Winneshiek County Community Foundation approves $109,000 in grants

The Winneshiek County Community Foundation has approved a total of $109,000 in grant funding to be awarded to 27 area nonprofit agencies and organizations. A total of 56 grant applications were received by the WCCF for Winneshiek County projects.

The following is a list of grant recipients from the WCCF, including the title, a brief description of their projects and the amount awarded.

City of Decorah – 'RSVP in Decorah' – purchase computer to record data & hours of volunteers - $1,666

Ossian Senior Hospice – 'Clearview + Desktop Magnifier' – purchase magnifier for residents to make it easier to do reading, viewing photographs, and some crafts - $2,550

South Winneshiek School – 'K-3 Summer Reading Program' – hold a 4 week K-3 reading extravaganza in June for students at or below the 40% in reading assessments - $5,250

City of Calmar (Calmar Municipal Pool) – 'Deck Shading for Calmar Municipal Pool' – place attractive shading on a portion of the deck - $4,000

City of Spillville (Spillville Public Library) – 'Spillville Library Computer and Automation Replacement' – replace 3 public access computers & automation system for library - $4,600

City of Fort Atkinson (Ft. Atkinson Fire Department) – 'Thermal Imaging Camera' – purchase thermal imaging camera to provide accurate & quicker info to firefighters for usage at fire calls & search & rescue - $6,000

St. Francis de Sales School – 'Classroom Security Measures' – install school-grade locks on all interior doors that can be locked from inside the classroom - $5,710

Northeast Iowa Food Bank – 'The BackPack Program' – send food home with children in need for the weekend - $5,000

Decorah Community Free Clinic – 'Decorah Community Free Clinic' – fund medical tests and medications for mentally ill residents of Winneshiek County - $5,400

Greater Area Pantry – 'Technology & Hunger Project' – purchase a computer, printer, support program & file cabinet - $6,000

City of Calmar (Calmar/Ossian Police Department) – 'Digital Mobile Police Surveillance' – purchase a video camera for a police vehicle - $3,295

Northeast Iowa Community College – 'Outdoor Learning Lab' – implement an outdoor learning lab to improve opportunities for child health & learning through nature - $3,218

Winneshiek County (Winneshiek County Recycling Department) – 'Recycling Bins for Castalia & South Winn Schools' – purchase & install two new recycling bins - $5,676

Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum – 'Transportation/Admission Support for School Visits to The World of Jan Brett Exhibit' – use funds as stipends to assist 7 Winneshiek County schools with transportation & admission costs to the interactive exhibit - $1,400

South Winneshiek Community School District – 'Preschool Teachers Hatch SMART Students' – improve academic achievement of preschool students by engaging in critical thinking & problem solving skills using SMART boards - $2,621

Winneshiek County (Conservation Board) – 'Conservation Board:  2013 Driftless Safari' – obtain printed materials for county-wide scavenger hunt to find rubbing posts about natural, cultural, & historic treasures of Winn. County - $3,000

Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) – 'Winneshiek STEM Family Festival' – provide 3rd-8th grade students with hands-on/interactive exhibits to spur interest in STEM education and career paths - $5,000

City of Spillville, Iowa (Civic Improvement Center) – 'Handicap Entrance & Bathroom' – develop handicap accessible entrance to the Inwood Ballroom in Spillville - $5,000

St. Benedict School – 'Teaching & Learning With Technology' – expose students to various forms of technology with twice-weekly computer classes using iPads and laptops - $6,000

Northeast Iowa Community College Foundation – 'Vet2vet Peer Mentoring Program' – social & personal support to veterans at NICC - $6,000

Decorah Volunteer Fire Department Association (Winneshiek County Fireman's Association) – 'Educating & Promoting Fire Safety' – provide a fire safety simulator that would teach the proper use of a fire extinguisher - $6,000

City of Fort Atkinson – 'Ft. Atkinson Community Center – Gym Doors' – replace entry doors to Community Center gym - $2,000

Winneshiek County (Public Health Nursing Services) – 'Public Health Nursing Service: Happy Hearts & Healthy Starts' – purchase infant scale & educational materials for families to monitor infant growth & development - $2,281

Porter House Museum – 'Porter House Museum Promotion & Printing' – develop a new framework for improved promotion & marketing through rack cards, brochures, & newsletter - $1,486

City of Calmar (City of Calmar Visioning Committee) – 'Welcome to our Town: Calmar' – install a community welcoming 'Calmar' sign - $5,300

City of Ossian (Tri-Township Fire District) – 'Office & Training Room' – purchase equipment to outfit a training/meeting room - $4,547