Larchwood, Iowa — Here’s another reminder that this is not going to be a normal year. The Lyon County Riverboat Foundation has canceled its “mini-grants” for 2020.
In a normal year, several projects from around the tri-state area (not just in Lyon County) that applied for grants and were selected would each receive up to $2000 from the foundation, which is the nonprofit license-holder for the Grand Falls Casino on the state line near Larchwood.
Entities such as cities; historical societies; emergency services; libraries; points of interest; military, school, and community clubs; and others from South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa — from as far west as Minnehaha County South Dakota to as far east as Dickinson County, Iowa received grants last year.
State law mandates a certain percentage of the casino’s gaming take has to go back to the community. The agreement between the casino and the non-profit stipulates that for the first $20 million the casino collects in gambling winnings in a year, they will give the foundation 4.5 percent. When they get up to $20 million, the percentage goes up to 4.75 percent; and when they get up to $30 million, it goes to 5 percent. The Lyon County Riverboat Foundation is set up to give half of the money in grants to county government subdivisions and schools, and the other half to non-profit projects. There is usually one major grant giveaway and one mini-grant giveaway per year.
But this year, the Foundation’s Board of Directors has decided to cancel their mini-grant giveaway due to COVID-19, and its effects at the casino. Foundation officials said in a statement sent to entities that commonly apply for grants that Grand Falls Casino
“needs to reopen before the board can commit to any more grants.” The casino has been closed since March 16th, 2020, due to the pandemic.
