Larchwood, Iowa — The Lyon County Riverboat Foundation has given its first competitive grant to an out-of-county entity.
At a ceremony Thursday night, October 9th, 2015, chairman of the board of the foundation, Jeff Gallagher told those in attendance that earlier this year, they received direction from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission that asked all Iowa casino non-profit license holders to consider giving grants to out-of-county entities. Gallagher said gaming commissioners said it only makes sense to give grants to entities that are in counties in which the casino’s customers live. They say that it helps promote the casino and what they are doing.
At the ceremony, the foundation announced 21 grants totaling $447,442 in awards. The foundation’s board of directors made the decision on grant awards at their September 24th Board meeting.
The grants ranged from a $300,000 multi-cycle grant for the City of Rock Rapids for flood mitigation to a grant of $1000 to the Doon Federated Women’s Club for community center improvements.
The first-out-of-county grant went to Inspiration Hills in the amount of $10,065 toward a new emergency warning system.
Some of the other bigger grants went to the West Lyon School District in the amount of $100,000 toward a football stadium, nearly $73,000 went to the City of George for campground expansion, and nearly $30,000 went to the City of Larchwood to upgrade their softball complex.
Board chairman Jeff Gallagher also told the audience that matching funds are one of the only indicators they have of how important a project is. And therefore projects with greater amounts of matching funds are approved more easily by the board.
He also reminded recipients of this past summer’s $2000 mini grants that their paperwork needs to be turned in by October 31st. He says there is no grace period. If the paperwork is not in by October 31st, the funds go back to the foundation.
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