Home Base Iowa Community Established: July 2015
Polk County
Ankeny

Home Base Iowa (HBI) communities offer valuable incentives for veterans who relocate to their community. Please contact the community point of contact or county veteran director for more information.
In Ankeny, incentives include:
- Discounted drop-in daycare for visiting veterans
- Free hotel stay for visiting/interviewing veterans and a discount on long-term hotel stays
- Discounted realtor fees for new home purchases
- Discount on health club membership
- Des Moines Area Community College benefits (DMACC in Ankeny)
Home Base Iowa Community Established: June 2016
Bondurant

Home Base Iowa (HBI) communities offer valuable incentives for veterans who relocate to their community. Please contact the community point of contact or county veteran director for more information.
In Bondurant, incentives include:
- Each veteran that visits Bondurant will receive a “Welcome Bag” from the Chamber of Commerce.
- A community representative will arrange for a community tour and facilitate arranging meetings with various service providers in the community.
- Ten percent reduction in building permit fees.
- Access to the Polk County Veterans Affairs at Camp Dodge in Building 3465 in nearby Johnston.
- The VA Central Iowa Health Care System operates a Veterans Health Administration medical facility in Des Moines with a Community Based Outpatient Clinic located in Marshalltown, which is 37 miles away from Bondurant.
Home Base Iowa Community Established: February 2017
Des Moines

Home Base Iowa (HBI) communities offer valuable incentives for veterans who relocate to their community. Please contact the community point of contact or county veteran director for more information.
In Des Moines, incentives include:
- Annual pass for up to five immediate family members to Park and Recreation Community Recreation Centers.
- Waived one-time $40 fee for a new trash bin.
- In-home smoke detector inspection from Des Moines Fire Department. Free smoke detector installation for homes without smoke detectors.
- One free pet license.
- Personal 30 minute resume review session with city’s Human Resources professional staff.
- All veterans are welcome to sign up for a library card at the Des Moines Public Library and can be connected with the many free available resources at the City’s six library locations and online.
- One-on-one personal coaching session with Community Development staff on how to participate in the city’s tax abatement opportunities.
Home Base Iowa Community Established: June 2017
Grimes

Home Base Iowa (HBI) communities offer valuable incentives for veterans who relocate to their community. Please contact the community point of contact or county veteran director for more information.
In Grimes, incentives include:
- Home Base Iowa benefits offered by the City of Grimes to their residents shall be in the form of vouchers granted one-time to each honorably discharged veteran applicant to help offset the cost of building permits, parks and rec programming and pet licenses. The value of the voucher shall be $250.
Johnston

Home Base Iowa (HBI) communities offer valuable incentives for veterans who relocate to their community. Please contact the community point of contact or county veteran director for more information.
In Johnston, incentives include:
- Many retail, service and dining discounts at Johnston-area businesses.
Home Base Iowa Community Established: March 2015
Pleasant Hill

Home Base Iowa (HBI) communities offer valuable incentives for veterans who relocate to their community. Please contact the community point of contact or county veteran director for more information.
In Pleasant Hill, incentives include:
- Free individual membership for first year (Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce).
- Discount on any purchase at Over the Top.
- Discount on monthly membership dues at Anytime Fitness in Pleasant Hill.
- Discount on labor charges at Performance Plus.
- Military rate during stay at Sleep Inn & Suites.
- Free x-rays on initial exam at Access Chiropractic.
- One free park rental (City of Pleasant Hill).
- Discount on permit fee (City of Pleasant Hill).
Home Base Iowa Community Established: February 2017
Urbandale

Home Base Iowa (HBI) communities offer valuable incentives for veterans who relocate to their community. Please contact the community point of contact or county veteran director for more information.
In Urbandale, incentives include:
- When a veteran leases a home or apartment in Urbandale, the City of Urbandale will issue a check for $250 to the veteran to spend on the transition to the community and potentially support health and wellness expenses.
- When a veteran purchases a home in Urbandale, the City of Urbandale will issue a check for $1,000 to the veteran to help offset the cost for City related services of owning a home-such as the cost of six months of water service, garbage bins, trash collection, in addition to supporting health and wellness expenses; if the veteran previously received $250 for leasing expenses, it would be deducted.
- Complimentary resume review services for veterans and spouses by City of Urbandale Human Resources Department.
- Discounted municipal pool passes and Parks and Recreation Department Programs for one year after veteran/veteran’s family establishes residence in Urbandale.
Home Base Iowa Community Established: May 2016
West Des Moines

Home Base Iowa (HBI) communities offer valuable incentives for veterans who relocate to their community. Please contact the community point of contact or county veteran director for more information.
In West Des Moines, incentives include:
- Veteran Welcome Package
- West Des Moines Parks & Recreation Bucks
- Discounts from local restaurants and shops
- Various military services
Home Base Iowa Community Established: September 2015
Norwalk
Home Base Iowa (HBI) communities offer valuable incentives for veterans who relocate to their community. Please contact the community point of contact or county veteran director for more information.
In Norwalk, Incentives include:
BUSINESS
Up to $5,000 to a veteran or spouse of a veteran who opens a new business or expands an existing one in a commercially zoned area of Norwalk.
FITNESS
One month free and 10% off dues at Anytime Fitness, our 24 hr. fitness center, easy access to the Great Western Trail, and youth sports volunteer opportunities.
FAMILY TIME
$250 in gift certificates to be used for parks and recreation programs, aquatic center entry, or library meeting space rental for birthday parties.
TRANSITION ASSISTANCE
Resume reviewing, job placement assistance with veteran-friendly employers, and(if desired) a Norwalk veteran to assist with the transition.
COMMUNITY PRIDE
Free one-year family activity pass for Norwalk School District events, Norwalk "N" sticker, and a community history tour.
County Veteran Offices

IowaWORKS Centers

IowaWORKS Centers are committed to providing quality employment services to all military service members and their spouses. All veterans and their spouse may be eligible for priority service. Please let a team member know upon check-in of your veteran status. IowaWORKS Centers provide a full range of job/career assistance. Individual services include:
- Career counseling and job search skills development
- Help locating employment and Registered Apprenticeship opportunities
- Academic skill testing and hands-on computer classes
- Creating resumes/cover letters and interview preparation
Iowa National Guard Services

Iowa Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR)

Non-Profit Statewide Veteran Support Organizations

An Introduction to CHAMPs
Iowa's Certified Higher Academic Military Partners (CHAMPs) offer higher education incentives to qualified veterans, their spouses and dependents. Benefits include in-state tuition rates, on-campus support, credit for military courses and special financial considerations.
An Introduction to CHAMPs
Iowa's Certified Higher Academic Military Partners (CHAMPs) offer higher education incentives to qualified veterans, their spouses and dependents. Benefits include in-state tuition rates, on-campus support, credit for military courses and special financial considerations.
There are currently no CHAMPs partners located in this county. Please check surrounding communities for CHAMPs offering online programs.
Home Base Iowa Statewide Veteran Incentives
The Home Base Iowa Act positions Iowa as a leader in respect, support and employment of veterans through a public-private partnership. The Iowa Legislature passed the Act in a broad bi-partisan manner and then Governor Terry E. Branstad signed it into law on Memorial Day, 2014. The Act contains the following incentives:
- Military Pensions exempt from state income tax
- $5,000 grant toward the purchase of a home
- Permissive veteran preference in employment
- Search/view Iowa businesses committed to hiring veterans
- Automatic in-state tuition at state universities and community colleges for qualified veterans and their dependents
- View the complete list state veteran benefits
- 100% disabled veterans can qualify to pay no property tax
Please contact the County Veterans Office or the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs for more information.