(KIWA Staff Photo)
Primghar, Iowa — A local foundation has awarded over $135,000 to area non-profits.
The O’Brien County Community Foundation grants target public safety, infrastructure, and recreational projects, bringing the foundation’s total community investment since 2006 to over $2 million. The grants support local nonprofits and government entities across the county.
Denise Steffen, the foundation’s Advisory Board Chair, says that they are proud to support projects that strengthen area communities, improve public safety, enhance recreational opportunities, and enrich the quality of life for O’Brien County residents. She says that they are grateful for the County Endowment Fund Program and the opportunity it provides to support organizations, volunteers, and communities that work every day to make O’Brien County a great place to live.
The foundation receives funds from the Iowa Legislature County Endowment Fund Program. Created in 2004, the County Endowment Fund Program is funded by a percentage of the state’s commercial gaming tax revenue, which currently does not include online sports betting revenue. These funds are distributed annually to participating community foundations located in the 84 counties without a state-issued gaming license. The 15 counties with a state- issued gaming license benefit from their local casino’s Qualified Sponsoring Organization, which distributes a portion of gaming revenues in their area. The Legislature designed the County Endowment Fund Program to ensure the benefits of gaming tax revenues were felt statewide.
The projects receiving the biggest grants this year were the Archer Fire Department, which received a $15,000 grant for a slide-in unit for their brush truck; the Waterman Cemetery Association, which received a little over $12,000 for blight prevention and beautification; the City of Archer, which received $10,000 toward the replacement of the fire station roof; Sutherland Parks, which also received a $10,000 grant toward youth baseball and softball field renovations, and the City of Primghar, which received over $9,000 toward a roller rink.
| Organization | Project Title | Grant Amount |
| Archer Fire Department | Thunderstorm Slide in Unit for Brush Truck | $15,000 |
| Waterman Cemetery Association | Blight Prevention and Beautification | $12,224 |
| City of Archer | Fire Station Roof Replacement | $10,000 |
| Sutherland Parks | Youth Baseball & Softball Field Renovations | $10,000 |
| City of Primghar | Roller Rink | $9,296 |
| Kids Kampus Inc. | Playground Turf | $8,000 |
| Sutherland Fire and Ambulance Department | SCBA Replacement | $8,000 |
| Hartley Emergency Ambulance Rescue Team | Training Equipment | $7,500 |
| Little Critters Splash Pad | Water Safety | $7,500 |
| Hartley Fire Department | Bunker Gear | $7,000 |
| Little Sioux Valley Conservation Association | Thirsty Hikers | $5,000 |
| Primghar Volunteer Fire Department | Lockers | $5,000 |
| Sanborn Daycare Association dba Kids Express | Intergenerational Art and Music Program | $5,000 |
| Sanborn Fire & Rescue | Turnout Gear Racks | 5000 |
| General N. B. Baker Library | Handicap Accessible Door Replacement | $4,700 |
| O’Brien County Livestock Show & Ag Assn | Security Cameras | $4,689 |
| City of Calumet | Keep the Leaves Out! – Park Shelter Doors | $3,941 |
| City of Primghar | City Park | $3,900 |
| Sheldon Fire Company | Rescue Boat Equipment | $2,819 |
| Awakening Grace Foundation | Pregnancy & Infancy Loss Supplies | $500.00 |
| Foster Grandparent Program of Greater Siouxland | Foster Grandparent Program | $500.00 |
| Hartbeat Piecemakers | Quilts for Veterans/Ill Children | $500.00 |
| Mi’Ono Club | Roseland Cemetery Shed Mural Painting | $500.00 |
