The lead-based paint hazard reduction (LHR) grant program is to maximize the number of children under the age of six protected from lead poisoning by assisting states, cities, counties/parishes,…

The Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control awarded $1.4 million to Southwest Iowa Planning Council on February 1, 2026, under the Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program (CFDA 14.900) to identify and control lead-based paint hazards in privately-owned housing in the five-county region of southwestern Iowa.

The program targets lead hazard control in housing units where children under age six face greatest risk of lead poisoning, prioritizing pre-1960 and especially pre-1940 construction in low-income and minority neighborhoods. Southwest Iowa Planning Council will employ cost-effective lead hazard control methods, build local capacity of trained and certified individuals and firms to address lead hazards safely, and develop community-based approaches integrating this effort with other local initiatives and public-private partnerships serving low-income families with young children. The program may utilize available Healthy Homes Supplemental funding to comprehensively identify and address other housing hazards affecting occupant health beyond lead-based paint.

Place of performance is Atlantic, Iowa 50022. The award period runs from February 1, 2026, through February 1, 2030.

Activities

Program funds will be awarded to applicants to accomplish the following objectives: a. Targeted units: target lead hazard control efforts in housing units where children less than 6 years of age are at greatest risk of lead poisoning (pre-1960, and, especially, pre-1940 construction), which has historically included children in low-income and minority neighborhoods, to reduce the likelihood of elevated blood lead levels in these children. B. Cost effectiveness: utilize cost-effective lead hazard control methods and approaches that ensure the long-term safety of the building occupants. C. Capacity: build local capacity of trained and certified individuals and firms to address lead hazards safely and effectively during lead hazard control, renovation, remodeling, and maintenance activities. Another core element for capacity includes the development of comprehensive, community-based approaches to integrating this grant program within other local initiatives through public and private partnerships that address housing related health and safety hazards and/or serve low-income families with children under the age of six (6). D. Affirmative marketing: establish and implement a detailed process of monitoring and ensuring that units made lead-safe are affirmatively marketed, and priority given, to families with children under age 6 years for not less than three years. E. Data collection: gather pre- and post-treatment data that supports and validates lead hazard control investments. Program data collected should support the evaluation of grant program activities and outcomes. F. Targeted outreach and education: conducting targeted outreach, affirmative marketing, education or outreach programs on lead hazard control and lead poisoning prevention designed to increase the ability of the applicant to deliver the specified lead hazard control services through this program; including educating owners of eligible rental properties, tenants, and others on the benefits and expectations of participating in this program provided by "title X" of the residential lead-based paint hazard reduction act of 1992.

Expected outcomes

To identify and clean up dangerous lead in low-income families' homes where low-income families were children 6 and under reside. These investments will protect families and children by targeting significant lead and health hazards in over 3,700 low-income homes for which other resources are not available.

Intended beneficiaries

To assist states, cities, counties/parishes, native american tribes or other units of local government in undertaking comprehensive programs to identify and control lead-based paint hazards in eligible privately-owned rental or owner-occupied housing populations were children under 6 reside.

Subrecipient activities

The subrecipient activities are unknown at the time of award.