PAWS & More awarded over $2 million in WCRF grant money

KEOTA — PAWS & More Animal Shelter Director Amber Talbot experienced a “dream come true” as the Washington County Riverboat Foundation announced the 2024 Spring Competitive Grant recipients and awarded the shelter over $2 million.

The WCRF 2024 spring grant cycle awarded a total of $3,614,233 to two dozen organizations including $2,405,760 to PAWS & More Animal Shelter for their impending building project.

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“The Washington County Riverboat Foundation is proud to be the naming sponsor of the Washington County Riverboat Foundation PAWS & More Animal Shelter,” Board President Stephanie Sexton announced at their board meeting Wednesday night in Keota as representatives of the shelter shed tears of joy.

According to one representative of the animal shelter expressed their gratitude for the grant after the organization’s hard work of saving up nearly $1 million themselves to meet a need for a new facility as their current building’s foundation is crumbling.

According to PAWS & More Board Chair Cara Sorrells says their next steps will be to meet with their architecture and engineering company to finalize plans and “start breaking ground as soon as we can.”

The hope is to break ground in spring 2025, though they are still in the very beginning phases.

Between celebratory hugs, PAWS & More Executive Director Amber Talbot stated that receiving this grant is “overwhelming, but in a good way. It is shocking and wonderful. It’s like our dream come true.”

“It’s not just an animal shelter,” Sorrells commented. “It’s a community resource. “We have a small free pantry right now and we will be able to do so much more with that.”

Talbot anticipates PAWS & More expanding the ways they already support pet owners with a new facility.

“By supporting people, we help keep pets with their families,” Talbot explained.

According to Sexton, this grant will be paid over one and half years due to the length of the project and amount granted.

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“WCRF is pleased to be a significant part of helping nonprofit organizations and local governments complete important projects that make Washington County, Iowa a better place to live and work,” WCRF commented in a statement following the announcement of the grants. “WCRF is the 501c (4) nonprofit affiliate and gaming license holder for the Riverside Casino & Golf Resort.”

WCRF 2024 Spring Grant Recipients

Recipients listed from largest to smallest awards

$2,405,760 PAWS & More Animal Shelter for new building

$449,578 Washington County Emergency Management Agency for outdoor warning sirens

$414,285 Washington County Hospital Foundation for Kalona Clinic

$49,502 Immanuel Lutheran Church for exterior upgrades

$36,200 City of Keota for Aquatic Center safety/lighting

$35,000 WACO Community Schools for WACO Elementary playground improvements

$34,330 Lake Darling Youth Center, Inc. for Cook’s Cabin Replacement

$22,476 Washington County Emergency Management Agency for county schools stop the bleed kits

$20,000 N-Compass, Inc. for Iowa Project AWARE 2024

$17,451 Washington County Sheriffs Office for Special Response Team Equipment

$16,245 Kalona Public Library Foundation, Inc. for indoor and outdoor projects

$15,000 Golf for Injured Veterans Everywhere Foundation for GIVE Foundation

$14,000 Lone Tree Community School for weight room refurbishment

$13,335 Lone Tree Historical Society for facility upgrades

$11,690 Wayland Area Childcare Organization for Little Me & Company startup support

$11,620 Youth Sports Foundation for youth equipment replacement

$10,375 Saint James Elementary School and Parish for a stair lift

$9,811 Washington County Ambulance for video laryngoscopy acquisition

$8,000 Mt. Pleasant Fire and Rescue for radio upgrades

$7,500 Girls on the Run Eastern Iowa for Girls on the Run Iowa 5K registration fees

$4,350 Community and Family Resources for Washington County office furnishings

$3,500 Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival, Inc. for American flags on display

$3,000 Washington County Fair Association, Inc. for motocross lights

$1,225 Wellman Volunteer Ambulance for Wellman Volunteer Ambulance equipment

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com