Larchwood, Iowa — Twenty-six area non-profit organizations and government subdivisions received a combined total of almost $650,000 from the Lyon County Riverboat Foundation at a ceremony on Tuesday night at the Grand Falls Casino near Larchwood.
Foundation officials tell us the biggest grant was for nearly $97,000, and it went to the City of Little Rock to be used toward a new ambulance.
Another large grant was given to Lil’ Mustangs Child Care Center in George. They say the money will be used to help update the existing playground and turn it into an age-appropriate and safe playground. That grant was for nearly $88,000.
The City of Lester received the next-largest grant, for over $56,000 toward a safe pedestrian crossing. Holy Name Catholic Church in Rock Rapids received $50,500 toward renovating their roof, and Alvord Fire & Rescue received $50,000 toward ambulance and rescue equipment.
There were several smaller grants toward things such as a water truck for the Doon Fire Department, improvements at the Central Lyon FFA farm, the expansion of nursing simulation at Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon, upkeep of the Rock Rapids murals, library updates, and much more.
The Lyon County Riverboat Foundation is the nonprofit license holder for the Grand Falls Casino in Larchwood. State law mandates that a certain percentage of the casino’s gaming take has to go back to the community. The foundation gives half of that money to county government subdivisions and schools and the other half in competitive grants such as these.
| Organization | Project/Use | Grant |
| LR EMS | Ambulance | $96,800 |
| George Daycare | Playground update | $87,613 |
| City of Lester | Safe Pedestrian Crossing | $56,156 |
| Holy Name Catholic Church | Roof Renovation | $50,500 |
| Alvord Fire & Rescue | Ambulance & Rescue Equipment | $50,000 |
| St. Mary’s Catholic Church | Parking Lot Renovation | $43,550 |
| Friends of CL FFA | Farm Improvements | $35,000 |
| Rapids Theatre Preservation Society | Tuck Pointing | $27,788 |
| Doon Fire Dept. | Water Tender | $25,000 |
| Mid-Sioux | RR Office Renovation | $24,962 |
| N.W. Iowa Community College | Nursing Simulation Expansion | $20,000 |
| RR Mural Society | Restoration & Painting | $17,455 |
| LR Town & Country | Permanent Fencing-Baseball Field | $16,747 |
| City of Rock Rapids | Fire Dept. Thermal Imagining | $15,373 |
| City of RR | Airport Lounge Remodel | $15,000 |
| Give Foundation | 7th Annual Charity | $10,000 |
| WL Library | Additional Books | $10,000 |
| City of George | Replace Community Room Dividers | $9,000 |
| Inwood Fire & Rescue | NEPA Compliance Update | $7,732 |
| Hope Haven | AED’S | $7,226 |
| Larchwood Fire | Communication | $6,695 |
| Food Bank of Siouxland | Lyon Co. Mobile Pantry | $5,500 |
| City of Inwood | Sound System | $5,000 |
| WL Athletic Boosters | Softball Parking with Safety | $3,000 |
| LR Library | Automation Project | $2,000 |
| Sioux Falls Boys/Girls Clubs | Playground Fencing | $1,500 |
| TOTAL | $649,596 |
