22 groups to receive $112,000 in WCCF grants

The Winneshiek County Community Foundation has approved a total of $112,500 in grants for 22 area non-profit agencies and organizations.

The awards were announced Wednesday.  WCCF selected the 22 recipients from 51 grant applications requesting a total of $313,111.08.

The following is a list of organizations that will receive grant funding:

--Winneshiek County Agricultural Association - 'Dana Lensing Memorial Building Public Access Project,' Develop concrete entrance to building on fairgrounds for people with wheelchairs, walkers, canes $2,000
--Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission - 'Planning Technology Initiative for NE Iowa,' Purchase Interactive Panaboard, projector and screen, and laptops/server, $4,025
--Winneshiek County Recycling Center - 'Recycling Collection Bins for Calmar, Ossian & Fort Atkinson,' Place additional collection bins in three Winneshiek County communities, $10,000
--Friends of the Decorah Fish Hatchery - 'Decorah Fish Hatchery Education Center & Restroom Facility,' Construction of a new education center & restroom facility, $5,000
--Winneshiek County Conservation Board - 'Winterizing the Fit Environment,' Update current sets of snowshoes & purchase more new snowshoe sets, $2,000
--Winneshiek County Historical Society - 'The Hjelles of Siewers Springs,' Develop & print booklets & postcards on the late 1800s story of Decorah immigrant John Hjelle, $2,000
--Decorah Volunteer Fire Department - 'Winneshiek County Emergency Medical Services Association - Gearing Up,' Purchase new pagers & medical response kits, $5,000
--Frankville Emergency Volunteer Association - 'Initial Attack Truck, Equipment Trailer, Kabota Fire & EMS Rescue Vehicle,' Apply to a new attack truck, trailer, and fire & rescue vehicle, $3,000
--Fort Atkinson Fire Department - 'Fire Department Upgrades,' Replace walk-in-door & meeting room carpet; convert a 1996 military truck into a useful tanker, $10,000
--Downtown Decorah Betterment Association - 'Norm Smith Plaza Expansion,' Construct portion of parking lot into a green space with seating, gardens, gazebo, art work, $6,872
--South Winneshiek Community Schools - 'South Winneshiek Elementary & Middle School Playground,' Update school playground with appropriate equipment for preschoolers, $9,700
--Decorah Community School District - 'Nature's Classroom,' Construct outdoor learning classroom using nature for inquiry and play, $5,000
--DeSales School - '21st Century Classroom,' Purchase whiteboards, ceiling mounted projectors, and Mimio Document Cameras, $3,294
--City of Fort Atkinson - 'Library/Museum Window Replacement,' Replace windows in the library/museum building, $5,000
--Spillville Public Library - 'Office Reorganization,' Update office of the library with a new locking file cabinet & a new laptop to hold library files, $2,941
--Ossian Public Library - 'Remodeling of Circulation area and new flooring in Public Library,' Modify check-out area to accommodate patrons & visitors of all ages and abilities, $8,000
--Castalia Tractor Days - 'Purchase Tent,' Obtain tent for public use to provide shade & protection from rain, $800
--Northeast Iowa Food Bank - 'BackPack Program,' Provide sacks of food for hungry Winneshiek County students to have on the weekend, $4,000
--Frankville Community Presbyterian Church - 'Church restoration and repair project,' New roof for building, $5,000
--Laura Ingalls Wilder Park & Museum - 'Advent Christian Church re-roofing,' Re-roof Advent Christian Church owned by Laura Ingalls Wilder Park & Museum, $3,931
--Northeast Iowa RSVP - 'RSVP Program in Winneshiek County,' Volunteer support newsletter expenses; items for staff operations (computer/new desk units), $1,437
--Winneshiek County Community Foundation - 'WCCF Operations,' Operation expenses, $13,500