an Invest DSM artist.
Grants for homeowners to improve and repair their property. No credit check, no income requirements. Must include an exterior component — the goal is visible neighborhood improvement.
Not ready to renovate yet? This grant covers upfront planning costs — architects, engineers, drawings, permits — so you can plan the project without taking the financial risk alone.
Community Development Block Grant programs through the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Pocket Parks funding can transform an unused lot into a neighborhood gathering space.
For all programs — do not start any physical work until you have a signed grant agreement in hand. Projects started before approval are not eligible for reimbursement. Schedule your pre-application meeting first at css.dmgov.org.
Five steps from idea to reimbursement check. The hardest part is finding neighbors or picking a project — the paperwork is manageable.
Go to investdsm.org/properties/ and type in your address. This confirms which Special Investment District you're in and which programs you can access. Don't skip this — district lines are specific.
Homeowner? Block Challenge or Homeowner Renovation. Business owner? Commercial Grant or Pre-Development. Organizing a community lot? CDBG Pocket Parks. Not sure? Call 515-283-4151 and they'll point you in the right direction.
Commercial applicants must schedule a pre-application meeting at css.dmgov.org before submitting. Block Challenge applicants need to recruit 5–19 households on the same block and designate a team captain who submits the group application.
Submit your application. Once reviewed and approved, you'll receive a grant agreement to sign. This document is your green light.
All Invest DSM grants are reimbursement-based — you pay for the work, then submit receipts and photos to get reimbursed. Block Challenge projects have a 120-day completion window once the group agreement is signed.
Invest DSM isn't a promise — it's a track record. Over 825 completed projects across Des Moines neighborhoods. Every dollar of grant money has catalyzed additional private investment from the people who know these blocks best: the people who live and work on them.
The program expanded in May 2025, adding Union Park and North of Grand/Woodland Heights — meaning more Des Moines families now have access to these programs than ever before.
Real example: The Jordan Weber mural at Universal Kutz — made possible through Invest DSM's commercial exterior program — is the kind of block-defining work the program was designed to fund. Public art, real money, lasting neighborhood impact.
Everything you need to take the next step — official links, email, phone, and address.
525 SW 5th St, Suite F
Des Moines, IA 50309
Theresa Greenfield
Since August 2025
Last day of every month
Rolling monthly — no single cutoff
Not sure where to start? Fill this out and we'll help point you toward the right program. This form does not submit anything to the City of Des Moines — it's just a way to think through your situation.