$4.2 million awarded at foundation ceremony

      The middle of a cornfield on a cold January night was the furthest thing from the minds of the guests that turned out to the Riverside Casino and Golf Resort to mark the awards of the first grants by the Washington County Riverboat Foundation. Speakers reminded the guests that that was exactly what there was on the ground they now occupied, a short two years ago.

      To make the awards of the first grants that were provided to Washington County non-profits by casino revenues, the Riverboat Foundation board members wanted to go all out with a $20,000 extravaganza. That is exactly what they got in the casino's events center last night.

      At the semi-formal event held within the facility that provided the money that made the grants possible, board members gave large presentation checks to the entities that received part of the $4.2 million that the board voted to award in December. A photo opportunity was given for the recipients to pose with the large novelty checks the board presented. In many of the cases, the awards are being given over several years.

      "Our treasurer is getting writer's cramp from signing so many checks," Board President Tim Putney commented from the podium of the ornate dining hall to the over 200 guests that attended. He went on to say that the people of Washington County made the grants possible when they voted to allow the casino to locate in the county.

      As representatives for the 39 groups being awarded grants came up, each posed with the board representative from the area of the county they were from. The activity center in Wellman received the highest grant of $2 million, followed by the Washington Free Public Library, which was awarded $1 million. The other projects, including cities, schools, public safety entities, and community projects all had their turns on stage.

      Putney also commented that the foundation awards 25 percent of the money it collects from the casino to the cities in Washington County based on population. The nine cities in the county have received $175,000 since the casino opened in September.

      "This is an exciting time for Washington County," Putney said. "I can't wait to see the outcome of all of these projects and the good that they will bring around the county and the impact they will have on our communities."

      The board received 70 grant applications that equaled over $9 million in requests to select from. Putney hopes more groups will take advantage of the next application process. The Riverboat Foundation, the license-holder for the casino, is expected to receive $3.2 million annually.

      It was also announced that the new face on the board would be a familiar face for Washington County resident. Jim Logan, a 30-year Washington businessman, was appointed to be the administrative assistant for the board.

      Logan, who had retired out of state, said he is looking forward to the opportunity to return to his native Washington. He begins the new position on Monday.

      "I was looking for something that I could do part-time, but also something that I could do that would allow me to interact with people," Logan said. "I think this is going to be a positive for the community."

      Board member Faye Vittetoe, who sat on the selection committee, said the board had received many applications, but it was Logan's enthusiasm that made him stand out above the rest.

      "You could just see the enthusiasm during the application process," she said.

      Logan is expected to work 20 hours per week, with an annual salary of under $20,000, doing board work. His duties include preparing agendas and minutes as well as being an outreach person and a spokesperson for the board. While Logan says the board had discussed his position requiring four half-days in the foundation's new office, he is not sure yet if that will be enough time to perform his duties. If need be, he said, he is willing to work additional hours.

      The job Logan sees himself doing as the foundation progresses is to be available to the whole county to discuss requirements for applying for grants and to follow up with grant recipients. He said office hours would be set in the near future.