DES MOINES — The Iowa Finance Authority unveiled the list of 11 cities to be named as “Thriving Communities” for 2024 yesterday, and both Oskaloosa and Knoxville were among the communities to receive recognition.

The Iowa Thriving Communities program is a newly established grant program from the state designed to encourage housing development. Cities recognized by the program receive various tax benefits related to the development of housing, including Federal Housing Tax Credits and Workforce Housing Tax Credits.

The IFA said that Oskaloosa and Knoxville, in addition to the 9 other communities listed, “will serve as models for other communities on both a statewide and national level in attracting housing development for all income levels.”

The other communities to be recognized by the IFA were Cedar Rapids, Charles City, Creston, Dubuque, Jefferson, Manning, Muscatine, Stanton, and West Des Moines.