HCCF helps finance 51 projects

Howard County - Fifty-one local organizations can continue doing good things for their communities with $99,750 worth of grant money from Howard County Community Foundation.

The non-profits received their funds at an event at Lime Springs Community Center on April 4.

Project Manager Dottie Thompson told those gathered the Northeast Iowa Community Foundation is the host foundation for Howard County Community Foundation, which gives out the grants. “You have a dedicated committee. They are a great group of folks.”

Committee member Mark Meirick recognized Dawn Fairbanks, who has been chair for several years and on the board since it began in 2006. This is her last year on the committee.

Organizations are welcome to apply for the grants in seven different categories.

 

Art and Culture

• Cresco Theatre and Opera House received $1,000 for some updates to the Champlin Hall kitchen.

• Lime Springs Library received $1,000 for children and adult programming for 2019.

 

Community Betterment

• American Legion Post 135 for Boy Scout Troop 63. Jim Perry said the Legion has been sponsoring the troop for over 75 years. The $1,200 grant will go toward Nick Dietzenbach’s Eagle Scout Project, a GaGa Ball Pit at Evans Park. Dietzenbach explained it was a game like dodge ball, but with the balls staying on the ground.

• Chester/Lime Springs Community Center received $1,500 for cement replacement. Chris Keller said the sidewalks in front will now have no trip hazards.

• Chester Partners in Progress is getting new picnic tables made of recycled plastic in the park. The grant was for $1,800.

• Chester Softball received $2,000 in playground equipment. Keller noted the old swing sets had been there since the high school was torn down, around 1970.

• Cresco-Area Chamber received $1,000 for downtown flagpole enhancement. Jason Passmore said some of the project will add brackets so more flags can be displayed.

• Howard County Business & Tourism’s website gets a ton of traffic said Passmore. “The biggest thing is the rental/housing page.” One thousand dollars was given for improvements.

• Kessel Park Ball Field will get some fencing. The AAU leagues are getting bigger, and the park is getting used more and more. The $1,000 will be a huge improvement to the field.

 

 

 

• Elma Library is getting some computer upgrades. Librarian Renee Burke explained Macs would be replacing PCs with the $3,000 grant. “I turned my computer on, and the screen was black. I shut it off and turned it back on, and it worked, so this came just in time!”

• Lime Springs Community Center was awarded $1,000 for new doors.

• Lime Springs Ball Park will be able to make some improvements, including fixing some buildings with the $1,000 grant.

• The Lime Springs Pool guard shack will be able to resurface the floor with its grant of $1,000.

• Cresco Wildlife Club, one of the sponsors of Clay Crushers Trapshooting team will get $1,000 for trap throwers The team started with 30 kids last year and has around  48 this year.

• Driftrunners Snowmobile Club asked for funds to make building improvements at the fairgrounds. They include the floor and insulation for $1,450.

• Riceville Public Library received $3,000 for an upgrade to the circulation desk. Some projects include the desk, computer, carts and more.

• Howard County EMS received $3,000, which will allow individuals to take First Responder classes this fall. Give them a call at Regional Health Services of Howard County if interested!

• Lime Springs Community Club is purchasing solar lighting for the welcome signs. The grant totalled $1,000.

• Riceville Community Club received $3,000 for new playground equipment at City Park.

• The Wapsi-Great Western Line trail will get directional signage and informational bulletin board cases with its grant of $3,000.

• VFW Post 4561 is remodeling the community bathroom and getting new flooring. Nate Thorson said,  “The VFW is not just a place for old guys to tell war stories. It gets rented out.” That project received $3,000.

• Youth RAP (Riceville Athletic Program) will receive $3,000 for a septic system with running water. “No more porta potties,” Shary Ebert joked.

 

Education

• Elma Early Childhood Center is receiving $2,100 for equipment and supplies.

• Crestwood Elementary will purchase some virtual reality goggles and other technology for elementary students with its award of $1,500.

• The Howard-Winneshiek Early Childhood Development Center will get $2,250 to enhance the natural playground and put in a hard surface for its trike track.

• The Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame will be able to update its website to feature inductee profiles. The project received $1,000.

• Notre Dame School received $2,620 for security door mechanisms for active shooter situations.

• Riceville School’s art department will use its $2,500 for a technology grant.

• Trinity Catholic School will be able to get five i-Pads and more for an online education assessment. The grant totalled $2,100.

 

Environment

• The City of Protivin will receive $3,000 to help clean  up the flood zone. Representative Chris Shimek explained there are woods on the east and west sides of town. By cleaning them up, it should help with some flooding.

• Lime Springs/Chester Fish & Game Club received $3,000 to construct a handicap-accessible dock.

• Upper Iowa River Alliance is making a video to capture the scenic areas and wildlife along the Upper Iowa River. The organization was awarded $1,000.

 

Health

• American Red Cross received $1,000 to rent the Riceville Community Center for blood drives in 2019.

• Evans Memorial Home was awarded $1,000 to help with hosting CNA classes and related equipment.

• RHSHC will be able to use the $2,000 grant towards chemotherapy and infusion services.

• The Health Office at Riceville Community School will be updated and purchase crisis buckets and recovery beds with the $1,250 received. Nurse Michelle Berentsen joked the office has not changed its look since she attended school.

 

Historic Preservation

• Conservation received $3,000 to purchase storm windows for the WGWL Trail welcome center in Riceville.

• Howard-Winneshiek Genealogical Society is currently digitizing the Cresco newspapers and is working on getting funds for Lime Springs, Elma and Riceville. The organization received $2,000.

• The Norman Borlaug Heritage Foundation received $3,000 to put wood shingles on the Borlaug birthplace home roof.

• Pleasant Hill Cemetery will restore the cemetery sign with the $1,000 awarded. Representative Ed Hampe joked he has been on the organization since he moved to the area. “And there is only one way to get off the board . . . [become a resident of the property]!”

 

Human Service

• Friends of the Family received $1,000 for safe shelter and housing stability for those in need, including human trafficking or domestic abuse victims.

• Chester Fire & Rescue will purchase newer turnout gear with its grant of $3,000.

• Cresco Fire Department will get a portable combination extrication tool for the $3,000 it received. Kip Powers noted, “The battery-operated equipment will be good. It isn’t just vehicles that we need it for.”

• Lime Springs Fire Department is using its $3,000 for radio replacement.

• Protivin Fire Department will purchase rope and litter rescue equipment with the $3,000 grant. Chris Shimek said fire departments are going on fewer fire calls, so they need to purchase different equipment for other emergencies.

• Elma Fire Department is replacing its thermal imaging camera with its $3,000 grant.

• Youth Mentoring at Helping Services will use the $1,280 award for background checks on potential mentors, recruitment and mentoring activities.

• Mike Knipp of Northeast Iowa Food Bank said the $3,000 received for the Howard County BackPack Program will help purchase food for kids to take home over the weekend. “There are about 300 kids in Howard County who are food insecure. This will help them stay nourished.”

• Riceville Community Daycare will receive $3,000 to enhance the one-year-old room.

• Sister Donna McPhail is the Elf Shop in Riceville. She received $1,200 to purchase items for children and families in need.

Thompson said there are always lots of applications and many decisions for the committee to make. Members include Fairbanks, Alice Back, Jeff Burnikel, Brooke Cray, Shirley Ferguson, Elaine Govern, Meirick, Carla Moser, Kip Powers, Brad Shatek and Dave Sovereign.

All of these projects are a benefit to the communities in which they are located.