Cerro Gordo County Community Foundation Distributes Over $124,000 to Local Organizations

Cerro Gordo County Community Foundation

June 16, 2020

The Cerro Gordo County Community Foundation announced $124,761.37 in grant funding to 40 projects of organizations serving Cerro Gordo County as part of its 2020 grant cycle.

The Community Foundation made the decision to not hold its annual award celebration due to COVID-19. Grant checks will be mailed directly to the nonprofit organizations.

Grant recipient organization, project the grant will fund, and grant amount are listed below by funding areas.

Art and Culture

• City of Mason City, MacNider Art Museum - Carpet Replacement, $1,500
• Gardeners of North Iowa, East Park Fountain Project, $1,000
• North Iowa Cultural Center and Museum, Surf Ballroom Music Enrichment Center Instrument Lessons and Educational Programs, $2,000
• River City Sculptures on Parade, "That's A Wrap" Utility Box Beautification Project, $1,200
• The Mason City Foundation, Community Keyboards, $3,948

Community Betterment

• City of Mason City, Library - Public Access Computer Station, $1,100
• City of Rockwell, Library - Update for Changing Times-Project C, $1,300
• City of Rockwell, Rockwell Family Recreation, $3,703.37
• City of Swaledale, Library – Computers, $1,417
• Midwest Racing, North Iowa Human Powered Trails, $5,000
• Share Life, Everybody Plays Inclusive Playground, $3,500

Education

• Charlie Brown Preschool & Child Care, Technology to Improve Education, $6,000
• Newman Catholic School System, Growing Together - One-on-One Chromebooks, $2,640
• North Central Iowa Ag in the Classroom, Agriculture Education for Cerro Gordo County Schools, $2,500
• North Iowa Area Community College Foundation, NIACC Nursing Improvements for Emergency Training, $4,000
• North Iowa Christian School, Student Chromebooks, $2,640

Environment

• City of Swaledale, 2020 Ash Tree Removal, $2,500

Health

• Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health, Accessible Reception Area, $5,000
• Cerro Gordo County ISU Extension and Outreach, Cerro Gordo County Pick a Better Snack, $1,300
• My Happy Place, Bedroom Makeover, $1,250
• Rockwell-Swaledale Emergency Medical Team, Stop the Bleed Kits, $2,075

Historic Preservation

• Mason City Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Historic Egloff House - Security System, $2,000

Human Service

• 43 North Iowa, Residential Care & Transitional Services, $3,500
• Camp Tanglefoot, Water Fountain/Water Bottle Filler, $1,650
• Caring Pregnancy Center, Families in Need During COVID-19 Outbreak, $3,000
• City of Swaledale, Fire Department – SCBA – Phase 2, $6,146
• Crisis Intervention Service, Crisis Intervention Service, $5,500
• Food Bank of Iowa, Feeding Cerro Gordo County, $4,000
• Francis Lauer Youth Services, YSS Francis Lauer, $2,400
• Habitat for Humanity of North Central Iowa, Programming and Operating, $3,000
• Mason City Senior Activity Center, Door Replacement, $3,000
• Meservey Fire & Rescue Foundation, Equip Pumper Truck, $7,737
• North Iowa Community Action Organization, Housing Assistance Program, $3,000
• One Vision, COVID-19 Support Program, $4,400
• Quilts of Valor-North Central Iowa, Quilts of Valor - North Central Iowa, $2,750
• Rockwell Community Fire Department, Year Two - Replacement of Turn Out Gear, $1,000
• The Community Kitchen of North Iowa, Purchase of New Serving Trays, $1,605
• The Set Me Free Project, North Iowa Expansion, $2,500
• Thornton Volunteer Fire Association, Turn Out Gear – Year 3, $5,000
• Ventura Firefighters Association, Ventura Fire Department Rescue Boat, $7,000

Decisions on grant awards are determined by a local committee, which consists of volunteers from Cerro Gordo County. Committee members include: Shaun Arneson, Tim Coffey, John Drury, Julie Kaduce, Marty Ramaekers, Gary Schmit, Margo Underwood and Adam Wedmore (chair).

Grants are awarded through Cerro Gordo County Community Foundation’s competitive grant process to projects in the program areas of: art and culture, community betterment, education, environment, health, historic preservation and human service. Grant applicants must be a 501(c)(3) designated organization or government entity serving Cerro Gordo County in order to be considered for funding. The 2021 grant cycle opens January 1, 2021 with an application deadline of April 8, 2021. The grant guidelines and application will be posted prior to the cycle opening at cerrogordoccf.org.