The Spectrum Network is kicking off a fund drive

The Spectrum Network is kicking off the public portion of its fund drive.

"We've been in the soft phase of our campaign for a couple of months and we're ready to officially kick it off," said Spectrum Network Executive Director Bev Fredrick.

The Spectrum Network is raising $105,000 in matching funds for a USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant.  The money would be used to develop training opportunities and integrated employment through a food aggregation and cold storage unit and a future commercial-grade community kitchen. 

The new endeavor comes at a time when funding is shifting for individuals with disabilities.  The organization has been affected by Iowa's privatization of Medicaid supervision and by new federal requirements to only reimburse for integrated workplaces.

The Spectrum Network will kick off the public portion of their capital campaign Saturday, April 30th at Winneshiek Wildberry Winery. The event will feature the band Country Cousins, food for purchase and a raffle drawing, with prizes including a Pelican Intrepid 100x kayak with a paddle, a Trek-N-Tube inner tube and a Unisex Sport Comfort Bicycle.