$120,000 awarded to non-profit groups for projects in Winneshiek County

The Winneshiek County Community Foundation's Grant Distribution Committee is awarding $120,000 to 30 grant projects by non-profit agencies in Winneshiek County.  The awards were selected from 70 applications requesting over $567,000.

The Winneshiek County Grant Distribution Committee includes WCCF members Jerry Freund, Andy VanDerMatten, Lorraine Borowski, Ron Taylor & Dick Guilgot; community representatives Dave Riha, Ferneva Brimacomb, John Logsdon, Don Arendt, Connie McCasland, Michael T. Klimesh, Chris Bodensteiner, Jude Zweibohmer, Helen Pinter, Robert Freidhof and Al Becker. 

The non-profit organizations receiving the funding are:

• Decorah Volunteer Fire Department: $4,800 to purchase rescue equipment usable in all aspects of fire service
• Northeast Iowa RSVP: $2,705 for monthly newsletter, presidential volunteer service awards, & tax season support
• Aase Haugen Homes, Inc.: $1,500 to initiate a program of continued education for staff  with inservices, workshops, and a resource library
• Ossian Little League: $7,500 for Little League Ball Diamond Improvements, repairing/replacing dugouts; sustaining a retaining wall; removing & refurbishing bleachers.
• Calmar Public Library: $2,000 to replace two public use computers at the library.
• Fort Atkinson Library: $2,000 to acquire circulation software system that provides card catalog to be available online
• City of Castalia: $3,625 for white vinyl fencing project to replace existing fence on south side of park with a two-rail vinyl fence.
• North Winn Physical Education Department: $2,500 for 'Heart Rate Monitors' to help students understand their level of fitness and to develop a healthy lifestyle.
• Northeast Iowa Food Bank: $4,000 to provide free weekend food for hungry Winneshiek County students
• Decorah Public Library: $2,000 for upgrading their copy machine with one that is multifunctional
• Winneshiek County Trail Twisters: $2,500 for Snowmobile Trail Safety Improvement Project, putting up road signs & directional references to improve safety of snowmobile riders
• Calmar Commercial Club: $1,670 for Calmar Bike Trail Project Phase II. Install street lighting along trail & construct a lighted arch as an entrance marker to the trail.
• Eastern Star Nursing Home $1,500 to employ art therapist to work with residents to help develop an alternative form of communication
• Fort Atkinson Little League: $10,000 to build concession stand next to community ball field.
• Ossian De Sales School: $4,000 to purchase & install new playground equipment for children in K-6th grade.
• South Winn Area Community Group: $6,000 to keep up with requirements for safer fireworks displays; ignite fireworks shells from a safe distance
• Ossian Fire Department: $10,000 to purchase gear that firefighters wear when responding to fires, accidents, & other emergencies.
• Fort Atkinson Fire Department: $3,000 to replace front walk-in door, electric door openers, light fixture, ceiling tile, & meeting room carpet.
• Decorah Parks & Recreation: $5,000 for Pulpit Rock Campground Road & Trail Resurface.  Apply 3 inches of asphalt paving over a section of the campground road system.
• Friends of Fort Atkinson: $7,000 for storage shed upgrade on fort grounds to house a Conestoga Wagon.
• Winneshiek County Conservation Board: $5,100 to purchase trailer to transport outdoor recreation equipment to Winneshiek schools.
• Winneshiek County Recycling: $5,000 to replace current recycling bin with larger modern version in Hesper.
• Toys Go 'Round Toy Lending Library: $2,000 for new desk unit and painting of walls in the toy library.
• Northeast Iowa Montessori School, Inc.: $7,500 for expansion of preschool program, leasing two portable classrooms to be used for early childhood classes to place on St. Benedict School land
• Winneshiek County Habitat for Humanity: $2,000 to lay a concrete slab where a new house will sit.
• Knights of Columbus – Ossian Council 2073: $7,000 to replace furnace & cooling system in Columbus Hall.
• Luther College: $1,500 for Discovery Camp for area 2nd – 4th grade students to learn about green food and green energy
• Decorah Community Free Clinic: $4,000 to provide free medical care, education, and prescription assistance to patients of the Free Clinic.
• Winneshiek County Community Foundation: $2,000 for grant writing workshop and awards banquet.
• Greater Area Pantry: $600 to purchase freezer to store frozen food products.