Poweshiek projects receive grants

Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation gave $192,386 to 33 projects across the county, it announced in April.

The 2024 Poweshiek County Alliance grants will benefit Brooklyn, Deep River, Grinnell, Hartwick, Malcom, Montezuma, Searsboro and other rural areas, the Foundation said.

Brooklyn has six new and continuing projects assisted by Alliance grant funding. BGM Community School District was granted $10,000 to support a playground resurfacing project, and $1,500 was awarded to the BGM Bear’s Closet, which provides students with basic needs.

Brooklyn Public Library will continue its archive digitization project with $2,500 from the Alliance Brooklyn Ruritan Club received $4,200 to add parking and a connecting sidewalk to a building that serves as a meeting and community event venue.

Brooklyn Community Food Bank was awarded $2,717 to expand the program's holiday meal distribution to families for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, and East Poweshiek County Ambulance Service was awarded $4,270.81 to equip responders with extrication coats and body armor.

The Blakely-Stevens Post 169 American Legion in Montezuma received $10,000 for heating, air conditioning and ventilation as the group works toward building a new facility to hold community events.

Montezuma Community Development will use $1,560 to purchase new play structures and renovations for the existing playground equipment in Montezuma's West Park. The Poweshiek County Historical and Genealogical Society will continue renovating with $4,480 to replace several museum windows.

The Montezuma Public Library was awarded $4,000 to offer more engagement opportunities to families. Poweshiek County Extension received $4,000 to expand after-school programming, school enrichment programs, and other educational opportunities for youth of Poweshiek County in grades K-12.

Montezuma Volunteer Firefighters Fundraising Association will receive $9,876 to purchase a mobile water pump unit to extend its services and outfit new volunteer members with properly fitted gear.

The City of Montezuma will use its $9,839.95 to purchase new training materials for the Montezuma Ambulance service and expand the CPR/AED/First-Aid training offerings it provides for surrounding fire departments.

Deep River Fire Department will receive $10,000 to purchase a portable water tank and necessary equipment to for its new brush/tanker truck, and Searsboro Community Fire/EMS Association will use s $7,104.46 to obtain properly fitted gear for the department's new members, two medical bags and an oxygen bag for the department's developing EMS service.

The City of Deep River received $10,000 toward construction of a picnic shelter with a cement floor, and the City of Searsboro will receive a $2,000 grant to update its community center with new tables and chairs.

The City of Hartwick received $4,500 to repair a culvert and improve road safety for community members and farm equipment moving through town, and $2,500 will beautify the city's welcome sign with the planting of perennial grasses, bushes and flowers native to the State.

Northeast Iowa Food Bank will receive $5,000 to support programs in the county that purchase food and grocery products for food-insecure individuals and families.

A grant award of $10,000 will help purchase food and hygiene items for the Malcom Food Pantry to help meet the increased demand for food assistance.

Grinnell Area Arts Council was granted $6,180 to install an ADA-compliant automatic door with a lock system for the Stew Makerspace, and the Grinnell College Museum of Art will receive $2,665 to support Storytime Art in the Park, a summer art and literacy program that includes meals, instructors and free books.

The Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce plans to use $4,300 to enhance its "Home for the Holidays" culture-sharing program.

The Ahrens Park Foundation will soon be purchasing fencing to create a community dog park at Ahrens/Paschall Memorial Park with its award of $10,000.

The Prairie Pointe Pond Association received $2,800 to repair the sidewalk around the pond so the entire Grinnell community will be able to enjoy a safer trail while enjoying the outdoors.

UnityPoint Health-Grinnell Regional Medical Center Foundation received $8,820 in support of the hospital's plans for expanding its labor and delivery unit.

The UCC Community Preschool was granted $4,000 to update its classroom with age-appropriate furniture for students. Older youth will benefit from $3,985 awarded to LINK Grinnell which will support inclusive learning tools for neurodivergent program participants.

Read 2 Lead plans to use its grant of $3,600 to expand Dolly Parton's Imagination Library literacy program across Poweshiek County.

Grinnell Fire Department received $10,000 to purchase equipment such as an IV pump, cardiac monitor and mechanical CPR device to outfit the new ambulance service.

Grinnell United Methodist Church will receive $10,000 toward replacing a commercial oven in the church used to prepare the Grinnell Community Meal, and Local Foods Connection was awarded $5,988 to update software so it can continue meeting the needs of Poweshiek County’s producers and consumers.

PCA grants are available annually to nonprofits and public entities serving residents of Poweshiek County. This year, the PCA Grant Committee received 43 applications requesting a total of $324,000.

A 12-member committee comprised of community members allocated money from five granting funds: Poweshiek County Alliance Fund, Community Fund for Poweshiek County, Carl and Joann Orr Fund, Brooklyn Community Fund and Montezuma Community Fund.

The Poweshiek County Alliance Fund is an endowed fund designated by the Iowa Legislature to receive an annual portion of gambling revenues to support nonprofit organizations addressing the needs of Poweshiek County.

The Community Fund for Poweshiek County was created in 2009 to provide grants to nonprofits and public entities dedicated to serving the county area.

The Carl and Joann Orr Fund has been aiding women, children and other at-risk community members within the Grinnell area since 2017.

Nineteen of the projects will receive 100% of the amount requested. Eight were funded at $10,000, the maximum allowable amount.

Individuals who wish to support the Poweshiek County Alliance Fund, Community Fund for Poweshiek County, Carl and Joann Orr Fund, Brooklyn Community Fund, or Montezuma Community Fund may contact Blanchard or Nicole Brua-Behrens, Executive Director at GPCF, mail checks to GPCF, P.O. Box 344, Grinnell, IA, 50112, or donate online at www.greaterpcf.org.