REAP stands for Resource Enhancement and Protection. It is a program in the State of Iowa that invests in, as its name implies, the enhancement and protection of the state's natural and cultural resources. Iowa is blessed with a diverse array of natural and cultural resources, and REAP is likewise diverse and far reaching. Depending on the individual programs, REAP provides money for projects through state agency budgets or in the form of grants. Several aspects of REAP also encourage private contributions that help accomplish program objectives.
REAP is funded from the state's Environment First Fund (Iowa gaming receipts) and from the sale of the natural resource license plate. The program is authorized to receive $20 million per year until 2026, but the state legislature sets the amount of REAP funding every year. This year REAP was appropriated $12 million. When you add license plate and interest income, its total budget is about $12.5 million. These funds go into eight different programs based upon a percentages that are specified in the law. These percentages, or what many people call the REAP formula, are shown in the following pie chart.
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The following four state agencies administer REAP programs: