By Samantha Ludeking, Driftless Journal Production Manager
The Winneshiek County Community Foundation (WCCF) held its grant awards celebration at Luther College’s Dahl Centennial Union March 23, highlighting the impacts of WCCF’s 2022 grant awards and announcing the distribution of $156,840.14 to 23 projects of organizations serving Winneshiek County through its 2023 grant cycle.
“It’s an honor for the Winneshiek County Community Foundation to support these local nonprofits in their work to strengthen our communities and make them great places for all to live, work and play,” said Joe Skretta, chair of the WCCF committee.
The 2023 grant recipient organizations, project the grant will fund and grant amount is listed by funding area.
Arts & Culture – ArtHaus,Outdoor Spaces Renovation, $5,500; Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce,Impact Crater Marker & Placebased Science, $5,000; Winneshiek County Agricultural Association,Handicap and Safety Improvements, $20,000.
Community Betterment – City of Calmar, Basketball Hoops, $4,400; City of Decorah, Parks Department – Swimming Pool Diving Board, $5,000; City of Spillville, Library – Technology Upgrade, $1,800; Decorah Volunteer Fire Dept Association, Drone Dropping Support, $4,149; Fort Atkinson Firefighter’s Association, 2023 Fire Station Standby Generator, $9,500; Protivin Community Fire District, In-Floor Heating, $3,000; Winneshiek County – Auditor, Emergency Management – MegaGo, $4,000; Winneshiek Energy District, Bringing Electric Vehicle Charging to Winneshiek County, $19,997.
Education & Youth Development – Helping Services for Youth & Families,Youth Mentoring at Helping Services, $5,000; Toys Go ‘Round Toy Lending Library, We’ve Got the Toys, $5,772; Winneshiek County 4-H Foundation – Pinebluff 4-H Camp, Pine Bluff Kitchen Appliance Replacement, $4,500.
Environment & Animal Welfare – Humane Society of Northeast Iowa, Outdoor Yard Renovations for Safer Work Environment and Increased Law Enforcement Support, $6,000; Iowa Driftless of Trout Unlimited, Casey Springs Creek, $6,000; Seed Savers Exchange,Trail Wayfinding Signage, $5,000.
Health – Aase Haugen Senior Services, Equipment to Serve the Needs of Seniors, $6,380; Calmar Senior Club, Calmar Senior Center Rejuvenation, $4,610; and Winneshiek Medical Center Foundation, Patient Satisfaction – Vein Finder, $10,258 .
Human Service – Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging, Winneshiek County Congregate and Home Delivered Meals FY24, $7,474.14; Northeast Iowa Food Bank, Feeding Families, $6,000; Riverview Center, Winneshiek County Sexual Assault Crisis Response Program, $7,500.
Decisions on grant awards are determined by a local committee, which consists of volunteers from Winneshiek County. Committee members include: Dianne Ameling, Jeannie Boyer, Tracy Dostal, Nate Ersig, Terry Haindfield, Lilly Jensen, Chelsey Kephart, Mark Kuhn, Marcia McKelvey, Emily Mineart, Keith Newhouse, Jana Olson and Joe Skretta (chair). Grants are awarded through WCCF’s competitive grant process to projects in the program areas of arts and culture, community betterment, education and youth development, environment and animal welfare, health and human service. Grant applicants must be a 501(c)(3) designated organization or government entity serving Winneshiek County in order to be considered for funding.
More information about the WCCF can be found online at www.winneshiekccf.org.
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