25 groups and communities share almost $150,000 in Floyd County Foundation grants

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

Just a few dollars shy of $150,000 was awarded in grants Wednesday evening at the annual Floyd County Community Foundation awards ceremony. Twenty-five organizations or communities in the county shared $149,997.74 in grants from the proceeds from the Foundation’s endowments.

Foundation committee member Randy Heitz was emcee for the event. He said the Foundation committee “works to support Floyd County nonprofits and government entities through our grant-making, the development of permanent endowments, participation in programing funded by the Community Foundation, and by advocacy for long-term financial support to our communities in the county.”

He said he was positive the projects that received funding Wednesday evening would have long-term effects in the communities, and would expand the organizations’ and communities’ abilities to provide services to county residents.

Governing committee Chair Amy Staudt added, “The Floyd County Community Foundation is honored to provide grant funding to these organizations in support of the work they are doing throughout Floyd County to better communities for all.

Awards are given in six categories: art and culture, community betterment, education and youth development, environment and animal welfare, health, and human service.

The grant ceremony was held at Youth Enrichment Center at the Floyd County Fairgrounds. Receiving grants were:

Arts & Culture

• Charles City Arts Council, improving access to the arts – $3,835.55.
• Floyd County Fair Society, Reptile Adventure at this year’s fair– $10,000.
• Floyd County Historical Society and Museum, exterior masonry work on the museum, phase one – $10,000.
• Floyd County Quilts of Valor, Quilts of Valor quilting supplies – $4,000.
• Marble Rock Historical Society, bringing another one-room schoolhouse into the museum’s collection – $10,000.

Community Betterment

• City of Colwell, new flags, poles and holders throughout the city – $1,000.
• City of Floyd, Floyd Community Center improvements – $1,335.
• City of Rockford, Rockford West Park Improvement Phase I, including better access – $9,700.
• Floyd County Sheriff’s Department K9 Program – $5,000.
• Marble Rock Fire Department, final amount needed for fire engine replacement – $10,000.
• Nora Springs Park Cemetery Association, repairs to cemetery entrance – $8,500.
• North Cedar Aviation Authority, replace large sign that was damaged in wind – $8,000.
• Rudd Community Fire Service, replacement air packs – $10,000.

Education & Youth Development

• Central Springs Ag Ed Boosters Inc., purchase curriculum and lab materials – $10,000.
• City of Charles City, Foster Grandparent Program, in-service supplies and materials for AmeriCorps Seniors – $4,000.
• City of Charles City, Library, board game collection expansion for game activities– $1,000.
• Floyd County ISU Extension and Outreach, expansion of space for meetings and programming – $4,000.
• Immaculate Conception Church/School, IC Elementary School playground equipment purchase– $5,000.
• TLC: The Learning Center, Friends of the TLC, greenspace playground equipment for each age group – $5,000.

Environment & Animal Welfare

• Floyd County Humane Society, PAWS, expansion of canine public microchipping program – $1,649.

Health

• Avalon Center, telebehavioral health project – $10,000.

Human Service

• Elderbridge Agency on Aging, increasing client assistance and emergency assistance – $5,000.
• Lutheran Services in Iowa, Floyd County Healthy Families lowa – $1,500.
• Northeast Iowa Food Bank, helping support food insecure families in Floyd County – $6,478.19.
• Trinity United Methodist Church, Charles City, Our Brothers Keeper program – $5,000.

Decisions on grant awards are determined by a local governing committee, which for the 2022 awards consisted of Amy Staudt, Randy Heitz, Sue Bortz, Kurt Hoeft, Tracy Merfeld, Teresa Stevens-Marth, Lisa Garden, Jane Larson, Sarah Murray, Erika Troyna, Amy Leeman, Melissa Jones and Jen Burton, and administrative assistant Marcie Andrews.

Grants applicants must be a 501(c)(3) designated organization or government entity serving Floyd County in order to be considered for funding. More information including grant guidelines can be found at www.floydccf.org.