Winneshiek County Community Foundation distributes $112,500 in grants

The Winneshiek County Community Foundation on Wednesday night officially distributed $112,500 in grant funding to a total of 22 area non-profit agencies and organizations.

The Winneshiek County Community Foundation's goals are to act as a county-wide endowment, to be a resource for a broad range of community needs, and to assist donors in creating a lasting legacy through a variety of giving options in Winneshiek County.  Gifts to the Winneshiek County Community Foundation are now accepted online at:  www.winneshiekccf.org.
 
The following is a list of organizations receiving money:
 
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 Helle
$2000
 
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
$5000
 
Spillville Public Library
'Office Reorganization'
Update office of the library with a new locking file cabinet & purchase a new laptop to hold library files
$2941
 
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