UpLift | Central Iowa
Launched in February 2023.
UpLift is a community-wide collaborative learning opportunity to study the impacts of a basic income on central Iowan residents. This study is the first basic income pilot to incorporate metropolitan, micropolitan, and rural geographies into one study area. CGIR is executing a Randomized Control Trial (RCT) where 110 residents across the tri-county study area of Dallas, Polk, and Warren counties receive $500 a month for a 24-month period. 140 residents were selected as a part of the control group to compare health, well-being, and financial security outcomes to understand the impact of receiving a basic income.
Community-based organizations have been integral to the development of this pilot including informing the eligibility guidelines of being a resident of the tri-county study area, having at least one dependent in the household up to age 25 years, and being at or below 60% of the Area Median Income. This project is supported through a public/private/corporate partnership of 11 funding organizations with the specific goal to use the research findings to inform the community’s resource investment and policy discussions regarding more effective poverty-reduction strategies.
Funding partners include Mid-Iowa Health Foundation, Principal Foundation, Wells Fargo Foundation, Bank of America Foundation, The Director’s Council, Telligen Community Initiative, United Way of Central Iowa, City of Des Moines, City of Urbandale, City of Windsor Heights, and Polk County. Local research partners include The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement at Drake University and the Des Moines University Department of Public Health.