For many small businesses in Iowa, understanding and complying with air quality regulations can be confusing, time-consuming, and overwhelming—that’s where the Iowa Air Emissions Assistance Program (IAEAP) comes in. The IAEAP is a trusted, no-cost, confidential resource designed to make environmental compliance easier, clearer, and more manageable.

Under the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, every state is required to establish a Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP). These programs are designed to help small businesses navigate and comply with air quality regulations. In Iowa, the IAEAP fulfills this role and is funded by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Air Quality Bureau. The IAEAP offers free, non-regulatory support to businesses with 100 or fewer employees, serving all industries throughout Iowa’s 99 counties.

The IAEAP Team

The IAEAP is led by Program Manager Jennifer Wittenburg, with support from Jordan Henniges and Dan Nickey. Together, they bring decades of technical expertise and a strong understanding of the real-world challenges that small businesses face. Jennifer and Jordan recently attended the National SBEAP annual training in Salt Lake City, UT, where they had the opportunity to join other SBEAP representatives from 18 different states and refresh their knowledge in the areas of:

• Technical materials
• Small business resources
• Marketing and promotions
• Tools and resources (e.g., AI, online tools created by other states),
• Utah's history/air resources, and how they work together

With additional opportunities for open discussions and state updates, the IAEAP team came away with best practices, new strategies, and the latest tools to not only understand the rules but also know how to make them work for you.

With deep technical knowledge and firsthand insight into small business challenges, the IAEAP team is well-equipped to provide practical, personalized support for Iowa businesses.

Hands-on Help Tailored to Your Business

Whether you operate a manufacturing facility, grain elevator, auto body shop, dry cleaner, printing operation, or other small business, the IAEAP can help you determine what permits you need, what records to keep, and how to complete required reports. Services include:

• Education and guidance on the rules and regulations
• Assistance with permitting, recordkeeping, and reporting
• On-site and virtual one-on-one consultations
• Customized guidance materials and industry-specific resources
• Emissions calculators and web-based compliance tools
• Assistance with Iowa’s web-based application and reporting systems - Iowa Easy Air and SLEIS

The program has supported Iowa small businesses more than 7,500 times since it began.

Practical Tools for Simplified Compliance

The IAEAP continuously develops tools and resources specifically for Iowa’s business sectors and common operations. A few examples include:

• GrainPTE – A streamlined permitting and recordkeeping tool used by more than 800 grain elevators across Iowa.
• Paint Tracker – A user-friendly program that helps facilities track painting/coating operations and meet recordkeeping requirements.
• Emissions Calculators –  Industry- and process-specific calculators to make emissions reporting simpler and more accurate.

The program also offers targeted assistance with the Minor Source Emissions Inventory (MSEI) requirement.

What Iowa Businesses Are Saying

Business owners across Iowa consistently praise the IAEAP for its clarity, professionalism, and real-world support:

The IAEAP has been an extremely valuable resource for our company for a number of years. As a small manufacturing company, I recommend them to any business that lacks a dedicated subject matter expert.

I was confused at the beginning as to what exactly needed to be reported, but after contacting the assistance program, everything was cleared up.

They are an absolute blessing for small businesses. I cannot say enough good things about the help available and the professionalism of the people at IAEAP.

Start with Confidence

Whether you’re trying to determine if your facility needs a permit, calculate your emissions, or stay on top of reporting requirements, the IAEAP is here to help—at no cost. With personalized guidance, accessible tools, and a deep understanding of small business needs, the IAEAP is your go-to partner for air quality compliance in Iowa.

Learn more at iwrc.uni.edu/iaeap or explore national SBEAP resources at nationalsbeap.org.